Arrived at the Little Si trail ahead at about 5:20 am.  The goal was to make it to the peak for sunrise.  Upon entering the trailhead my headlamp died.  Thankfully I brought a spare set of batteries.  I changed them out and began my trek in the dark.  It was kind of spooky so I kept moving moving moving.  The trail beings rocky and steep.  I passed the first Boulder Garden loop and continued left.  Upon seeing the Little Si ahead (2nd) sign you hang a right and go up a rock trail until it connects with the Boulder Garden Loop, you then head to the right where the Old Mount Si Trail begins.  The trail is shorter than the new trail by just a few decimals of a mile but is also very steep and levels out only for a brief time a few times.  Just keep telling yourself you are almost there.  When you reach the top, prior to the Haystack, you encounter rocky and snowy conditions.  You can follow the trail and avoid the snow by walking along the rocky area but after that as you begin the trek towards the Haystack you will run into icy snow until you reach the foot of the scramble.  The first 20 feet of the scramble is filled with icy snow.  I was able to make it up by going slow and following the footprints in the snow.  Use caution, I brought a helmet and microspikes.  The scramble is pretty easy, just go slow and make sure you are on stable rock.  I made it to the top at 7.42am, missing the sunrise by 5 minutes.  You can't have everything in this world.  The peak gives you an amazing view of Mount Rainier, a view of Seattle way off in the distance, the Cascades, Mt. Baker and I believe Glacier peak.  It was windy so layer up when you get to the top.  The sky was clear and the sun warm.  There were a few other people who made it up for sunrise but they left and I was able to have the peak to myself for a little while.  Upon descent I went with someone I met on the peak to watch each others back.  The descent of the Haystack is a lot more sketchy than going up so go slow and USE MICROSPIKES AND A HELMET.   The descent down the trail hurts the joints so use trekking poles.  Also getting there early has its benefits as I passed at least 80 people heading up the trail as I went down.  It is one of the most popular hikes in Western washington.  Highly recommend.