Mount Defiance
Jul 25, 2010
by
Eric Jain
—
last modified
Jul 25, 2010 09:01 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Mount Defiance
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District, North Bend Office
- Trails: Mount Defiance (#1009)
- Avg Rating: 4.12
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Bugs
Summit
Had no trouble driving my low-clearance vehicle all the way to the end of FR-9031 (Garmin City Navigator 2011.10 still thinks that road is closed several miles before the end). The parking lot was near full at 8am (with cars lining the side of the road for a long way down when I returned sometime before 1pm).
Followed the official trail (not marked on USGS maps) up to Mason Lake and continued on the trail along the lake to a signed junction for Mt Defiance. The trail got a bit steeper there but was (other than one blowdown) in the same good condition as the lower trail. Somewhat dusty outside of forested sections. The turnoff for the short (and straight-up) trail to the summit was not signed, but marked with a cairn.
Encountered perhaps a dozen parties on the way up, spent close to half an hour alone (with a zillion bugs) on the summit, and met more people than I cared to count (including a ranger) on the way down.
Wildflowers were amazing, especially on the south-facing slope below Mt Defiance: Tiger Lilies, Columbines, Beargrass, Lupine and a lot more.
Followed the official trail (not marked on USGS maps) up to Mason Lake and continued on the trail along the lake to a signed junction for Mt Defiance. The trail got a bit steeper there but was (other than one blowdown) in the same good condition as the lower trail. Somewhat dusty outside of forested sections. The turnoff for the short (and straight-up) trail to the summit was not signed, but marked with a cairn.
Encountered perhaps a dozen parties on the way up, spent close to half an hour alone (with a zillion bugs) on the summit, and met more people than I cared to count (including a ranger) on the way down.
Wildflowers were amazing, especially on the south-facing slope below Mt Defiance: Tiger Lilies, Columbines, Beargrass, Lupine and a lot more.
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Trail above Mason Lake
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Trail traversing below the summit
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Trail climbing to the summit
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