Iron Mt. # 3 1/14/22, 11:20:46AM)

Hiked on 01/14/2022 with two huskies: Lark & Storm. Trail: started at 11:20 am from Monte Cristo CG. In Angeles National Forest. Parked off road, just before the CG gate. Camp was open & were several cars there. Took the fire road 3N23, on the left. White gate closed. This fire road climbs gently at first. Then steeper. It wraps around Iron Mt #3. At about 2 miles, on the left is another closed gate, rusty, that is supposed to be Monte Cristo Trail that goes up to “ Round Top Mt”. It is very easy to miss this turn. I took this trail. It is overgrown, very narrow at times, sandy, might need to cross under few bushes or above them. Watch got ticks!!!! I’ve seen many animal foot!! I went on this trail got about 0.5 miles, up to where it starts to climb up. Trail at this point is washed off. I guess one could attempt to hike the steep sandy hill up to the ridge… but I don’t advise it. I decided to return to the fire road. I had two dogs with me. When back to the fire road, I decided to continue going up & try to find a shortcut to Iron Mt. #3. I scouted a little & proceed up. Perfect choice! Got to a flat area just before last steep scramble up to the summit. I hiked this mountain, only once before, in 2020. Now trail is different. A wide firebreak goes up to both summits: Iron & Round Top Mt. I don’t mind it at all! We reached the summit, took photos, drank water & enjoyed another beautiful summit. Shortly the Santa Ana winds started howling. Dust & sand started blowing, so decided to cut short the hike. So, no two summits today. The mountain will be there next time. On the way down, met Dan a longtime hiker with Sierra Club, HPS. We talked for a while. about this & that and Peter D. too. As I reached the flat area, I continued straight, & did a loop, on different stretch of a fire road. This one met with my original fire road that I come up. Of note: taking this fire road, (follow my tracks) can bring you safely to both summits. The way I went to Iron Mt. Summit is shorter. It is a bit of off trail scramble/ hike up to the gnat area. Nothing bad in this winter season. Rest of trail back to car was the same as coming up. Weather: clear skies, sunny, 66 F at TH. Santa Ana winds picked up while at the summit. On descending, hardly any wind. Water Source: 3 small creek crossings, flowing from left mountain side, all before 1 mile. After that none. Remember several days of rainy recently. In summer is safe to assume that there is no water. Other Hikers: met an older solo hiker, Robert at about 1 mile from TH. Met Dan. an older solo hiker. Sierra Club HPS, when descending from Iron Mt. Wildlife Sightings: lots of footprints!!!!! Highlights Of The Hike: 1) No injuries 2) Scouted new area 3) Peak-bagged Iron #3 4) Gorgeous Day!