So I went straight to the hardest one? Yah, why not. Got it out of the way!
Trail was good out there today, started early cause I just knew it would be slow going with two dogs and my son. Many breaks were taken including a backtrack at the very beginning. Trail is truly about 14 miles. AllTrails make sure to read distance doesn’t start at the lot – starts about a mile up. Someone needs their distance wheely gig recalibrated!

Mt Defiance hurts afterword, I am no expert as the trail is rated. But managed to pull it off.
lots of poison oak and ivy on the trails currently. It’s really not a horrible trail, it’s more the commitment with your time, and the constant uphill or down hill pain, it makes you want to give up. Tough it out. At the end of the day I say it was worth the effort. We skipped the round about at the top feeling it just wasn’t necessary. Why add more pain , lol

Great conditions today. Would I do it again, probably not. 1 and Done!