The North edge of the valley is a boulder field.  An easier route exists on the right after a forested slope.

This stretch is a mix of patches of White Fir, small clearings, and short hills over an irregular slope.  Just East of the Sixth Leg's meadow, a forested hill bulges into the valley from the South.  There's still no obvious trail, and a lower route around the left of the hill looks reasonable.  The slope is more gradual there, but it's covered with a huge boulder field.

A climb over the top of the forested hill is recommended, but here's what we encountered on the left route:
Adjacent to the North side of the valley a massive granite fin separates the former glaciers of Big and Little Willow canyons.  Its South face is a 400-foot high wall beautifully interrupted by firs that grow precariously from vertical fissures.  This monolith (we'll refer to it as the false summit cleaver) forms the West flank of the summit ridge.  Directly across from it is a much smaller rock wall.  Both formations appear vulnerable to continuous weathering, and the fruit of their decay fills the valley floor.

Upon entering the left route there is no escape from this large boulder field, and some time will be used in crossing it.  A photo to the right shows scale, and much of the debris is truck-sized.  Hopping from rock to rock will work for some short distances, but the size of these chunks will require much use of hands, especially uphill.  Class 2 is a realistic grade.

Part of this workout can be bypassed by climbing next to the North wall on a grassy slope, but there are two problems to consider; first, the pitch is extreme and tiring, second, the middle of the valley is safer than the edge where house-sized granite pieces are converted to car sizes after they drop from above.  The grassy slope also ends in some boulder-hopping.

Eventually the boulders end in more patchy forest and clearings, and an easier climb resumes.

Scott:  We were spoiled by the big meadow in the sixth leg, and I didn't expect much in the way of obstacles between there and the county line.  Were we in for a surprise!  At about 9500 feet, we again met steeper slopes, but this time there were boulders.  Huge rocks, everywhere in your path.  This slowed our pace quite a bit.

Jeff:  On the ascent through the boulder field, you might be tempted to hug the left side of the drainage, next to the granite wall.  That can be done but it's very steep, and shouldn't be used for the descent.

Andrew:  We went the wrong way.  Stay to the right and climb the hill after the meadow.

Ryan:  I didn't go the wrong way.  Ha ha!