Distance

2.3 mi to summit

7.4 mi total

Elevation

6,576 ft start

9,986 ft max

Vertical

3,495 ft gain

Time

2 hr 47 min to summit

7 hr 3 min total

I've been wanting to try this route to Harris for a while now, but the idea of bushwhacking didn't entice me, so I kept putting it off. Well, today was the day. Ritch and I started from across the roundabout from the Spring Mountain Visitor Center, hiked onto the Packrat Trail, then the Escarpment Trail before breaking off to attempt the potential break in the cliffs. Luckily, it did go through, so we saved a bit of trail walking. Once above the cliffs, we tried to make our way to the ridge I had planned to go up, but it was too difficult to get to, so we chose another steep ridge. The brush was thick & painful, but passable without a machete. Once on the ridgeline, the brush was much more manageable. We made our way along the ridge, stopping at Dragonfly Overlook and Mally Peak along the way. Instead of returning the same way, we opted for a more direct route down to the road. It started out steep, but ok. It never got BAD, but it wasn't good until we hit pavement at the campground. We hiked through the campground, then took a series of trails back to the Visitor Center, then our car. It was a hot, humid, tiring day.

Obstacles

routefinding, bushwhacking, rockfall/loose rock

Key gear

no info yet

Other peaks climbed on this trip