Jul 17, 2018
I would start by saying most things you have read about this hike are absolutely true, and that if you aren't clear on how to get there or where you are going then you aren't alone. We took the Tamihi FSR road up the 15km to a large looking parking lot. A 4x4 is absolutely recommended but I wouldn't suggest anything too large as there are some boulders that are difficult to maneuver around. It is quite overgrown as well so prepare to add some forest paint to your vehicle. There is no clear trailhead although it seems the best start is at the far end of the gravel area. Continue up the boulder field to the right and eventually you will find the path. There is some orange flag tape that is helpful for the majority. The trail from here is easy to follow and gives you outstanding views to the north and the south. We got a little uncertain/wary of the trail once you get to the bottom of McGuire. The flagging tape becomes really hard to spot and there aren't many cairns. You need to cross a lot of loose rock and snow patches along the south east ridge. At this point we were burnt, sore, and a little deflated at the amount of time it took to find where we were headed so we stopped at a nice lookout. It is quite close to what seems like the old trail that leads up to the actual summit. Next time!
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