8 miles doesn't seem like much...until you did it straight up and straight down.
My soul was in need of the woods. In need of the peace of dripping green trees, sword ferns rustling around my ankles, and some muddy/rocky trails.
Washington Trails Association is a fantastic website that lists all the trails in Washington based on location, difficulty, elevation, length, and season. Super helpful for me, a newbie to the area!
My friend Marika and I chose to climb Mt. Si before we worked that afternoon. Up at the crack of dawn to get on the trail at a decent time, we met in Falls City and head out on I-90.
Following the website's directions, we made it to the trail head from Falls City with out a hitch!
Let me throw a note in here.
Having the right gear can make all the difference. Layers for cold, the right jacket to keep you dry, boots that protect your ankles...having what you need is key. Just like when on a trail run in Arizona, I need to be packing water to stay hydrated, and always extra in case of emergency. Well now I'm in the snow and the type of gear is different. It's another end of the elements spectrum. Starting in the rain and summiting in 3 feet of snow is definitely something to be planned for. I have no intention of being one of those news stories of a foolish hiker who made no allowances for things going wrong and died.
So for my winter hike that also had to include lunch...I packed accordingly
Hiking Must Haves for Winter
- Water proof boots - Mine are Keen brand because I have wide feet and those boots are shaped like a duck. Perfection. They are the boots I trekked around a soggy UK last January in and my feets stayed dry and warm!
- Moisture wicking base layers - You're going to sweat, but that moisture will give you chills on the downhill or flat parts or in the wind if it remains. So we want it to wick away. I use merino wool base layers from smartwool and Icebreaker. They keep me warm on the move but don't over heat me to the point of crazy sweats
- Pack dry layers. - At the bottom of the hill I only wore my merino shirt with a ghost lite rain jacket. As the elevation increased and the temperature dropped, I needed more layers, so added my nano jacket. I also had a fleece that I never put on but had just in case.
- Plenty of water - Yes it's winter and rain and snow is everywhere. That doesn't mean you don't need to be drinking just like you would in Arizona summer. Being dehydrated in winter is just as severe as being dehydrated in summer.
- Food - Even on short hikes, you may need a boost of energy. Also plan for the worst...if you slip, fall, get sick, something unplanned...you want to have some snacks to keep your energy up and keep you warm in a bad situation. I packed trail mix, my jet boil with instant soup (and extra water), and some clementines.
- A good attitude. - Nothing is more miserable than being unprepared and miserable because of it...so plan ahead, get your supplies together, be prepared so you will have a good experience, and stay positive even when it pours rain.
About the time we hit snow, we were half way up and added our extra layers and had a snack. Made sure we had our boots laced tight, our clothes were dry under our rain gear, and we could stay warm in the lowering temperatures. It is important to make assessments as you go to evaluate whether you should continue or not.
Don't push beyond what you can do...just get to the edge. The edge is where you wake up sore the next day and you know you did work. The edge is not complete exhaustion, it is the good feeling of being tuckered.
4 miles away from the parking lot isn't the time to realize you're out of energy and need to stop. Pay attention to your body.
I was excited to be in snow for the first time this winter! Yes I was cold, but if I kept moving I was good.
I also enjoyed practicing with my Go Pro. I'm not terribly good at it yet but I'm getting slightly better! All the photos in this post are taken with my GoPro Hero 4.
The day was great, I scrambled up to the tipy top in blowing snow and shared hot apple cider with some other folk who had climbed up the other side. We chatted, shared snacks, and talked about gear. It was amazing. Very glad I went and excited to do more!!
