Iron Mountain IV

11/29/15  Another trip to Iron Mountain. This time not on New Year's Day, but instead joined by both my Dad and Dustin. It was a little slower paced day, but over 15 miles and 7,000' of gain is brutal at any pace!
DSC02905 We were at the parking lot by about 6:30am and then to the Heaton Flats trailhead by just after 7:00am. Fortunately, there was someone headed up the Bridge to...
We were at the parking lot by about 6:30am and then to the Heaton Flats trailhead by just after 7:00am. Fortunately, there was someone headed up the Bridge to…
DSC02906 Made good time up to Heaton Saddle.
Made good time up to Heaton Saddle.
DSC02910 Entering the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.
Entering the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.
DSC02913 First views of Mt. Baldy with a little bit of snow left from a recent storm.
First views of Mt. Baldy with a little bit of snow left from a recent storm.
09.11a Dad's pictures of Dustin and I on the ridgeline. I never get tired of this ridgeline. The trail follows the ridge perfectly up and down all the way to Coldwater...
Dad's pictures of Dustin and I on the ridgeline. I never get tired of this ridgeline. The trail follows the ridge perfectly up and down all the way to Coldwater…
09.04a Almost to the saddle. Just a couple more humps to get up and over.
Almost to the saddle. Just a couple more humps to get up and over.
DSC02918 Made it to Coldwater Saddle at around 4,500'. The trail up to this point is just a warmup for what's to come.
Made it to Coldwater Saddle at around 4,500'. The trail up to this point is just a warmup for what's to come.
DSC02920 The trail heading up from the saddle. It starts getting steep fast.
The trail heading up from the saddle. It starts getting steep fast.
DSC02923 Looking down at the saddle. I finally have some humans in the picture to help give some perspective to just how steep the trail gets here.
Looking down at the saddle. I finally have some humans in the picture to help give some perspective to just how steep the trail gets here.
DSC02925 Dad climbing through the chapparal.
Dad climbing through the chapparal.
08.26a Dad's shot of us as he powers up the slope.
Dad's shot of us as he powers up the slope.
DSC02928 First signs of snow at about 5,500'.
First signs of snow at about 5,500'.
DSC02929 The foliage is tight in places, but the trail is always pretty easy to follow.
The foliage is tight in places, but the trail is always pretty easy to follow.
DSC02932 There's some small sections of tree cover, but most of the trail is fully exposed. Not a trail to do in the summer.
There's some small sections of tree cover, but most of the trail is fully exposed. Not a trail to do in the summer.
DSC02935 The canyon of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River is one of the deepest canyons in the country at rougly 6,000' deep.
The canyon of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River is one of the deepest canyons in the country at rougly 6,000' deep.
13.08a Lots of great Mt. Baldy views in this area.
Lots of great Mt. Baldy views in this area.
DSC02940 Up above the 6,000' line. A little further along and Dad decides to stop while he's ahead. He waits for us as Dustin and I continue onward, hoping to summit.
Up above the 6,000' line. A little further along and Dad decides to stop while he's ahead. He waits for us as Dustin and I continue onward, hoping to summit.
DSC02943 Starting to get into some bigger patches of snow.
Starting to get into some bigger patches of snow.
DSC02944 It's a really clear day and the view stretches from the mountain range, across the city below, and all the way to the ocean.
It's a really clear day and the view stretches from the mountain range, across the city below, and all the way to the ocean.
DSC02946 Enough snow for some snowballs!
Enough snow for some snowballs!