Mount Defiance, Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

The weather forcast was a good one, dry but cloudy, so my brother and I ventured off to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Mount Defiance. The trail had snow patches starting at about 3300' and was easy to follow all the way to the 5584' summit. The freezing level was about 4000' and not much snow was covering the trail until beyond Mason Lake and then it was only a few inches deep. A little slippery in areas on the steeper summit south face but easier if taking the summit trail from the west side (our route down to trail #1009). Not much traffic along the trails today but we did encounter 1 person near the summit, a runner wearing tennis shoes, with his dog and several others heading up the Ira Spring trail. Just beyond Mason lake the route can be wet and muddy in the lower basin if trying to gain the ridge too soon. It's best to continue east on the trail until the junction with trail #1009 at 4200'. Of course the next snowfall will probably make the ridge route more inviting and then it really wont be a hike anymore until Spring.