The ridgetop trail bends back into Little Willow and crosses a high-altitude marsh.  The trail is finally cornered where steep slopes run into Little Willow Creek at 7800 feet.

The ridgetop trail continues from the Third Leg, sticking to the point of the ridge until approximately 7500 feet elevation.  It is important to avoid forks (such as the obvious one in the aerial photo) that lead toward the creek before reaching the correct elevation.  The ridge separating Big and Little Willow canyon now flattens and ends at the base of a towering, tilted granite formation.

Rising 1200 feet, the formation dominates the view of both canyons and stands guard over the entrance to the twin upper forks of Little Willow.  It has withstood the forces of glaciation to give the otherwise gradual canyon a crooked shape and sharp rise.  The hiking route around it necessarily hugs two of its sides, starting at the base and passing near its rocky crown.

Faced with this unavoidable obstacle, the ridgetop trail veers right near a boulder promontory and climbs into a flatter, somewhat protected marshy area.  A great variety of lush plant life nearly obscures the route, but the trail can be followed.  A small log bridge crosses a streamlet that feeds into the creek.

The trail ascends reasonable slopes as far as possible, but at 7800 feet elevation the steep hillside flanking the granite towers closes in against the opposite slope of the canyon and the trail is forced on to the bank of the creek.

Scott:  The trail along the hogsback has a lot of deceptive side trails coming off of it, but you gotta stay the course and keep following it up until you get to the promontory at about 7500 feet.  The mountain flattens out nicely in this area where the trail will finally head to the right, your last chance to hit Little Willow Creek before things get steep.

Jeff:  Because of the abundant water, quakies and stinging nettle are thick near the top of this leg.

Andrew:  Hikers in front of you will flick branches in your face on this leg.  The marsh is an odd climate at such elevation.

Ryan:  Does the nettle really "sting?"  Or is it more of an allergic reaction?