Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake, Mount Defiance & Web Mountain via Putrid Pete's Peak — Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2000

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

Wednesday and the forecast was for clouds on Thursday and Friday with possible drizzle prompted me to skip work and head up to the hills. Thought I would do Mt. Defiance a good short hike for great views. I started up the trail and remembered something I had read here about a trail that left the main trail and headed toward West Defiance. At the switchback on the road trail I turned on the GPS and headed west. The tread followed an abandoned road bed then trail traversing for a mile or so then started ascending on well graded switchbacks. Other switchbacks were seen below. This was obviously an abandoned trail that was not shown on any of my maps or references. The tread is in excellent shape to about 3600’ and is much better than the Mason Lake Way. There was pink tape at each switchback that I considered removing but did not. The trail disappeared into brush for a short section and only traces and tape were found in the steep woods above. At one point I heard something big in the brush that did not sound like a deer. I continued to ascend on patches of well-cemented talus until I emerged onto the slopes below West Defiance (5335’). At 4700’ I began traversing toward the connecting ridge to Mt. Defiance. The side hill was painful but easier once the crest was met. I followed the ridge to its low point and dropped to join the Mt. Defiance trail, which passes on a bench below. Ascending the trail leads too a side trail on a corner that goes to the summit. I descended the Mt. Defiance trail to Mason Lake and followed the Mason Lake Way back to the abandoned road. New cairns had been built on the rockslide pointing out the way but the direct up from the road continues to deteriorate. This is a great 7.5 mi. loop with a little adventure combined with the misery of the Way trail. Most of the elevation gain is in woods with the only problem being a total absence of water.