Iron Mountain 27 June 2013

This is one of the best all round hikes for scenery, varied habitats, wild flowers and views.  We arrived early - around 9:10a and headed up via the Cone Peak trail.  We arrived at the "Wizard of Oz" point (where it opens up to the meadow below Cone Peak) and WOW!  The larkspur were stealing the show, the hills were carpeted in purple.  I had not see this display in previous hikes.  I think this is a hike you could take every two weeks and see something different.
The clouds were not allowing the sun to directly hit the hills, but every once in awhile it would break through and create a beautiful, striking blaze of light on one particular area of the meadow or hills.  Very pretty.
We hiked on and arrived at the top of a very lush and green Iron Mountain (the previous week had been very rainy).  No views today because of the clouds, but we noticed when we got down that the clouds were burning off and the people with the cars filling up the parking lot were in for a treat.
Beautiful day!  In two weeks or so, the entire mountain will be filled with flowers en route to the top.

my Oz moment - you know when the movie goes from black and white to color?

Larkspur and paintbrush

Iron Mtn and Cone Peak

Iron Mountain

Cone Peak

Looking back

heading to Iron Mtn

on the way to Iron Mtn

Sunshine on Cone Peak

Cliff Pentemon at the top of Iron Mtn

Iron Mtn thumb

Jean on the look out structure

Cone Peak from Iron Mtn, Jefferson is under the clouds