NORTH BEND, WA :: Among the holiday indulgences, the edible and drinkable kind are the most regretable. All of the smoked ham, cheese, wine, chocolates, cookies, nuts and other snacks had taken their toll on my gut. Wallowing in my sofa for 12 hours to the watch the entire “Lord of the Rings” trilogy probably didn’t help.
A quick hike up Mt. Si was in order. As I exited I-90, a layer of low clouds hovered over the town of North Bend, but I knew the top of the mountain would be basking in sunshine. Midway up the trail, I broke through the clouds where it was surprisingly warm. There wasn’t a flake of snow or a patch of ice. The air was crisp and the low, amber sun cast long shadows through the trees. The day could almost be mistaken for a summer evening. It was wonderful, and I made it to the top in less than 90 minutes. The trail gains 3400′ and is eight miles roundtrip.
Mt. Si was the first trail I ever hiked after moving here from college. That was five years ago with my buddy, Matt. Since then, I’ve hiked hundreds of miles on countless other trails, but Mt. Si on a nice winter day is still a favorite.
A quick hike up Mt. Si was in order. As I exited I-90, a layer of low clouds hovered over the town of North Bend, but I knew the top of the mountain would be basking in sunshine. Midway up the trail, I broke through the clouds where it was surprisingly warm. There wasn’t a flake of snow or a patch of ice. The air was crisp and the low, amber sun cast long shadows through the trees. The day could almost be mistaken for a summer evening. It was wonderful, and I made it to the top in less than 90 minutes. The trail gains 3400′ and is eight miles roundtrip.
Mt. Si was the first trail I ever hiked after moving here from college. That was five years ago with my buddy, Matt. Since then, I’ve hiked hundreds of miles on countless other trails, but Mt. Si on a nice winter day is still a favorite.
