Iron Mountain

Saturday 5/21/16 I went back up Iron Mtn. This was my third time up and second time to the summit. Everything you read and hear about this hike says that it is tough and it's all true. Understated if anything. The trail starts off mild enough and is a pleasant hike to the wilderness sign. From there it continues up until you end up on the ridge and reach the helipad (white rocks) about 4 miles in. This is a good place to rest up, soak in the views and get ready for the push to the summit. Surprisingly there is cellphone reception here, so it's a good place to check in on the way up and to call to let whoever is waiting for you on the way down that you're going to be late. From the helipad you drop way down to the saddle, begrudging every lost foot of elevation. At the saddle you have a very steep climb, not a scramble, but very, very steep. Get used to it, because there are a few off these sections to come. There is very little level trail to come, just almost constant uphill, broken up by some very steep loose sections and a few heartbreaking downhill sections. The distance is not far, only about 3 miles from the helipad, but it is a long, hard 3 miles. It will take hours. More hours than you think. More than you will want to admit. On most hikes you can figure out how long it will take by how many miles it is, throw that out the window, a mile here can take an hour. There are strong hikers, part human part mountain goat who can make it to the summit in 4 hours, but I'm not one of them. This is a long hard slog. The view from the summit, if you have one, is awesome. And when you're up there you take a look at the traverse to Baldy or the route to the summit up the north ridge, and realize that as hard as the trail from Heaton Flats is that it is the easy route. After rejoicing, posing and picture taking, resting and refueling on the summit it is time for the walk down. If anything this is worse than the climb up. It is extremely steep loose and slippery and skips and falls are almost inevitable. Take it slow and careful it ain't easy, but eventually it'll get done. Once at the helipad the hike back seems like a walk in the park. It isn't, it's still a long way back to the car and there are some steep parts too, but they are anti-climatic after everything you have been through. This is a great hike, well worth the effort, but it is a tremendous effort. I'd advise pants and long sleeves, if you can stand them, and gloves. The yuccas will slice you up and leave you bloody. Take more water than you think you'll need and then stuff a couple more liters in your pack. I used 5 liters on a cool cloudy day and gave a liter to my hiking buddy when he ran out. If the sun is shining and it's warm it could be 6-7 liters easy. Stash some at the helipad or the saddle if you don't want to hump it all the way to the summit, but bring plenty. You don't want to be the poor thirsty soul taking the long walk down to the trailhead in the afternoon sun with no water. If you think you're ready for a challenge this is one. It's a tough, though hike, but well worth it. The aches and pains will go away, but the feeling of satisfaction lingers.