Web Mountain via Putrid Pete's Peak, Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake & Mount Defiance — Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026

I intended for an afternoon romp up Putrid Pete (P3), but Mount Defiance sitting just a mile away proved too tempting and I turned my hike into a clockwise loop from P3 to Defiance, Mason Lake, and the Ira Spring Trail. Decided it was too late in the day to try for Web and Bandera, but those would be fantastic additions to a summer loop.

Parked at Exit 42 for the extra mileage at 11:30, though it sounds like Mason Lake Road (FR 9030/9031) may be open to Ira Spring Trailhead based on previous trip reports. The way up from Exit 42 was lovely and well worth the half mile climb. There were no cars at Ira Spring Trailhead and I easily found the turnoff for P3. The switchbacks are lovely but short lived, as the trail begins to climb relentlessly for its final mile (with about 2500 feet of elevation gain). There are patches of snow on the final ridge ascent, which are easily avoidable and will continue to melt.

The ridge between P3 and Defiance begins faintly, with multiple paths that come and go. I dropped down 50 feet or so from the crest initially to avoid some of the larger rock haystacks and unstable snow, then rejoined the ridge. After about half a mile from P3’s summit, the trail becomes more defined and stays true to the ridge crest until meeting the Thompson Lake trail just before the turnoff to Defiance. From here to the Bandera turnoff, the trail is almost entirely snow covered. Someone bravely trampled out some deep postholes to offer secure footing, though much of the snow above 4000 feet was hard and crunchy, thankfully not collapsing much as I hiked. The posthole path up Defiance is well defined and easy to follow and the summit has only a thin layer of snow. I put on spikes to help with traction on some of the steeper slopes heading up Defiance.

The postholes became deeper and the snow became softer on the descent, and was especially bothersome on the ridge between Lake Kulla Kulla and Mason Lake. From Mason Lake, it was easy going and I took spikes off just past the Bandera Junction.