off-trail from Mokowanis Lake

The standard route up Mount Merritt leaves the maintained trail near the Mokowanis Lake backcountry campground and heads east. The first several hundred feet of elevation gained will involve some bushwhacking; fortunately, our group located a mostly dry stream bed that aided in the ascent. We encountered these steep, impassable cliffs, it's best to detour to the north (left) to locate easier terrain. August 27, 2011