Trip Report
Alpine Scramble - Mount Si Haystack and North Peak
A beautiful morning scramble to the main and North peaks of Mount Si.
Neal Stein
- Sat, Jun 7, 2025
- Alpine Scramble - Mount Si Haystack
- Mount Si Main Trail
- Scrambling
- Successful
-
- Road suitable for all vehicles
-
We took the Main trail, which was in great shape. The weather has been dry and warm for days, and so was the trail. The Haystack and route to the North Peak were much the same, dry with no sign of seepage anywhere.
We started up the Main trail and aside from being quite busy we had no issues, arriving at the first clearing in 1:38, possibly a new personal record. From there to the base of the Haystack was also dry but crowded, so we got a small taste of talus scrambling around all the people to the bench where we donned helmets and took a 5-minute breather, as we had just watched a group of five head up to the base. Once we got to the base of the scramble we had quite a sight: easily half a dozen or more people on route. A few were coming down but most were still ascending.
(Photo: Neal Stein)
We waited a few minutes until it seemed there was a viable route that was free of people and headed up. We kept climber’s right, heading up past the dividing lump and up through a closer-feeling area with good holds, although this route is a bit steeper than the normal climber’s left.
After reaching the saddle we headed towards the last push, the most exposed section, and scrambled up ahead of a pair that seemed happy to wait until after our ascent. One of them followed shortly after and took a few photos for us:
(Photo: Jim Griffing)
After a snack (okay, I ate my lunch and made the others wait), we headed back down when there was a gap in the flow of people. Seriously, a constant stream of people heading to the real summit! One guy brought his toddler! Once back at the saddle we decided to head for the seldom-tagged North Peak. This turned out to be fairly straightforward with a mostly clear bootpath (see the ridge in below photo).
(Photos: Jim Griffing)
(Photo: Neal Stein)
If the path disappears, look over the rock next to you, it’s just on the other side (this happens twice). There are three peaks maybe 100 feet apart, we went to all three just to be sure, but the middle seemed likely to be the tallest.
(Photo: Jim Griffing)
(Photo: Travis Prescott)
After a reprieve from the crowds we headed back to the saddle and began our descent, slowed by new scramblers in a few places. I regret not mentioning the Alpine Scrambling course to many of them.
Once down at the trail again we removed helmets, took another short break, then sauntered down the main trail again to the parking lot. Summit: 2:09, North Peak ~2:30, round trip 4:43. Also don’t park in the fire lanes, enforcement was out for blood!
(Photo: Neal Stein)