What a hike! This is a trip report for Dirty Harry's peak. We didn't stop at the balcony, nor did we add on other peaks like some of the athletic hikers that have submitted recent reports.
The first part of the hike was easy. There were some really rocky portions of trail at the beginning, including lots of sets of rock steps. The trail is gentle until it hits the first set of short switchbacks. The grade was appreciable but not challenging. After the first switchbacks you reach the flat part where the spur trail to the balcony is.
The trail after the balcony is a very long section that rises ahead of you as you start to really climb. The trail was often full of anklebreakers and other slippery rocks. Not the most fun. The rest of the hike was just brutal. When you get past the long section the trail continues to switchback. I almost puked here because I was going too hard. I'm really glad I didn't because right when I burped, and almost lost my breakfast, a hiker appeared. One of the few we saw on the upper reaches.
I took a breather and continued the switchbacks once my heart had slowed down. I didn't move very fast for the rest, but we did make it to the top with no vomiting. There were some nice spots to break for lunch, but it was cloudy out, so there were no views. We took a long break since it was such a hard hike.
The upper sections of trail are in bad need of brushing. The trail corridor is really narrow and you have to walk through quite a bit of vegetation. There is also a lot of water flowing over portions of the upper trail.
5hrs25min car to car including breaks. More like 10 miles than the 7.9 quoted by AllTrails.
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