Iron Peak

We drove out along the North Fork Teanaway Road to the Iron Peak Trailhead. Along the way we had to wait for a buck to slowly cross the road. We hiked 6.5 miles round trip with about 2,450 ft of gain. We only saw 3 other hikers on the trail.

View of Esmeralda Peaks from the trailhead.

The trail gains steady elevation on the way to El Dorado Pass. View of Kopek Mountain across the road to the west.

There was lots of hoar frost on the lower part of the trail. 

View of Esmeralda Peaks and South Ingalls Peak to the north.

There was snow on the trail starting at 5,000 ft.

View of a distant Mt Rainier to the west

zoom of Mt Rainier

View of Teanaway Peak as we neared El Dorado Pass

We took a short break at El Dorado Pass, view to the east

Then there was a steep ascent heading up to Iron Peak with deeper snow, there was only one hiker in front of us.

View to the northwest as we continued up

zoom of some of the peaks the distance from further up the trail

Up on the ridge near the top of Iron Peak, Mount Stuart to the right.

Wide angle view to the north:

Distant views of Mt Rainier and Mt Adams to the southwest

We stopped about 0.25 mile from the official top of Iron Peak, I was not comfortable with the exposure in the snow.

Small cloud above Mount Stuart on this gorgeous day.

Another view

Near where we turned around on Iron Peak today.

View looking down towards El Dorado Pass and Teanaway Peak on the other side as we hiked down the trail. Glad we now had a broken in trail to follow.

 

Iron Peak

We drove out to the Teanawys today to hike up to Iron Peak, 7 miles round trip with 2,500 ft gain. Good air quality today, great views and only one other hiker on the trail. There were a few asters in bloom near the trailhead.

This trail has a nice steady climb up to Eldorado Pass, views along the trail.

Looking up at Teanaway Peak from Eldorado Pass.

View to the east from Eldorado Pass

View to Iron Peak from Eldorado Pass

As we continued to hike up we began to see some Enchantment Peaks to the north.

Improving views as we continue up from Eldorado Pass

And the views got better and better.

zoom to the northwest of Mt Daniel

Pano to the north from Iron Peak:

Pano to the south from Iron Peak:

 

Iron Peak

We drove out to the Teanaway to hike up to Iron Peak and had to wait for this flock of turkeys to cross the road.

The Iron Peak trailhead is on FS 9737. The hike was 7 miles round trip with 2,500 ft of gain.

The trail goes up to a saddle in a series of switchbacks. We had views of Esmeralda Peaks here.

There was a little bit of fall color,

a small stream,

lots of lovely trees,

and some interesting rock formations.

















Pano to the east from the saddle by Iron Peak. The Iron Peak trail goes down the other side of the saddle and joins the Beverly Creek Trail. The boot track up to Iron Peak goes off to the right of the saddle. There was some snow patches on the way up above the saddle.

View of Mt Rainier and Mt Adams from the saddle to the southwest.

To the north we could see Mt Daniel.

As we climbed above the saddle we began to see Mount Stuart and some of the peaks in the Enchantments.

ridge heading up to Iron Peak












Pano from along the trail.

Continuing up Iron Peak

summit register on Iron Peak

Mt Rainier and Mt Adams from Iron Peak

clouds moving in between Iron Peak and Mt Rainier











Pano from Iron Peak to the west

Pano from Iron Peak to the north and east

more clouds moving in













Iron Peak in the clouds as we hiked back out