Forum Index > Trip Reports > Iron Spring Mtn., 05.17.14
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics
Location: Margaritaville
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostMon May 19, 2014 5:18 pm 
After a hot, windy week full of fires & chaos, things finally cooled down a bit & pleasant hiking conditions returned. smile.gif MM & I came back to an area we'd been to twice before, but just to the west @ Beauty Pk. This time we came to tackle Beauty's eastern neighbor, Iron Spring Mtn. The 1st part of the route is the same -- follow an old rd. that leads to a ducked trail that leads you to a drainage you follow up & over a saddle to a berm w/a rd. on top. But instead of going right for Beauty Pk., one turns left for Iron Spring Mtn. & picks up a path heading east for the peak. The route hadn't changed much, other than the fact that it seemed to have more ducks. Someone would've been hard pressed to get lost. lol.gif
Trailhead
Trailhead
More plants were blooming than I expected. & once again we saw a horny toad. Same one? wub.gif
Purple blooms
Purple blooms
Flowery bush
Flowery bush
Headin' up the old rd.
Headin' up the old rd.
Horned lizard
Horned lizard
Horned lizard
Horned lizard
We aimed for the drainage, taking the most direct path as there are a couple that exist before it drops down. Minus a well-intentioned but ill-fated attempt to show me his "bypass", MM & I had smooth sailing up the wash.
Heading toward that drainage
Heading toward that drainage
Looking back toward the TH
3 labels
Looking back toward the TH
Beavertail bloom
Beavertail bloom
Beavertail bloom
Beavertail bloom
Orange blooms
Orange blooms
Ducked wash
Ducked wash
MM coming up the wash
MM coming up the wash
Blooms
Blooms
Upper part of the wash
Upper part of the wash
Hills below Iron Spring Mtn.
Hills below Iron Spring Mtn.
We reached the berm & turned left on the rd., looking carefully for the path that would lead us toward the summit...not sure how overgrown it might be since the last report I read. Soon we came across a well-marked junction. up.gif
Start of trail that goes left off of the rd.
Start of trail that goes left off of the rd.
The trail was in good shape & only required minimal clipping. It made its way up/over/around some false summits, steeply @ times, & then only near the end did the trailbuilder get a little lazy in his/her work. After carefully negotiating some poison oak & other small obstacles, we got to the top. cool.gif
Summit in the middle area
1 label
Summit in the middle area
Beavertail bloom
Beavertail bloom
Looking over @ Beauty Pk.
Looking over @ Beauty Pk.
Trail heads up/around that middle bump
Trail heads up/around that middle bump
Cahuilla Mtn.
Cahuilla Mtn.
Beauty Pk.
Beauty Pk.
Prickly pear bloom
Prickly pear bloom
Beavertail bloom
Beavertail bloom
Blooming yucca
Blooming yucca
Summit in that direction
Summit in that direction
Glider
Glider
Glider
Glider
Summit:
Summit register dates back to 1982.  Almost 32 yrs. later & still no beer.
Summit register dates back to 1982. Almost 32 yrs. later & still no beer.
How pathetic
How pathetic
View SW
View SW
View west to Tule Pk.
View west to Tule Pk.
View NW to Cahuilla Mtn.
View NW to Cahuilla Mtn.
View north to San Jacinto
View north to San Jacinto
View NE to Santa Rosa Mtn. & Toro Pk.
View NE to Santa Rosa Mtn. & Toro Pk.
View SE to Combs & Hot Springs Mtn.
2 labels
View SE to Combs & Hot Springs Mtn.
View south
View south
MM & BC on summit of Iron Spring Mtn.
MM & BC on summit of Iron Spring Mtn.
Bye-bye summit!
Bye-bye summit!
For the route down, we made one change by doing a bypass of the berm rd., shaving off an unnecessary mile where the route normally parallels itself & doesn't make much sense for anyone using the north trailhead. wink.gif
New trail
New trail
Start of the new trail that branches off toward Iron Spring Mtn., bypassing the berm rd.
Start of the new trail that branches off toward Iron Spring Mtn., bypassing the berm rd.
Like dumbasses we, for the 3rd time, somehow got a little off track when trying to follow the transition from trail to road as the route nears the car. Something about this crucial junction is clear when heading up in the morning, but very indistinguishable when heading out in fading light. doh.gif Oh well, next time...if there is one. lol.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Ski
><((((°>



Joined: 28 May 2005
Posts: 12798 | TRs | Pics
Location: tacoma
Ski
><((((°>
PostMon May 19, 2014 8:12 pm 
cool. nice flowers! wink.gif

"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics
Location: Inexorable descent
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostMon May 19, 2014 8:59 pm 
Thanks for the cactus hike! up.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Studebaker Hoch
Member
Member


Joined: 04 Jul 2013
Posts: 463 | TRs | Pics
Location: eastside
Studebaker Hoch
Member
PostMon May 19, 2014 10:29 pm 
Yeah life crippling depression is so pathetic

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trip Reports > Iron Spring Mtn., 05.17.14
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum