Hike Flagpole Peak from the bottom of Echo Summit

For this hike there are two places you can start from. One is at the Echo Lakes parking lot and the other is at the bottom of Echo Summit (where we started at). Parking at the gun tower at the bottom of Echo Summit you'll be looking right at the face of Flagpole. After parking just off the side of the road (there is no parking at the gun tower and you'll be fined parking there) you cross Hwy 50 and begin the trek by following the cairns. There aren't many of them as the trail makes its way through some brush. 

Right off the bat this hike is a scramble up some decently steep hillside that is full of granite slabs. You're goal is to aim for the saddle at the top of the hillside. After a calf burning climb you reach the summit and make your way through a small meadow before another short scramble along the ridge. Here at the ridge it's every person for himself/herself as the trail fades away, the rocks grow, and you begin your scramble for the peak. If you look up you'll see the flagpole and know you're close. Once your reach the top enjoy some great views, but be careful because there isn't a ton of room up there. On our hike down we sent it straight down the hillside down the gully. Here you make your way down the hillside in lots of decomposed granite and dirt. About a 1/3 of the way from the bottom is when you run into lots of brush so carefully pick your path on the way down. At the bottom you'll be looking for a dirt fire road which you will follow to the south back to the base of the gun tower (from the top and all the way down you can see the road which makes it easy to make your way out).