Heaton Flat Trail(edit)

Hiked with Lark my 4 year old husky. I started very late!!! 8:40 am! I wanted to do a trail scouting before attempt do the Iron Mt. my plan was to do 5 miles up & back. We did less than that. From Allison Saddle up, we just did maybe another 100 ft. It was very steep, difficult to safely maneuver ascent with a fig. Also, she looked like she had enough & so did I. I made the wise & safe decision to return. I had enough hydration for both of us & we descended slow & safely. Trail: in good condition today, continuous climb, with few areas, maybe after the 3 miles, that you actually lose & gain, going down & up. Felt frustrating.., Weather: much hotter than predicted. At some point was over 77 F. Felt really hot & had to stop more than I usually do. My heart rate was pretty high, 167. Which meant I was overheating & should have rested more, and hike at a slower pace. Also having the dog meant a heavier load of water on my back, enough for both of us & stopping so we can catch our breath. Water Source: none, except for a full algae little area shortly from the start to the right of the trail. Wildlife Sightings: thank god no! Birds, hawks, lots of lizards. Other Hikers: none on the accent. Although I think there were some hikers doing Iron Mt. saw their stashed water at the saddle. On my way down, met a solo hiker about 1 mile from the trailhead at 1 pm. I asked him where was he planning to hike to, his answer “till the end of the trail”. That got me worried, but hopefully he’ll turn back. Was very hot at that point & he was just starting. Highlight Of The Hike: 1) We had no injuries! 2) Got a taste of how the hike up Iron Mt. will be. 3) learned more about my endurance in the heat. Not much...lol 4) views were gorgeous!