So, I waited until the last minute to complete the challenge and after getting Echo Trail out of the way, the final boss remained- Flatiron. Instead of doing it on Saturday, March 30th, I decided on Sunday, March 31. We all know what the weather was last Sunday 🌧️ After starting the trail at 6am and going for about 1 hour and enjoying Superstitions during fog, I had to turn around due to rain. When I returned to the parking, I was wet as a dog… So, challenge was not complete 🙅🏻‍♂️
Nonetheless, today I returned with vengeance and hiked it!
Now, people who run down when I go up, are super humans. Those people who run up when I barely walk up are out of this world. It is absolutely insane and I’m here for it! Flatiron is very fun trail. You walk for 30 min, chilling. Then you hike for another 30. Then you walk up 45 degree angle wall that’s straight out of Martian landscape. The water was flowing there- I can only imagine actual waterfall after rain! Then you hike a bit more and then for about one hour the trail turns into a hodge-podge of boulders, rocks, crawling and climbing 🥵 And it never seems to end… Usually, I never stop on a trail and always in motion, except to take photos and videos. Flatiron made me stop 4-5 times for 4-5 minutes to sit and recharge. AllTrails should create new rating: Extra Hard because that’s where this trail belongs hands down.
Once I got to the top I rummaged around the area and went to various parts of the peak. I did not find anything too spectacular. The view from actual Flatiron peak is the bestest! 😎 I started at 6.30am and returned around 11. I do recommend hiking this trail early or mid afternoon. When I was going down, I looked back and the sun was shining right through the canyon, blinding everyone going up.