Anyone interested in getting some SoCal SP'ers together to make the slog up Iron Mountain? Thinking about heading up either on the 18th or 25th of June. Early morning start to try and avoid the sun on the ridge.

http://www.summitpost.org/heaton-flat-t ... dge/264070

Gusto

thanks, taco.

I remember doing the the S. Fork of the San Gabriel River and looking for "gulches" along the way. Couldn't really tell one from the next once your out there in the middle of nowhere. Had to wait for the confluence coming from Iron Fork to really tell where we were.

Anyhoo... is there really NOONE interested? Someone else out there has to be gluttonous enough for the supposED "toughest hike in the San Gabriels"....????

c'mon! 14 miles with 7000 feet elevation gain... sounds like a dream come true!

eh?

Taco... What kind of time did you make from the saddle? Interested in heading up again?

Gusto

I was up there a few weeks ago. Was foggy and misty-rainy nearly all the way to the top. Nice & cool, but not exactly pleasant. At the last 1000 ft before the summit, I finally got above the fog where it was nice & sunny & quiet. Iron Mtn is a beast of a hike and although I can't confirm whether its the hardest or not in the Gabriels, I can confirm it beats the crap out of you. Going up is a nice steady burn, but its the descent down the winding, steep, rocky, loose gullies that really plays hell with your calves and quads.

Last summer, I had several run-ins with rather large and pissed off rattlesnakes on the descents. (I often jog a bit on the second half of the descent.) One afternoon, had one strike at my foot before I even knew it was there, thankfully I had on my heavy boots! That one had my heart racing for the rest of the trip.

Definitely one of my favorites.

Aaron

"top secret SG Death March"?

ooh, now that sounds enticing, what is it? Do tell!

While we're on the subject, anyone been to the abandoned mines below the ridge from Iron to Baldy? Is there much there to see?

Aaron

Taco wrote:I need to get my bike wheel trued and fixed, as that's my only transportation nowadays, so I'm a no-go for awhile.

Dude.. that f'n blows. I'd be willing to head out towards Chalupastan to pick you up, but leaving that early in the morning wouldn't be feasible coming from Pasadena.

Hmm.....SG Valley Death March... indeed, sounds enticing.

I supposed you could always do the grand tour with Iron as just the starting point, head over to Baldy, the three T's, Ontario, etc.... That would be one heck of a day-tripper. I don't think I'm quite up for that one....yet.

Gusto

p.s. Thanks for the rattlesnake tip. I'll be on the lookout for the creepy-crawlies.

Maybe the reason nobody wants to go, is because it's JUNE.

IMO the best time to climb Iron is when it's cold and there's some snow on top. Try posting this thread again in December, and I bet there would be more interest.

I just looked at my summit log, and it's been 5 years since the last time I was up there...almost time to go back again.

Taco wrote: and a silly book of names.

Blasphemy Taco Blasphemy

Gusto, If your still up for it don't forget to store water at the saddle. I went a few years back in late May during a heatwave and paid for it. Would love to go again but I'll be traveling.

Yep, bring lots of water from here on.

The first time I did this route, I nearly overheated on the way down, got pretty light-headed and dizzy. Thankfully, I ran into a rare grove of trees just in time where I could stop & cool down in the shade before things got worse. You're pretty exposed for most of the trail and the sun in the San Gabriel's can get downright mean & nasty.

Aaron

Rob wrote:Maybe the reason nobody wants to go, is because it's JUNE.

All part of the experience...

Lots of water.... Check.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some cloud cover and cooler weather like we've been having.



You never know, a guy could get lucky.

Gusto

puffer wrote:"top secret SG Death March"?

ooh, now that sounds enticing, what is it? Do tell!

While we're on the subject, anyone been to the abandoned mines below the ridge from Iron to Baldy? Is there much there to see?

Aaron

Good timing!

I've been to all the ones around Iron Mountain. I can't put all the links together right now, but check out http://socalhikes.com

Great link and nice photos! Alright, I definitely have to check that out. All those ruins and relics, too cool.

I haven't yet tried the ridge from Iron to Baldy, looks like it would kick the trail level up another notch.

Thanks again for the head's up on that site, got it bookmarked!

Aaron

Rick Kent has added another super feat to his Baldy -Iron traverse. This one is a 15 peaks in a day Baldy mega loop
http://rickkent.net
http://sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org/B ... t3937.html

F'ng Iron Mountain....

Trip report from last weekend found here:

http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.p ... irm_post=7

And for all of you who warned me about the heat, you can say, "I told you so."



Gusto

Steve1215 wrote:--

All this record-setting dayhiking stuff is for repressed fairies.

just sayin.


-

Spoken like a true master... of the couch.

Jus' sayin.

MooseTracks wrote:

Steve1215 wrote:--

All this record-setting dayhiking stuff is for repressed fairies.

just sayin.


-

Spoken like a true master... of the couch.

Jus' sayin.

Now now L, Steveoreno may be on to something. I think he’s suggesting that normal dayhiking is for overt poofters or latent he-men.
Jus’ adding

Seriously, McGusto congrats on getting up Fe Mt in the heat. It’s a tough hike under the best of conditions and extra tough in the heat