Take this stiff climb to an old lookout site that looks out directly over Lake Wenatchee-and beyond. Hot and dry in summer, but a good choice in early season because it's often 90 percent snow-free by Memorial Day, Dirtyface provides a great heart conditioner and a lot of visual treats for the eyes. The views are stunning and expansive, from sun-baked Mission Ridge to snowcapped Glacier Peak.

Beginning in open, mature timber, the well-defined trail ascends moderately as it traverses Dirtyface's sun-kissed southern slopes. Green timber soon yields to burnt bark and charred snags from a 2005 forest fire. Much old-growth timber, including giant ponderosa pines, survived the conflagration, but whether the trail survives it is another question. It won't be long before many of the fire-scorched trees begin to topple, forming impediments along the trail. With the Forest Service abandoning trails due to lack of funding for maintenance (and lack of enough public outcry demanding that Congress address this), Dirtyface may very well become another lost piece of our public heritage.

Gaining altitude more steadily, the way passes a spring before coming to Fall Creek tumbling down an open avalanche chute (elev. 2750). Views out over Lake Wenatchee are excellent. In May and June the flower show is too. Hop across the creek and continue climbing steeply, eventually following an old skid road through cool, unburnt timber. At about 2 miles the way intersects an old logging road (elev. 3500).

Turn left, following the old road for a gentle 0.5 mile, ending at a campsite and spring. The way then resumes as true trail and truly steep. Tight switchbacks that appear to have no end climb relentlessly. At about 4700 feet the forest thins. Ground squirrels and grouse scurry about. At about 3.8 miles come to a small ledge (elev. 5000 ft) with great views to the south and east. It is often possible to reach this point in May without encountering snow.

Beyond, the trail enters the subalpine zone, passing small meadows flush with flowers and teeming with views. Reach the near-6000-foot former lookout site after a final push along a semi-open ridge crest.

Wipe sweat, apply sunscreen, pull out maps and begin swirling around to identify the myriad peaks spread out before you. Glacier, Clark, and the Chiwawa Ridge to the north are especially impressive. So is the

Nason Ridge to the south with its three prominent peaks, Rock, Howard, and Mastiff, lined up for your admiration. Fish Lake twinkles in the southeast. Lake Wenatchee spreads out directly below and will command most of your attention, especially its west end where the White and Little Wenatchee rivers flow into a vast marsh via spaghetti oxbows.