The Dead Body of the Legendary Snoqualm - Mt Si

View of Mt Rainier From the Haystack, Mt Si, WA

According to the Snoqualmie People's story of Prometheus, Mt Si is the dead body of Snoqualm, the Moon. The legend holds that "Snoqualm had ordered that a rope of cedar bark be stretched between the earth and the sky. But Fox and Blue Jay went up the rope and stole the sun from Snoqualm. Snoqualm chased them down the cedar rope, but it broke and he fell to his death. Fox then let the sun free in the sky and gave fire to the people. A face like Snoqualm's is visible on the rocks near the summit."

​I will never forget the first time I hiked up Mt Si. It was in the Summer of 2000, shortly after I arrived into the United States from Australia. I was not prepared at all for the 3300ft elevation gain. It turned out to be a strenuous hike which left my leg muscles sore for several days afterwards. During that first trip, I wanted to scramble up the Haystack, the actual summit of Mt Si, which is classified by the Yosemite Decimal System as "Class 3 scrambling with increased exposure. Handholds are necessary. A rope should be available for learning climbers, or if you just choose to use one that day, but is usually not required. Falls could easily be fatal." Just as I started scrambling up the base of the Haystack, I saw a guy fall on his way down and decided to abandon the climb.

I went up the mountain several times since then, but only last July I summoned up enough courage to go all the way up the Haystack.

“Climb the mountain not to plant your flag,
but to embrace the challenge,
​enjoy the air and behold the view.”  
 
- David McCullough Jr.

I arrived late in the day. Luckily for me, there were four young men already partly up the Haystack so I was not the only one, that late afternoon, 'crazy' enough to continue up. Three of them turned back, but I decided to follow their leader who disappeared behind the upper ridge of the Haystack. Halfway up, I had a moment of fear during which I seriously considered going back down, but after a few deep breaths, I restarted my ascent. It was absolutely worth it as the view of the Snoqualmie Valley, Seattle, and the Olympics from the top of the Haystack was stunning. 

Gray jay, one of the locals at Mt Si. Watch your food as they will steal it right out of your hand.

Amidst the clouds at Mt Si.

The bench at Mt Si. The privilege of resting on it is earned after 4 miles of hiking up 3100 vertical feet.

View of the Snoqualmie Valley from the bench.

Mt Si's Haystack 'dressed' in its winter coat.

“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.”

- Barry Finlay