gone alpine style on Little Si - Washington...
A couple of us decided to head back home to Seattle and visit friends for the week. Went to some of my old stomping grounds, and took a couple peeps with me. Needless to say... we had a fun day.
Little Si though it be a short hiking trail for some, others of us have taken it to a different level. Many already know its fun 5th class climbing walls, others of us who were too tired of waiting for routes to come open decided to go another route, up the face, Alpine style. The face route can be a little tricky due to the year round moisture, shrubbery and difficult protection. However the issues at the time, you can always find a way up, be it 3rd, 4th or 5th class. The day we went up, it was a little bit of all 3.
If you wish for a difficult but fun training route go for this. Gong only 3rd class (staying to the right) each lap will take about 45 minutes to round trip, depending on what you are training for usually 2 - 3 laps are good for a day. You take the regular Little Si trail up to the billboard and take a left up toward the first rock climbing area. Follow the steep walk-off trail up through the rocks and just head up anyway you can. There are many variations as to how to go, I honestly can say I don't think I've gone up the same way very often. Once at the top - brisk walk/jog/run down the back side through the trees along the regular trail will get you back to were you started. Once down... do it again. This particular day we went... we came back down a similar way we went up, got in a few fun/tricky rappels. The day usually ends with a well deserved Beer.
