Iron Mountain: 9.6.20

11/13/2020
Hiking

Iron Mountain is in Poway, California. It is a 5.3 mile round trip hike. This hike was a synthesis of moments: 1) trying to escape the pandemic for a few hours, 2) continuing the quest to explore whenever I am able, 3) saying to hell to the California fires, and 4) choosing health. In hindsight, despite the aforementioned, hiking on this day amidst the outrageous fires, was not the most brilliant thing I have ever done. And yet, still not the dumbest. But, nonetheless, air quality was incredibly poor and because of all the smoke and debris in the air, it made an already hot day, an almost unbearable day. In hindsight, the decision to hike on this particular day was objectively a poor decision and veered on stupid, actually. Nonetheless, perseverance pursued and I still think it was a dumb decision and the suffocating fire concentrated heat did almost kill me. Note, the heat almost did me in, not the hike itself. This was evident during the return trip where we had to cross the same opened, no shade, desert-like three quarter mile dirt path back. As I poured the last little bit of water on my head, I saw this old woman who was probably in her 70s, yelling into her phone and then starting to run the trail. #hardnope.

The hike begins on a hot dirt path for about three quarters of a mile or so. Then, the incline begins. There is very little shade on this journey. There is a lot of shrubbery. The hike concludes at the very top and makes the hike worth it. See for yourself in the pictures. 

Keep taking those detours!