Trailhead Direct Returns! Let's go Sideways Across Si.

WooHoo, we have Trailhead Direct again this year...never a sure thing. Let's start with a Mt Si hike, that shows off something that's easy with a bus, but not so easy with a car, namely, starting at one trailhead, and ending at another.

NOTE: Please read the Caution and Logistics sections.

We'll catch the Trailhead Direct bus that leaves Broadway & Denny on Capitol Hill just after 8am, on Sunday May 25 -- this is the second run on the second day of Trailhead Direct, so we hope it will be a bit less crowded than the first day or the first run of the day. (Yes, folks can catch it at later stops, but it might still fill up.)

We'll arrive at the Little Si overflow parking area at about 9:15am and start the hike from the Little Si trailhead. (No, it won't work to drive to the Little Si trailhead. There is never ever EVER any parking available there, in either of the parking lots. Do not try, ok? See the Logistics section.)

We'll go up the Little Si trail, turn west on the upper part of the Boulder Garden loop, then head up the old Mt Si trail. This is steeper than the new Mt Si trail -- the old trail goes up about 3500 ft in 3 miles, rather than 4 miles like the new trail. The old trail intersects the new trail partway up, so we'll continue on the new trail. We'll stop for lunch at the rocky area that has (if the clouds cooperate) a view of Mt Rainier.

From there, we'll continue along the base of the Haystack, then turn east on the Si Teneriffe connector trail, which will take us over to the new Mt Teneriffe trail. We'll take the new Mt Teneriffe trail down to the Mt Teneriffe trailhead, where we'll catch the Trailhead Direct bus back to Capitol Hill. The after lunch route down covers the same elevation, but in 5 miles, so the slope is gentler.

This is about 8 miles, 3500 ft elevation gain.

We'll aim to catch the bus that departs the Mt Teneriffe trailhead at 6:12pm -- there is one later bus, but we want to avoid relying on that.

Caution:

This is a strenuous hike. If you are new to hiking, or had trouble with the old Mt Si trail hike a few weeks back, this probably is not a good choice. However, if you have successfully done the Mt Si hike via either the old or new trails, you can do this one.

Bring plenty of water -- recommend more than 2 liters. The forecast is for about 70 deg F, so not cool.

But do not just bring water -- also bring electrolytes. On a previous hike using the old Mt Si trail, two people got leg cramps. They were exactly the two people who did not have electrolytes along. You can get sodium and potassium (the main electrolytes) from some foods, but it may be simpler to get a sports drink or electrolyte replacement powder. Look up hyponatremia to find out what can happen, beyond just cramps.

Logistics:

Bring lunch, snacks. See Caution above re. bringing plenty of water, and bringing electrolytes.

Hiking boots or hiking shoes with good traction are needed. Trekking poles strongly recommended.

Make sure your phone is charged. Just sayin...

The Trailhead Direct Mt Si route has changed. There are (supposedly) several new stops on Capitol Hill before the former first stop. And several downtown Seattle stops are (apparently) gone. However, OneBusAway and Google Maps and Metro Tripplanner do not know about those new Capitol Hill stops. I have contacted Metro, but won't get a reply til Monday at the earliest. The bus no longer stops at the Eastgate freeway stop. Instead, it goes to the new South Bellevue Link station. This is now where Eastside folks can catch it.

So...

Bus riders: If you are on the Seattle side, our official starting point will still be the southbound bus stop on Broadway at Denny. Be there at 8am, and line up near the bus stop, to improve chances of getting a seat. If you are on the Eastside, be at bay 2 at the South Bellevue Link station by 8:20am.

Drivers: I'm not joking, do not drive to the Little Si trailhead. We can't wait for you to drive back to the North Bend park & ride and catch the next bus. If you really want to drive partway, then park at the South Bellevue Link station, and be out at the bay 2 bus stop by 8:20am, or at the North Bend park & ride eastbound bus stop by 8:45am, in case the bus is ahead of schedule.

Event start and end times are at Capitol Hill, assuming we catch the 6:12pm bus at Mt Teneriffe.

Trailhead direct schedule: https://trailheaddirect.org/mount-si/

Hike route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NjVxb5CB4Xf9Lcxk9