Started early this morning to beat the heat. As always, the Herman Gulch Trail was packed with hikers heading to the lake. Beyond the lake, though, the route becomes much more challenging to navigate.
You can clearly see the saddle you're aiming for, but much of the route is off-trail, and it's surprisingly easy to get off course. There were quite a few people today wandering toward the saddle asking where to go.
Once you reach the saddle between Mount Bethel and the ridge, turn right. The first section of the route is well-defined, but that changes as you wrap around the back of the East Tower. Many people mistake the East Tower for the true summit—it is the East Summit Tower, but it's not the highest point.
From there, you have two options:
• Climb the East Tower and make the traverse to the true summit (West Summit).
• Continue around the East Tower and ascend a steep, loose gully to reach the West Summit.
I chose the standard route today, which bypasses the East Tower and climbs the loose gully. Depending on where you look, you'll find different route descriptions and ratings, and there are several variations. It's an area that has always felt a bit obscure.
After seeing the number of people out there today, though, I think going past the lake is becoming a much more popular objective. Just be prepared—once you leave the lake, route-finding becomes a significant part of the climb.