[Tim Hagan]

Our party of four climbed Web Mountain (5335 ft) on West Defiance Ridge. We ascended the Ira Spring trail to Mason Lake.

Mason Lake reflection.

Then we headed up the Mt Defiance trail and traversed mist-covered flower fields towards the west ridge.

Mt Defiance trail.

Of course, there were no views along the west ridge on our way to Web Mountain. The route started out on a fairly decent trail but deteriorated into somewhat tricky scrambling on loose rocks and wet heather, sometimes on the ridge top but mostly along the steep and slippery south slope.

On West Defiance Ridge.

On West Defiance Ridge.

On West Defiance Ridge.

We had a familiar view of the inside of a cloud from the summit.

Inspecting the contents of the Geo-cache on the summit of Web Mountain.

We returned along the ridge but missed our exit in the fog and ended up descending straight down the south slope. A "secret" trail we had read about in the summit register never materialized and we wound up thrashing our way downwards through damp brush in fine style.

Oops, wrong ridge, guys.

Can't see a thing, so this must be the way.

Oh yeah, this looks better.

Almost down.

The little man on my Garmin GPS led us to the side trail that takes off from the first switchback on the Ira Spring trail. Five minutes later we were wringing out our boots and drinking the beers we had carried up to the summit and back. All in all, a pretty stoopid loop, and not recommended. At least, not the way we did it. Car to Summit: 7.0 miles in 4 hours Summit to Car: 2.5 miles in 3 hours And finally, a couple of flowers ...

Scouler's Harebell (Campanula scouleri) on the Ira Spring trail.

Dripping wet Tiger Lilies (Lilium columbianum) on the Mt Defiance trail.

[Malachai Constant]

I ave done the loop before and it is far easier to star from the IS trailhead and go straight at the first switchbak. then continue up toward Putrid Pete'sPeak then head right when the summit is in view and head for the ridge continue on the ridge until an easy path down to the north appears, soon you will intersect the Mount Defiance Trail follow that to Mason lake and follow either the Mason Lake or IS trail down.

[tigermn]

Ok I'll ask probably a stupid question but I'm a map reader/investgator type so it looks like another possible way on the map and wondered it anyone had done it. Specifically could you hook up to this peak from Dirty Harry's creek/museum area? From being up Dirty Harry'slast week, not sure if it would be reasonable to get up the first part. Looked real dense brush and steep. Hmm the track I drew says 1.3 miles 2241 feet gained (1723+ ft/mile)....Maybe I'm a fool... but a curious fool I guess.

Web Mountain from Dirty Harry? Is this possible?

[Malachai Constant]

here is also an established trail from the upper spur of Dirty Harry's Road just below the talus to Upper Granite Pond. There are then two routes to Banana Ridge one up the valley and the other up talus. From banana ridge you can easily acces Putrid Pete's Peak aka Web Mountain. There are geocaches both on banana ridge and along the route.

[dicey]

[tigermn]

[Malachai Constant]

That trail also goes to the museum Straight up to intersect an old road at a cairn then follow road to museum.

[tigermn]