My first time up Mt. Si the back way. Looking for a certain mileage and elevation, I looped Si from the Teneriffe Trailhead, descended via the regular Si trail, and then cut over on the upper Talus Loop back to Teneriffe. This totaled about 10 miles with 3250 gain.
Once you pass the turnoff for the falls, the Teneriffe trail becomes a joy of easy terrain with several beautiful creek crossings and two waterfalls. Once past the Roaring Creek Trail turnoff, it begins to climb. Past the Talus Loop turnoff, the climb increases more. It seems to get steeper and steeper until .5 miles before the turnoff for Si.
There’s a lovely viewpoint/rest spot about 3.5 miles from the start, and I started to notice snow shortly before this spot. The break spot was nice and sunny, so I enjoyed a leisurely snack (and cleaned up someone else’s recently left behind eggshells from their hard boiled egg…Leave No Trace). After this point, the snow became increasingly thick. I put microspikes on at the turnoff for Si. They helped…some. The snow was fairly slushy but deepening at this point, and it was slick at times. I was glad to have the spikes but could tell from footprints that others didn’t use them.By the top, the snow was nearing 3-4 feet deep in places.
However, the snow disappeared quickly once the haystack was in sight. I followed the path around the haystack to the lunch spot and there was just hints of occasional slush. Temperature was warm and comfortable at the top. I imagine with warming temps, the snow conditions will change rapidly. Basically no snow on the descent on the regular Si trail.
The Talus Loop trail (top) was new to me, but a lovely jaunt, half of which is on an old, overgrown, repurposed logging road. I was glad to take it. The flies were starting to buzz in the last 1.5 miles of the Teneriffe Trail.
Parking: Lot was maybe 20% full on Wednesday at 11 am, and much less in late afternoon when I returned.
Toilets: Vault toilet closed. Two ports parties. The non-accessible one was in fine shape but lacking hand sanitizer. This lot gets full sun - plan your post-trail snacks accordingly.
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