11.5 miles of hiking • 5000' elevation gain •
Took Mt. Defiance trail up, then Starvation Ridge trail down. After reading so much about this hike, it turned much better than expected. Vine maples put on a show on a lower half of the trail. I liked Warren Lake, it's not jammed deep in dark gorge but still feels like mountain lake. There are a couple of nice campsites on the lake. It's right that you don't get much views from the summit of Defiance, but the views from the rock field just west and SW of summit are superb. There is nice viewpoint above Warren Lake, and a couple more on Starvation Ridge trail.
The weather held great all day; the downpour began not 25 miles from the trailhead as I was driving home. Not sure I'd enjoy this hike in a sunny 80 degrees day, but when it's lower 40's, sunny and breezy, the elevation feels good.
