West Defiance - Putrid Pete's Peak, Ira Spring Trail
Sep 20, 2009
by
KarenP
—
last modified
Sep 23, 2009 11:50 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: West Defiance - Putrid Pete's Peak
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
- Agency: Snoqualmie Ranger District
- Avg Rating: 3.33
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- Trails: Ira Spring Memorial (#1038)
- Avg Rating: 3.83
- Why You Should Go Now
- Fall foliage
- Ripe berries
We decided to hike up Putrid Pete’s Peak. We thought if a man with two small dogs (Foxterrierguy) can get up it, we can surely do it too!
The morning was foggy but the weather reports promised the sun would emerge midday. At the first hair pin turn on the Ira Spring trail, the user built trail angles to the left. The trail is actually quite nice as it switch backs steeply up through the forest. We appreciated the instructions to stay to the right and go up as there are a number of trails angling off to the left. After emerging from the trees, the trail seems to disappear in the rocks. We kept climbing straight up and up through the fog. Eventually we picked up a trail that led to the base of the summit area.
As we scrambled up the rocks, all of a sudden through the fog a fantastic view of the craggy peak and the sharp edged ridges on either side burst into view. The fog seemed to roil up to the edge of the ridges and fall back. On the I-90 side the fog was thick. On the other side, the view went on forever.
We found the summit register and signed in. Then we climbed down to the ridge and traveled toward Mt. Defiance. On the ridge, there is a trail of sorts which becomes more distinct as one gets closer to Mt. Defiance. However, the trail seems to disappear shortly before it intersects with the Mt. Defiance trail. We stayed high on the ridge, found the Mt. Defiance trail and traveled to Mason Lake.
There was a profusion of mushrooms of every description on these trails. We missed the turn off to the old Mason Lake trail and so took the Ira Spring trail back to the car. The fog did finally clear after we passed Mason Lake so we were able to look back and see Putrid Pete’s Peak, the ridge and Mt. Defiance as we climbed to the saddle above Mason Lake.
It was a beautiful day.
For photos: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/
The morning was foggy but the weather reports promised the sun would emerge midday. At the first hair pin turn on the Ira Spring trail, the user built trail angles to the left. The trail is actually quite nice as it switch backs steeply up through the forest. We appreciated the instructions to stay to the right and go up as there are a number of trails angling off to the left. After emerging from the trees, the trail seems to disappear in the rocks. We kept climbing straight up and up through the fog. Eventually we picked up a trail that led to the base of the summit area.
As we scrambled up the rocks, all of a sudden through the fog a fantastic view of the craggy peak and the sharp edged ridges on either side burst into view. The fog seemed to roil up to the edge of the ridges and fall back. On the I-90 side the fog was thick. On the other side, the view went on forever.
We found the summit register and signed in. Then we climbed down to the ridge and traveled toward Mt. Defiance. On the ridge, there is a trail of sorts which becomes more distinct as one gets closer to Mt. Defiance. However, the trail seems to disappear shortly before it intersects with the Mt. Defiance trail. We stayed high on the ridge, found the Mt. Defiance trail and traveled to Mason Lake.
There was a profusion of mushrooms of every description on these trails. We missed the turn off to the old Mason Lake trail and so took the Ira Spring trail back to the car. The fog did finally clear after we passed Mason Lake so we were able to look back and see Putrid Pete’s Peak, the ridge and Mt. Defiance as we climbed to the saddle above Mason Lake.
It was a beautiful day.
For photos: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/
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