{"id":4303,"date":"2022-07-01T19:42:21","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T19:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/?p=4303"},"modified":"2023-09-07T14:22:43","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T14:22:43","slug":"iron-bear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2022\/07\/01\/iron-bear\/","title":{"rendered":"Iron Bear"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Monday, June 20, 2022<\/p>\n<p>The final hike of our four-day sisters weekend was up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peakbagger.com\/peak.aspx?pid=25572\">Iron Bear<\/a>, a peak on Teanaway Ridge.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>We knew this was going to be a busy trail, so we packed up camp and headed out first thing. The trailhead parking is interesting here. There&#8217;s a wide area on the left to park about 0.2 before the end of the road. Just beyond that is a spot where the creek crosses the road and you have to &#8220;ford&#8221; the creek, however it&#8217;s not deep. Just beyond that ford, straight ahead, is another parking area. If you turn right and head uphill, there&#8217;s a final parking area at the end of the road where the trail starts. This is the spot where you have to drive through the creek:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179891665_f8e200bc1f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179405126_a19723cb34_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We parked at that very first parking area and road hiked up to the start of the trail:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179404846_c15af77479_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The trail starts out in a lush green forest:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179409093_bd7e651e53_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We knew we would see good wildflowers on this hike and they started off right from the beginning:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179409543_797a520edd_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179652279_7d29893d44_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Soon the trees opened up a bit and we started getting a look around:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179667904_edf9dc01c7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The flower show continued as we climbed up:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179911065_54c5e5c42e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179910465_e6764ee94c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179666364_3cd9a60868_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179903305_45fe075638_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179664634_d700db5083_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179421038_2ea14fd946_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179663159_b9243a4800_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179414226_ebcb55af9e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179418128_8f795f9874_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179909360_3d9cb57f95_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179427833_5357e740b9_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We started getting more views as well:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179423696_77bc3480e8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We reached the junction with the Teanaway Ridge Trail, where we turned north. This was a confusing junction for a lot of people because this sign doesn&#8217;t say that Iron Bear is NOT on the Iron Bear Trail, but is instead along the Teanaway Ridge Trail :<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179688229_263347df3b_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After the junction we headed out onto this ridge:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179422021_818cb9826f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179702214_7d173b542e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This open rocky area was full of bitterroot wildflowers:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52180202095_41f99bc3c7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179714436_317eaae71e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52178424332_81f758f33a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179446093_20901c4910_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As we climbed we got better and better views. That&#8217;s Mt. Rainier:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52178421822_a081bd10d4_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The vegetation opened up:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179449046_63800a770a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Just before the summit was this strange section where it looked like trail crews tried to use cinder blocks to stabilize the tread:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52178391757_0a16a697b2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Final stretch:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179668294_7d9099fb84_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We made it!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179449288_8e5457a3d7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179444421_99c294a788_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"415\" \/><\/p>\n<p>What a view:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179452648_0baa3f5cf4_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We had a view of the same mountains as <a href=\"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2022\/06\/30\/beverly-turnpike-trail\/\">yesterday<\/a>, the Stuart Range, except today&#8217;s view was far better. The most prominent peak in the middle is 9,415&#8242; Mt. Stuart:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52178417627_3ced7c6734_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179450838_b530232f8b_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179445571_9e7cb63973_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mt. Rainier:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179925115_c37430aafd_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I think this is looking south or southwest:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52178409262_28e9678df7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking southeast:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179928320_b24e6eaabe_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Red Top Lookout in the distance. If we hiked south on Teanaway Ridge we would eventually get there:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52178686492_df1b2fd5a8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We still had a 4+ hour drive home today, so after enjoying the summit for awhile we headed back down. I took more wildflower photos along the way:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179923055_7e45ba7ab5_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179440758_ea3235f760_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179440153_5646805512_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179689374_c8d1b78e3f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52178412287_5d0716f084_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52180201585_cb67198a58_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52179713551_ce5c3ab7e0_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52180200015_23c7125cc2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Iron Bear Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Great hike! There were a surprising number of people for a Monday but it was worth braving the crowds.<\/p>\n<p>Gaia stats: 6.8 miles, 1,800&#8242; elevation gain<\/p>\n<p>Video:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hiking Weekend in Central Washington\" width=\"880\" height=\"495\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vcG7g-XQa60?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Monday, June 20, 2022 The final hike of our four-day sisters weekend was up to Iron Bear, a peak on<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2022\/07\/01\/iron-bear\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Iron Bear<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4321,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[245,161],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4303"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4303"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4861,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4303\/revisions\/4861"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}