Mount Defiance, Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Friday, Jul. 18, 2003

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

Perhaps this report will be helpful in all the old/new trail talk. Some of what I pass on is hearsy. Follow the old road/trail 15 minutes to the sign pointing uphill 'Mason Lake'. About 5 minutes up this trail is an obvious split. The left fork is the old-old trail, very pleasant with much pine needle cushion. There is blowdown, but you're near the cooling creek. The right fork is the old trail, which quickly becomes a dirty gully, which hikers may waterslide down in the rain. Each route, especially the creekside trail, has many minor variations. The old-old trail avoids most of the large talus field by crossing a creek. Eventually both paths meet at a sign 'main trail' pointing exactly between the two routes. The new trail is the not-yet-open Bandera trail another 15 minutes up the road/trail. Right now it ends on Bandera's west shoulder, with pink flagging leading you substantially downhill to Mason Lake. Apparently the old-old and the old will be decomissioned when the new is finished. How about the hike? Follow the sweet creekside trail to the bottom of the talus field. Ignore the arrow pointing left and scramble up to intersect the cairns. Follow those uphill. Find something resembling trail and follow it to the lake. Cross the outlet and follow the lakeshore. Eventually the trail heads away from the lake and to a junction. Right will take you to Pratt Mt. We went left up the ridge to Mt Defiance. It takes awhile, but you know you're getting close when a field full of rioting tiger lillies appears. I have never seen so many flowers! Go all the way to the west ridge before finding the way trail to the top. It was dang hot today. Man, my wife is tough! Awesome views, mostly of trees and lakes. Four volcanos and 1,000,000 bugs. It feels longer and taller than is suggested. R/T 11 miles, 3400' gain, 3:30 up, 2:20 down.