Web Mountain via Putrid Pete's Peak, Mount Defiance — Saturday, Jun. 7, 2025

Parked at 630am on Saturday; lot 2/3 full.

Putrid Pete’s trail in good shape, but a little hard to follow just before you get above the tree line. GPS makes it easy to course correct. Boy it’s steep!

Ridge was sublime. Perfect as it gets. I did not go to Web Mt. but instead went right to Mt. Defiance. There are many ways to pick a route across that ridge but there’s a nearly intact trail at the very top, even though you may not see it from below. When in doubt turn toward the very top of the ridge and it’s usually easy to see where to go.

Junction of ridge trail to trail 1009 is trickier. Don’t go down to the right. Keep going up and to the left and you’ll hit the main trail.

Spur to the top of Defiance was virtually snow free (as was the entire trip to that point). From that part of the state, atop the ridge on a clear day, you can see Rainier, Adams, the Olympics I. The Distance, Stuart, the whole Alpine lakes complex, Glacier, Baker and a zillion more. Probably the best ridge hike this side of Kendall Katwalk.

The way down via Mason Lake was uneventful. As usual in June, there’s still snow for about a quarter mile between Mason Lake and the ridge approaching Mt. Defiance. Poles are nice. Did not use my spikes. Don’t need ‘em at this point.

Although there were few bugs, there were swarms of campers and day hikers from Mason Lake on down to the trailhead. Not surprising in a perfect late spring weekend. Everybody and their dogs seemed chill.

Cars parked on the side of the road a full half mile from the parking lot as I drove out around noon.

Take lots of water with you folks. It’s going to be hot out there this weekend!