Iron mountain
Apr 11, 2009
by
D.Baxter
—
last modified
Apr 14, 2009 09:46 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Iron mountain
- Region: Central Cascades -- Blewett Pass
- Avg Rating: 3.67
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Snow on trail
Iron Mountain summit.
Who needs to think of original trip ideas when you can just pick a recent one to a new destination and hop in the car? The real reason was to escape the bad forecast of course. We left behind rain at Snoqualmie and emerged from our cars under blue skies and sun at the start of the road! Right now one can drive as far as the second bridge, about a half mile up the road, with a 4x4 or Subaru. There is a good turn around and parking spot here. I wouldn't go further though; we found a little Jeep stuck not too far beyond with no sign of the driver. We parked just before the first bridge.
After walking the road and crossing the creek we started up the ridge towards Serpentine. No snow at the start but the ground was fairly soft and slick in places. We gained the ridge and continued on with our eyes on Serpentine. Some rock outcroppings caused us to detour around the south side before climbing straight up. Our route took us through some loose scree and steep dirt, not too fun. Beyond the rocks though travel was easier if a little brushy. Near the top of Serpentine we found the melted remnants of footprints, probably from the Schmidts trip. Views from the top were local but good out towards Miller peak.
We dropped down to the little saddle on steep dirt and soft snow before picking up an old road headed towards Iron mountain. We followed this most of the way walking in old snowmobile tracks and occasional bare dirt. As we neared the saddle we began to post hole in the warming snow and stopped to put on snowshoes. Post holing was solved but it was still slow going. Near the saddle we ascended straight up to the ridge under crusty crummy snow. A short climb but tiring. Now it was just a short distance to the top of Iron.
We continued up, now in firmer snow in the trees. About halfway up we dropped our snowshoes and booted the rest. The snow was very unconsolidated and made for some very deep post holing. The top was a welcome sight! We sat around in the sun, comfortable except for the strong wind, and enjoyed the view. No sign of Stuart but we could see several Teanaway peaks. After some photos and an enjoyable stay we post holed our way back down to our discarded snowshoes and started the descent.
Sadly no glissades on the upper slope for us. The snow was far too wet and soft to even get going. We plunge stepped in snowshoes back to the road and began the slog out. Along the way we managed to cut the two switchbacks, save some time, and get in a short slide on old snowmobile tracks! The alternating soft snow and bare dirt made for a few annoying snowshoe changes before we finally put them on our back for the rest of the descent below Serpentine. We used another old road to skirt along the south side and avoid any climbing.
Our road dead ended and disappeared around where we'd climbed straight upslope on the ascent. We managed to pick up our trail and followed our own footprints or faint game trails back down to the main road. Surprisingly the stuck little Jeep wagon was still there! Still no sign of the driver or any other hikers all day.
Great day to be out! Blue skies, sun, and even some wildflowers! My first glacier lily find of the year!
After walking the road and crossing the creek we started up the ridge towards Serpentine. No snow at the start but the ground was fairly soft and slick in places. We gained the ridge and continued on with our eyes on Serpentine. Some rock outcroppings caused us to detour around the south side before climbing straight up. Our route took us through some loose scree and steep dirt, not too fun. Beyond the rocks though travel was easier if a little brushy. Near the top of Serpentine we found the melted remnants of footprints, probably from the Schmidts trip. Views from the top were local but good out towards Miller peak.
We dropped down to the little saddle on steep dirt and soft snow before picking up an old road headed towards Iron mountain. We followed this most of the way walking in old snowmobile tracks and occasional bare dirt. As we neared the saddle we began to post hole in the warming snow and stopped to put on snowshoes. Post holing was solved but it was still slow going. Near the saddle we ascended straight up to the ridge under crusty crummy snow. A short climb but tiring. Now it was just a short distance to the top of Iron.
We continued up, now in firmer snow in the trees. About halfway up we dropped our snowshoes and booted the rest. The snow was very unconsolidated and made for some very deep post holing. The top was a welcome sight! We sat around in the sun, comfortable except for the strong wind, and enjoyed the view. No sign of Stuart but we could see several Teanaway peaks. After some photos and an enjoyable stay we post holed our way back down to our discarded snowshoes and started the descent.
Sadly no glissades on the upper slope for us. The snow was far too wet and soft to even get going. We plunge stepped in snowshoes back to the road and began the slog out. Along the way we managed to cut the two switchbacks, save some time, and get in a short slide on old snowmobile tracks! The alternating soft snow and bare dirt made for a few annoying snowshoe changes before we finally put them on our back for the rest of the descent below Serpentine. We used another old road to skirt along the south side and avoid any climbing.
Our road dead ended and disappeared around where we'd climbed straight upslope on the ascent. We managed to pick up our trail and followed our own footprints or faint game trails back down to the main road. Surprisingly the stuck little Jeep wagon was still there! Still no sign of the driver or any other hikers all day.
Great day to be out! Blue skies, sun, and even some wildflowers! My first glacier lily find of the year!
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Glacier lily
|
Open ridge
|
Miller peak
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