Much of the terrain of the Third Leg is a continuation of the Second with gradually increasing altitude.  The Sawmill trail ends at the start of the scenic Big Willow trail, which crosses the ridge.  A third trail forks from the Big Willow trail at the ridgetop and follows the ridge upward.

Over half of the Third Leg recalls the leisurely pitch of the Second.  The walk is devoid of switchbacks and well-suited to backpacking.  Then the route edges toward the creek, and the Sawmill Trail has served its purpose:  getting the traveler from the top of the Log Slide to the base of the canyon's heavily-forested upper slopes with very little change in altitude.  Several yards before the trail dead-ends at cascades in the creek, an avalanche warning sign highlights the danger presented by the deforested slopes above the endpoint of the trail.

With a sharp turn at the sign, the work of a new trail architect is presented--someone who was more interested in exploration than wood.  This is the start of the Big Willow trail.  There's no doubt that the trailblazer was grateful for the work that made the Sawmill trail, but this new route takes an aggressive track out of the canyon on a large switchback that turns uniquely West.

Within 200 yards the top of the canyon-separating ridge is achieved and the trail turns East, entering the inviting forest on the South slope of Big Willow.  The trail continues to the Big Willow cirque 3000 feet above.  More details of that route are presented in the Big Willow section of this website.

Back where the trail crosses the ridge, an infrequently-used path heads straight up the ridgetop.  This route could only have been made for one purpose:  access to the upper drainage of Little Willow from the Big Willow trail.  This new route is comparatively overgrown but easy to follow through the Third Leg.  Forks break off after several yards, but a consistent trail can be followed by staying near the top of the ridge.

Scott:  Easy going ends at the avalanche warning sign, where you can continue straight ahead to the creek if you need to fill up with water.  Where the trail enters Big Willow it's an even more enjoyable hike due to the abundance of trees & shade.  I went that way back in '88 with some friends (and no map) and we were greatly disappointed to get so near the top and find no obvious trail to the summit.  That's why we chose to follow the obscure, unmaintained trail and take our chances in Little Willow.

Andrew:  Upon locating the ridgetop trail I was relieved that we were not the pioneers of this summit strategy.  We may not be the first to get to Lone Peak this way, but we'll try to document it better than anyone has.

Jeff:  Bring a machete: those who follow will thank you.

Ryan:  You can pick up a decent machete in most sporting equipment stores for under $10, but people look at you funny when you hack away at the shelves like Indiana Jones.  Well...they looked at me funny.