[Randy]

Had a bit of free time on Sunday and the west of peak of Mount Defiance made for a quick trip. Got started at 1130 and hiked up the Mailbox Peak trail to about 4500’. No snow or other problems with the trail to this point, but a lot of traffic on this sunny Sunday. Here I left the trail and made a rising traverse to the east until I crested the ridge at about 4800’. I worked over a couple rock outcroppings and through a few stands of trees until I was on the summit around 1345. The summit is a mix of trees and large rocks, but unless you’re interested in completing the Homecourt 100, stick with Mailbox as the views are much better. For the return I retraced my route and was back at the trailhead at 1530. Stats aren’t much different than those for Mailbox - an extra half mile each way and about 4100’ of gain.

[Jeff R]

Sounds like you had a good time, thanks for the report! Were you anywhere near this picture?

Looking east towards Mount Defiance

[Randy]

Was this taken from the top of Mailbox or some other point?

[Malachai Constant]

I do not really know if this was West Defiance or really the unamed peak between Mailbox and Dirty Harrys Peak from the route description. You can get to West Defiance from Dirty Harrys Peak trail/road. It is also called Putrid Petes Peak, Web Peak and Banana Ridge and is usually accessed from a surprisingly good trail from the Ira Spring trail.

[Randy]

Yeah, it's a naming issue. What's commonly referred to as West Defiance is not what I hiked up. Here's what I went up. I'm guessing that most folks call Point 5335' West Defiance? Point 4926' has more prominence, so that's the one that gets the name in peakbagging circles.

[Jeff R]

My picture was taken right above spider lake, and after looking at your topo, you were still west of that point, could you see Granite or Thompson lakes from there?