[Randito]

Original plan was Granite mtn, but it's head was in the clouds. Drove further. Trail gained 3200 ft in under 3 miles, with nary a switchback. Trail was in OK shape, but lost 3/4 way up in a meadow that was so little traveled that there was no tread in the grass and bog gentians. Found tread again along the ridge leading to abandoned lookout site. We saw no other humans.

[puzzlr]

Based on the view, it looks like you're on the Jolly Mountain trail starting from the road. Is that right?

[Mikey]

There is a road (USFS 4315) that goes from the highway to Salmon La Sac to near the top of the ridge which goes easterly to Jolly Mtn. There are 2 gates on 4315, one near the highway and the other gate is about halfway from the valley to the top of the ridge. It is my observation that the one or both gates are closed during dry hot weather because of fire danger. The 3,200 ft elevation gain is too much to have hiked from the Jolly Mtn road 2nd gate gate to Jolly Mtn. Of course Randyhiker could have hiked the old Jolly Mtn trail which is north of the Jolly Mtn road and Randyhiker's comment about little sign of trail use in the meadow provides a clue that he might have hiked the old Jolly Mtn trail which is not used much since road 4315 was constructed.

[Randito]

In my second picture, the northern part of Jolly mtn is visible, including the fire break from the Jolly Mtn Fire a few years ago. Davis Peak is visible on the left side of the 2nd image. The first image looks toward Lemah and Chimney rock. But their heads are in the clouds.

[joker]

I was somewhat impressed to see horse poo up on the ridge we reached quite near the top of the hike. Some riders are up for more interesting challenges than others, clearly. Oh, and on the way down, I did notice some old somewhat grown over tread in said meadow, coming from the trail we'd found from above as we descended. But it did not connect to the trail we took up - it instead went toward a rocky gully that may have once been trail but did not seem nearly as savory a walk as the way we went up and down just below the meadow. Old trails tell some interesting stories, but often a little while after you'd like them to have done so!

[neek]

Wait, Red isn't further than Granite...oh that Granite, OK.