Musings

Mount Si Trail Hike

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After almost seven years in Seattle, I finally got up the gumption to hike Mount Si. It was not the four miles of vertical gain that dissuaded me, nor the call of more remote and pristine hikes. Rather, it has simply been the mountain’s extreme popularity given its close proximity to Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, and beyond.

Striking out on a warm and hazy Tuesday afternoon in mid May, I found the large parking lot about half full. It still felt like a lot of people to me, but throughout the hike I found enough spacing between those I encountered that the trail felt surprisingly peaceful overall. I do not know whether it is because the trail ranks so highly in searches for day hikes near Seattle, or because the outdoors have become a playground for so many new recruits, but proper etiquette dictates that hikers going uphill have the right of way. Let’s get it right, people.

Trail Highlights

I set a pretty good pace and reached the top in exactly two hours. The highlights included moss covered maples and ferns mixed with intermittent stands of large hemlocks at the beginning of the trail, a grove of 350 year old Douglas firs in the middle section, and of course the summit itself, with views of Mount Rainier, Snoqualmie Pass, Seattle, Bellevue, and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie meandering through the North Bend Valley below.

The Haystack

Do not be fooled by the false summit. The true top is the Haystack farther up the hill. The best approach is to continue along the trail and wrap around the back side of the Haystack, where you will find a steep Class III ascent. This route is not for everyone, so use your best judgment. People have fallen here and suffered serious injuries, including at least one fatality.

Trail Map

Once on top, it is tempting to descend and continue all the way out to Mount Teneriffe, then return via the Mount Teneriffe Trail, Talus Loop Trail, and Mount Si Trail. But I knew my winter feet were not ready for that distance, and I had not gotten an early enough start.

Geology

The top of Mount Si is made up of metamorphic rock that was once igneous rock formed beneath the ocean 150 million years ago. The valley below, unsurprisingly, was carved by glaciers. Nick Zentner, as always, does a great job explaining the geology in more detail. You will be dropping “metagabbro” into conversations at your next party. You’re welcome.

For all its reputation as Seattle’s crowded proving ground for hikers, Mount Si still manages to deliver. Ancient forests, sweeping views, deep geologic history, and just enough exertion to get you ready for more demanding and scenic hikes in the Cascade Range.

Musings

The Winter That Didn’t Quite Stick

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Well, that’s a wrap on ski season. It was an odd one, and I’ve seen my fair share of strange weather shifts across the Cascades, Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and Wasatch. Warmer temperatures plagued ski areas across the region, resulting in rain. When it did snow, we dealt with power outages, landslides, avalanches, and tree falls that blocked roads.

Washington state and the greater Seattle region did not bank the snow needed at higher elevations, and we will see the ramifications as summer comes into view. El Niño is adding uncertainty, but it looks like conditions will be dry and fire prone. Lower river levels in the fall will have a cascading effect on salmon and, in turn, on orcas.

Nevertheless, Seattle has been in full bloom, and the longer days and beautiful weather are calling for other forms of recreation, even if we know there is always a good chance of May showers, June gloom, or whatever else the Pacific Northwest has up its sleeve. See you out there.

Professional

On the Road and In the Air

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Quite a few trips out of SeaTac airport to the East Coast lately, but I am working on an interesting riverfront development project that will revitalize a signature piece of real estate in the downtown core. The finished product will create a more livable and walkable district for both residents and visitors, provide critical infrastructure improvements, and deliver a strong economic impact. Look forward to sharing more when I can.

Musings

Statsraad Lehmkuhl Docks in Seattle for Ocean Week Event

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The Greater Seattle region was recently host to the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, a three-masted barque rigged sail training vessel that was docked at the Port of Seattle all last week as part of the inaugural One Ocean Week.

“A global celebration of ocean innovation and collaboration,” One Ocean Week was organized by Maritime Blue, a great organization that brings together ocean leaders, innovators, researchers, startups, policymakers, artists, educators, and communities to accelerate solutions for a sustainable, inclusive maritime future.

Seattle welcomed attendees not only from Norway – where the Statsraad was constructed in 1914 – but also from my very own hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.

Why Charleston you may ask? Well, it just so happens that my mother and father sailed on the Statsraad in the early 1970s. My father was the ship doctor, and my mother was the art teacher.

My father did not attend, but my mom jumped on the excuse to visit, and we enjoyed a warm gathering on the ship to meet the captain and crew and share an enjoyable Norwegian dinner with other alumni that came to town. It was also an opportunity to tour the ship and appreciate many of the upgrades that have occurred in the past 50+ years.

As someone who has been a surfer since 11 years of age, fisherman, and thalassophile, I am biologically invested, as we all are, in the health of our ocean environments. Thank you to the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, UN Decade of Ocean Science, and Maritime Blue for raising awareness and supporting ongoing ocean research and innovation to create a more sustainable future for our one planet. And for creating such a memorable time with my mother!

The intersection of business and lifestyle. Robert Payne | Seattle, Washington