I'd never been up the middle trail, and it wasn't marked on any map that I've seen, so I decided to see what was in that direction. There was a white pipe following the right side of the trail.

These tanks lied a short distance up the trail. I assume that they're water for the BSA camp. The trail continued on the far side of the tanks.

The trail/road ended at this structure. Maybe a springhouse? I headed up canyon at this point with hopes of intersecting the Little Sur trail at some point.

Sure enough I met up with the trail after about 20 minutes of steep climbing. Turned left to follow the trail toward the Pico Blanco saddle.

There was a small clearing at the apex of the trail, marked by these ribbons. This is the place to leave the trail for those bound for the Pico Blanco summit.

Trailsign at the start of the Mt Manual Trail. I decided to head towards Vado and Launtz camps. Trail conditions deteriorated almost immediately after leaving the Little Sur trail.

Pre-attack sign atop the Launtz Ridge. The sign appears to have been used as a makeshift summit registry by parties dating back to the early 60's. Boon Hughey transcribed the graffitti in this DCQ article.

One of the first unobstructed views of Pico Blanco from the Mt. Manual trail. Pico Blanco is much less forested on this side.

See the trail? Neither could I. The Manual trail is slowly be reclaimed by the wilderness and is home to astounding quantities of poison oak.