There's a road up from the switchback near the Red Mountain mining overlook - there are Idarado Mine signs on the gate - for a short distance and then the remaining route to the summit is off-trail. It basically heads northwest through the hills and basins between that area and the peak. I followed drainages down low and then just natural contours of the hills up higher. Route finding was a bit of a pain and the route was steep with no breaks. A few times I found myself climbing crumbling 40 degree slopes which were unpleasant. Upon arriving at Ptarmigan Lake a prominent ramp on the lake's south side appeared and I took this ramp to the summit ridge and then the summit. Above the lake the rock is super junky dirt/pea gravel/chip rock. Not hard but absolute garbage. The summit block is neat.
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