Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain seen from above the East Fork, San Gabriel River
Highest point
Elevation8,010 ft (2,441 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence687 ft (209 m)[1]
ListingHundred Peaks Section[2]
Coordinates34°17′18″N 117°42′46″W / 34.2883367°N 117.7128348°W / 34.2883367; -117.7128348[3]
Geography
Iron Mountain is located in California
Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain
Location in California
Iron Mountain is located in the United States
Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain (the United States)
LocationLos Angeles County, California, U.S.
Parent rangeSan Gabriel Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Mount San Antonio
Climbing
Easiest routeVery strenuous hike, class 1[2]

Iron Mountain is a mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, California. It is within the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, in the section managed by the Angeles National Forest.

Names

The 8,007 ft (2,441 m) peak is sometimes referenced as Iron Mountain #1 or Big Iron, was originally called Sheep Mountain by the early miners in San Gabriel Canyon because of the large bands of bighorn sheep that roamed the slopes. The United States Geological Survey, which mapped the San Gabriel Mountains in the 1890s, ignored the local Sheep Mountain designation and gave it its present name. According to Will Thrall, there was once a USFS plan to change the name back to Sheep Mountain in 1940.

The mountain is in the federally designated Sheep Mountain Wilderness, a reference to the mountain's original name.

Access

While this mountain is far lower in elevation than other Southern California summits, it is the most difficult mountain to climb in the entire region. There are no water sources on the mountain, unless one finds snow. There are no maintained trails, the summit is seldom visited, and the climb is of about 6000 vertical feet (1,800 m), much of it at a 30° to 50° angle on loose soil, decomposed rock, or through brush. Some approaches to the summit require high degrees of rock-climbing skill. One route over the ridgeline from nearby Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) is long, difficult, and dangerous. The south mountain slopes in summer are directly exposed to the sun. Some climbers stay at the ruins of the Allison Mine about 3,900 feet (1,200 m) below the summit. There are no facilities of any kind on the mountain.

Climbing statistics

  • Distance: 14 mi (23 km) round trip on trail and cross-country[2]
  • Gain: 7,200 ft (2,200 m) total, 6,600 ft (2,000 m) out plus 600 ft (180 m) on return
  • Time: 10 to 12 hours round trip
  • Rating: class 1 but very strenuous

See also

  • San Gabriel Mountains National Monument−related topics

References

  1. 1 2 "Iron Mountain, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  2. 1 2 3 "Iron Mountain #1". Hundred Peaks Section List. Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  3. ↑ "Iron Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-08-06.



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