Mount Si is possibly the best-known hike in the area, but with a 3,200 foot elevation gain plus an optional 300 foot rock climb, we had been a little intimidated to hike it. Yesterday, though, we finally decided to do it. Since the weather was going to be sort of warm (though we didn't know how warm), we set out early. When we arrived around 8:15, there were already around 75 cars in the parking lot.

The trail is well worn and has a pretty consistent 15% grade, which is probably about as steep as the hill we have to climb to get to Capitol Hill (which has already seemed really steep to me). And it goes on for 4 miles. The weather was pretty comfortable when we started, but we got warm as we went along. It was a workout, but we made it to the top in just over two hours. We didn't do the rock climb at the top, called the Haystack, but we sat and ate some food we brought and enjoyed the view. Going back down was tiring on our legs and knees, but less physically exhausting, and Lesley was pretty tired by the end of it. We had frozen some Gatorade overnight and left it in the car, so it was melted but still cold when we got to the car. The whole hike, including the stop at the top, took us a little less than 5 hours. Unfortunately, even though it was only around 80 outside, having the car air conditioning running would've felt great, but for some reason it wasn't working.

Anyway, today our legs are a little sore, but not too bad. I'm hoping we can do some other reasonably challenging hikes like this soon.