Fremont instead of Flat Iron

I chickened out on Flat Iron, not because of the climb or scrambles, but because there was a comment on AllTrails that you shouldn’t climb it if you’re scared of heights.  This was after watching 3 or 4 videos on YouTube, none of which showed anything I couldn’t do.  But I thought about being out there all day and decided to go for the easy win.  And Fremont was quite easy!  A beautiful hard-packed sandy trail with smooth rocks, which made for easy walking without shoes.  And only a modest climb.  It was socked in with dense fog the whole way to the top, and when I got to the saddle, the mists cleared, and there was the needle — a magical sight.  And then the mists closed back in again and the needle was invisible.

Another highlight of the hike:  flowers — primrose, mallows, golden eyes, brittlebush, fairy dusters, scorpion weed.

On the drive out, the eroded granite/volcanic tuff formations were spectacular.  And there was Flat Iron in the distance, its peak capped with cloud.

Unfinished business!  Next trip here, the focus will be Flat Iron