The first major route obstacle is a quarter-mile scramble.  Following that, the canyon forks and turns East.  The North fork is a trail-less but easily traveled glacier valley.

The Fifth Leg can be considered the most difficult leg of the ascent.  Unlike the hill climb in the First Leg, the steep portion here has no definite trail and no room for switchbacks.

Upon reaching the North bank of the creek and the steep terrain presented in every direction, the ridgetop trail dissolves into the forest and hillside, reflecting the variety of strategies employed by individual hikers facing this obstacle.

Straight ahead the hillside begins an obvious and uninviting upward tilt.  Crossing the creek seems a better option, and there is a fine dry-foot traverse just ahead on the right.  But after crossing the options are not easier.  The pitch is identical to the North side and the thick forest of the canyon's South slope allows no visibility.  Downed timber creates ascending hurdles that are overwhelming for backpackers.  A hiker might attempt to climb through this dense maze in a vain effort to reach a spur trail from the "Trail of the Eagle" which allegedly enters the canyon above at 8600 feet.  But if it was ever a route of significance it has long since been reclaimed by nature.  There are short segments in the area that are trail mirages, and all of them end in washout slides.

First Route Obstacle:  Quarter-mile Class 2 hill scramble

Hard as it is to believe, staying on the North side of the creek is the absolute easiest way to pass this obstacle and enter the upper drainage of Little Willow canyon.  It is also the shortest route, since it cuts closer to the inside bend of the canyon.  The required scramble extends from approximately 7800 to 8600 feet elevation, or 800 feet gained over a quarter mile.  The pitch of the slope is great enough to require the use of hands in some places, and it can be fairly graded Class 2.

It is important to maintain at least several yards distance from the creek; no trail exists on the upward bank, and it is overgrown and even more steep.  An intermittent faint path emerges in several places and provides the best direction if it can be found.  Although the obvious trails are gone, the correct route can reliably be followed by moving parallel to the creek.  Upon reaching 8600 feet elevation the slope decreases, the scramble is complete, and the route has entered the North fork of upper Little Willow canyon.

It's possible to pass the North fork of Little Willow and climb higher into the South fork, where the Outlaw Cabin, Bear Canyon trail, and a connection to the South summit route are located.  The Bear Canyon trail passes nearby at 9000 feet, at the top of the forested ridge.  Unfortunately the climb into the South fork is as steep and obstructed as anything encountered below, and the North fork is a more direct summit route from here.

There is no common trail in the North upper drainage, but up here a trail isn't needed.  The canyon makes a sharp turn to the East where it bends around the back of the granite towers.  A wide, U-shaped canyon floor indicates glacial rather than fluvial erosion, and there are several reasonable routes.  The path toward the summit is easy to follow upward.  With the change in elevation and slope direction from the lower canyon the hindering brush and scrub trees give way to thinner alpine plants and aspen.

Although not shown on the topo, a stream bed runs along the bottom of the North drainage and joins Little Willow creek.  The stream flows as late as August.  The North side of the creek is not forested and makes an easier route.

Scott:  This is where things start to fall apart, as far as trails are concerned.  Plenty of choices, but none of them good.  I convinced the team to try the "Scott Bypass," crossing the creek and bushwhacking our way up the steep side of Little Willow in a desperate bid to find the spur from Trail of the Eagle.  Having searched for it twice this summer, I now believe that it no longer exists, obliterated by slides or simply due to lack of maintenance.  Sure, you can follow animal paths to your heart's content, each time thinking you've found the trail, but sooner or later they all fizzle out to disappointment.  On the return trip, we came down the north side of the creek, following some equally sketchy trails thru a lot of undergrowth, but a much better descent than the tortuous 4 hour climb searching for the non-existent trail.  If you come this way, it's up to you to choose your poison, but I'd recommend the sketchy trails north of the creek -if you can find them.
 At about 8600 feet, the creek is a confluence of runoff from two upper canyons, the more obvious waterfall looking one coming down from the Outlaw Cabin.  It's still steep going that way up to almost 9200 if you want to join up with the trail running past the cabin.  We planned on the less steep, but comparatively untraveled drainage to the north.  Finding ourselves nearly out of daylight and completely drained, we camped for the night at about 8700 feet, 500 feet lower than planned.

Jeff:  When you get out of the thick trees and can hear the creek about 20 feet away, the best trail is ahead on your left.  Scale the 6 foot boulder and head up the steep north slope.
The stream through here comes above ground in various places.  It is small but will keep your water bottles cold.

Andrew:  Near where the trail meets the creek, someone had left a Diet Coke can in the water.  I was going to pick it up as trash, but it was unopened.  If you lost it or you're thirsty, there it is.
We split up and searched the south slope for three hours and did not locate the Eagle Trail spur, so there it isn't.

Ryan:  Diet Coke?  Only in an emergency.