Just a quick note - trail in good condition but bushes are growing into trail. Easy enough to push through but when it's wet like it was today, you will end up completely drenched from brushing against it. Don't try and fight it. :-)

What an exhilarating day! The sun shining brightly, the air filled with the sweet scent of freedom as we venture into the untamed wilderness of our national parks. The hike was nothing short of spectacular, with each step bringing us closer to the heart of nature's beauty.

The dense tree coverage offered a welcome respite from the heat, as we trekked through the winding trails, feeling truly alive and free. But as we neared the end, the trail became increasingly narrow, overgrown with lush foliage, adding an element of challenge and excitement to our adventure.

Despite the obstacles, the dry and pristine trail only added to the thrill of the journey. It truly was a perfect way to celebrate our independence. Happy Independence Day to all!

I arrived at the trailhead around 10:30am and there were plenty of available parking spots. This was my first time doing Dirty Harry's Peak, but I've done Balcony once before. It was a hot day (80+ degrees F) so I packed one Nalgene with Liquid IV water plus a full LifeStraw filtering soft bottle. I drank the equivalent of three Nalgenes, filtering twice at the large creek halfway up the Peak trail. I also put my hat in the streams a lot. I was by myself, so the higher I went, the more concerned I got about heatstroke, staying damp and drinking often was key. 

The trail up until the fork to the Peak was in great condition. If you're going all the way to the Peak, I recommend sturdy shoes/boots because this trail is quite rocky. Overall the trail is in good condition, but the higher you go the more overgrown it gets. My legs got scratched a few times. There was one small tree down across the trail but it was easy to step over. Also, the higher you went, the more mosquitoes came out. They weren't necessarily annoying, but I definitely killed at least 10 on my way up. I had the summit to myself (and most of the hike, to be honest) and wore a bug net over my head just to keep my sanity. The views were stunning!

When I got back down to the river, I took a swim before heading to the car. Well deserved! Gaia stats: 4hrs 10 minutes (moving time), 8.1 miles, 3,348ft elevation gain.

For a close-in hike with significant altitude gain, and avoiding crowds, DHP is best. We saw a grand total of 3 other people past DHB (Dirty Harry's Balcony) and probably maybe ~15 on and below the balcony. 

Yes, it was a weekday, with fog and clouds in the morning, but still. No doubt there were significantly more people on Si and Mailbox today. 

Just a few snow patches off the trail at the summit. But there are some muddy spots and stream crossings where we were glad to have poles. 

There were bugs but not biting. I didn't apply bug juice even though was handy. 

The dirty harry trail is in great condition. There were 3 other cars in the lot when I parked at 4pm. There are wildflowers blooming at two of the south facing traverses with McClelland as the back drop. For those unfamiliar, the park is within tree line and does not boast 360 views like mailbox peak. 

Someone left their sweater and climbing shoes. They are waiting at a sign near the trailhead on the way to gritscone.