This blog will detail 1,000 video hikes in Southern California. By Southern California, I am drawing a line from San Luis Obispo to the Nevada Border. Anything south of that line will be declared "Southern California". In a way, it is a personal challenge to do so many hikes. Mainly, however, it is my way of showcasing how many hiking opportunities there really are right in our own geographic back yard. As a blog, it serves as a companion piece to my Youtube channel "Mike On The Trail". It is also a work in progress, as I don't actually have 1,000 edited videos completed. This will take effort for quite some time before it is declared done. Even then, there will still be more out there. Here's to hiking and all the positive effects it has had on my life...and possibly yours!
Iron Mountain #2, not to be confused with #1, or #2, is left to be the middle child of the "Iron Mountain" named peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains. Each peak is dispersed within the range, so they are not neighboring peaks. Due to the similarity in naming, this causes the peak to be a bit lost in the shuffle. It doesn't help that the best way to access it is via Mt Gleason Road, which is often closed for long periods during the year. Meanwhile, one of its nearest neighbors is the coveted hikers destination of Condor Peak. Despite being taller than Condor Peak, Iron Mountain #2 is less visited.
Leaving the road and going up the ridge.
I began the hike outside of Lightning Ridge Group Campground, which is near the intersection of Mt Gleason Rd and Mendenhall Ridge Road. The hike stays on Mendenhall Ridge Road while going downhill toward Iron Mountain. The gradual downhill eventually levels at a saddle near Iron Mountain. A road goes left here toward Condor Peak, but the Iron Mountain hike continues forward.
Staying on top of the pointed ridgeline.
Shortly beyond the junction, a use trail leaves the road and rises to the summit of Iron Mountain. There are a few false summits which were only minor inconveniences, The summit has an impressive 360 of the San Gabriel Range.
Approaching the summit.
I would say that this mostly qualifies as an upside down hike. This, of course, means that most of the climbing for the hike occurs on the way back. When getting close to the parking area, the road enters the shade of the forest. This let me know that I was getting closer to the end of the line.
On the summit.
The road passes below Rocky Benchmark (which is an optional side trip that can easily be added to this hike). While returning to Lightning Ridge, the hike came to an end at the shaded parking area outside of the campground.
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