From the end of the short road that turns off FR611 and goes up along Fish Creek on the west side, follow a trail uphill on the left and that leads to an old logging road that you may follow up through open, logged meadows and forest. In this area, on the west side of the creek, we found numerous old logging roads, each one maybe 20 to 50 feet higher in elevation than the last. But the logging operation must have been many years ago because these old roads were mostly well grown over. Utilize these roads as you need to continue up the drainage. Fish Creek tends to narrow into a "gorge" and staying down by the creek is pointless. Stay well above the creek on the west bank and follow a minor ridge up through the forest to gain a couple "bench" areas. In 2005, and again in 2014, the forest was in good condition and fairly open without a lot of fallen debris.
After a half mile to a mile, the roads run out. Continue a steady climb through the forest and staying on a ridge overlooking the creek. We began to see evidence of elk, and as we hiked higher, we could hear them calling to each other, so we began to slow our walk and keep heading up valley as quietly as possible. Soon, we found a small group in the trees and just below open, grassy slopes to the west. A young, 3-point bull presented himself within our camera view and we snapped several photos. For several minutes, they had no idea we were there and we were within yards of some, but then they began to sense our presence and moved off up into the tundra and across a minor ridge.
After emerging from that minor ridge, follow a route and a game trail along a high bench that heads up toward the Middle/Dunn saddle and stays just below the rubble piles below the cliffs on the east side of Dunn. Along this stretch, as we passed by some low evergreens and willows, we flushed out some creature that went crashing down the mountainside and out of sight before we could determine if it was a deer or an elk. Eventually, the trail leads into the center of the drainage and you can hike over mostly tundra to near the saddle before turning east to climb Middle Peak.
At or near the saddle, begin the long gain of the west ridge of Middle Peak. The first 400 feet along this ridge is rocky but straightforward. The next 600 feet, is considerably steeper and very rocky. From a distance, you may even wonder if you will encounter some very difficult obstacles. Nothing really hinders though, but it is slow going on the steep, broken rock. About 200 feet from the summit, the steepness begins to moderate a little and you can continue hiking with less difficulty over more rock. We arrived at the 13,261 summit marked on the survey map, paused briefly to survey the view, then proceeded on to the true summit, that is southeast along the ridge. This final portion is an easy stroll and you should arrive at the true summit shortly. From here, there is a commanding view in all directions of the rolling, hilly landscape that covers this area. Forest and green meadow are in abundance everywhere. The road south of Dunton is very visible. This entire portion of the state offers some very attractive camping almost anywhere amid the vast meadows and deep green forests. It is certainly an area to visit again for some leisurely camping some day. After admiring the view, proceed on to Dolores Peak by continuing generally south along the ridge crest.