CHS 2 Hike - Mount Defiance

Meet at the Ira Spring trailhead at 7:30AM.  This is off I-90 eastbound at exit 45.

Carpooling is recommended for this busy and often congested trailhead.  Meet at 6:40AM the parking lot of the Issaquah Tibbetts Valley Skatepark, 1600 Newport Way NW, Issaquah, WA 98027

(https://www.google.com/maps/place/Issaquah+Tibbetts+Valley+Skatepark/@47.5410507,-122.0638446,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x54906f9230a689a9:0xbcce6290a4c94316!8m2!3d47.5410507!4d-122.0616506)

It is an approximate 45 minute drive from the park and ride to the trailhead.  Please let the leader know beforehand if you will be meeting at the trailhead or at the park and ride.

We will hike the Ira Spring Trail through second growth forest, over Bandera Ridge, and down to Mason Lake. From there we will continue on to the summit of Mount Defiance where, weather permitting, we will have views in every direction. From Mounts Adams and Rainier in the south to Mount Baker in the far north, with a host of Cascade peaks in between. Nearby, look for Granite and Bandera Mountains, and to the west look for Dirty Harry's Peak, Russian Butte, and Mount Teneriffe. The lake 1800 feet below is Lake Kulla Kulla. We will return to the trailhead via the same route.

Here is a link to the WTA description of this hike:

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-defiance

The upper slopes of Mt Defiance are steep and have little shade.  Sunscreen and/or sun protective clothing and hiking poles are recommended.