Mt. Si *without* Trailhead Direct

Today, we will learn how to hike Mt. Si using the regular transit system, without the Trailhead Direct. Compared to Trailhead Direct, the trip takes a bit longer, but it's available all year round, plus we get to walk an additional "trail to the trail" that the Trailhead Direct bus skips over.

We will meet at the corner of Rainier and Sunset, in front of Issaquah City Hall, and walk together two blocks to the bus stop to catch route 208 to North Bend. After getting off the bus, we will walk the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, followed by a short stretch of road, to the Little Si trailhead. From there, we will take the old trail up to the top of the mountain, then repeat everything in reverse to go back.

Schedule:
Meet in front of Issaquah City hall - 8:55 AM
Start walking to bus stop - 9:00 AM
Bus 208 departs - 9:10 AM
Arrive North Bend - 9:45 AM
Arrive Little Si trailhead - 10:30 AM
Begin ascent - 10:40 AM
Arrive viewpoint for lunch break - 1:00 PM
Begin descent - 1:45 PM
Arrive Little Si trailhead - 3:30 PM
Arrive North Bend - 4:15 PM
Bus departs - 4:45 PM
Return to Issaquah - 5:15 PM

Because route 208 runs only approximately every two hours, we do ask that participants only sign up if capable of following the above schedule. If you want to hike Mt. Si at a slower pace, we will have other Mt. Si. hikes later in the season, once Trailhead Direct starts running.

Details about the pace:
- The walk from the bus stop to the Little Si Trailhead is 2 miles one way, and nearly flat. The schedule assumes a 3 mph walking pace for this section.
- The schedule allows for a 10-minute pause at the Little Si trailhead to use the restroom.
- From the Little Si Trailhead to the viewpoint is 3.5 miles of uphill trail, gaining approximately 3,800 feet of elevation gain. You should be able to complete this in 2.5 hours, which works out to an average pace of 1.4 mph. This pace requires steady progress, but is slow enough to hike comfortably and have a conversation while walking. (The old and new trails are similar enough that if you have hiked the new trail in 2.5 hours or less, you are good to go).
- The schedule allows for 45 minutes of break time at the viewpoint, just below the haystack. We will *not* be climbing the haystack. Please bring lunch to eat at the viewpoint - we will not have time to stop for food in North Bend along the way.
- The schedule aims for a 1 hour 45 minute descent (it's faster going down), with about 30 minutes of padding time at the end.

Additional notes:
- We will have lunch at the top. You must bring your own food; we will not have time to stop in North Bend to buy food.
- The date is subject to weather. If rain is in the forecast, we will postpone the hike to a day when it is not raining.

You can reach the start point from downtown Seattle by riding Sound Transit bus #554. Our plan is to begin walking to the 208 bus stop as soon as the 554 bus arrives. In the event that the 554 is late, we will wait for you, even if it means missing the 208 bus (if that happens, we will change destinations and hike Tiger Mountain, rather than Mt. Si). So, you can ride the 554 to the meetup with confidence and know that the group will be there when you arrive.