Talk:Iron Mountain (Los Angeles County)

Sources

Most of the info on this mountain, as for most of the San Gabriels, is ultimately sourceable to one or another of John Robinson's books. I expect the HPS site used him for their main source too. I hadn't realized the text was copied, but we can easily write our own. The trail stats are well-known and easily computed. Its original name of "Sheep Mountain" (it's in the middle of the Sheep Mountain Wilderness) is well known, as is the nickname, "Big Iron". I also think it's worth noting the new surveys differ from the old by a significant amount, and that paeaks are often identified by their name and elevation. It would be a big help to readers wondering if this is the same peak as Iron 8007' if we simply note the old elevation. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 07:39, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

Good points. I had hoped to re-build the article, but you've already made a good start at that.

Looks like I was hasty to use the GNIS database as a source for elevations. I was just reading their FAQ, and they warned that the elevation data used there is ballpark only, and not as precise as that from other sources (surveys, maps, etc). This shows me the weakness of elevation as a mountain identifier, since it's an estimate that changes from decade to decade. So then how to distinguish between the Iron Mountains of the San Gabriels? Maybe the HPS identifier was better after all... --Justin 14:32, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

Oh, well in that case maybe we should make 8007' the official elevation again. It's true that elevations (and surveys) change. There are several elevations possible for Mt. Whitney, for example, and we spent some time in deciding which to use. Even so, elevation may be the best way to differentiate mountains of the same name in the same range. Even in the HPS, I believe they'd colloquially call it "Big Iron" more often than "Iron Mtn #1", and we certainly can't use that term either. So all things considered, I'd vote for "Iron Mountain (8007)". Also, the best picture I've got of it is from above, taken along the Bear Flat trail. It doesn't do the mountain justice, but I can upload if we don't have anything better. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 16:12, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, photos from above don't do justice to its relative isolation - but any photo is a good start. --Justin 15:36, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

Changes to Iron Mountain 8007

I don't mean to be overly nitpicky, but not a heck of a lot of rock climbing/technical skill is required for either of the two primary routes (or nearly any other route) on Iron. The trail (maintained by folks I know) from Iron to Baldy has a 3rd class section (Gunsight Notch). It being class 3, requiring no special technical skills.

Also, the Heaton Flat Trail (South Ridge, primary route, etc) IS maintained. I do not believe there is any authority that maintains it (ala San Gabriel Mountain Trailbuilders), but many of us who are up there often cut branches and move stuff around respectfully to keep the trail clear. Some years it gets a bit thick, but we always clean it up.

I would also state that this is a class 2 route, as it requires hands at some points, such as during the section north of Allison Saddle.

10-12 hours is pretty slow. A fit party should be able to make it to the summit in 3-4 hours, and back down in 3/4 of that time. Some friends of mine does it in 2:30, but that's obviously not the norm.

There are other summits, or points I should say, in the SGM that are harder to reach. Triplet Rocks is no slouch, especially from the south. Some of the peaks in the "Mermaid Massif" area (IE Pk 3702 "Little Mermaid") are arguably harder class 1-3 hikes than Iron, despite being a lower elevation.

Anywho, I felt it was more appropriate to discuss this and basically ask permission to make changes.

Cheers

TacoDelRio 08:43, 8 June 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by TacoDelRio (talk • contribs)