GC59D69 Ironclad Mountain
Type: Traditional | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: Denali41 @ | Hide Date: 07/21/2014 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N40° 24.584 W106° 26.574 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
           

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Ironclad Mountain is the 92nd highest of the 114 mountain summits in Jackson County that have been given  official “ranked” status.  It’s a fun scramble to hike up, starting with the crossing of Indian Creek and then ascending through nice open stands of aspen to the peak’s rock fields that almost enclose the summit.  With careful route selection through a narrow strip of conifers at the higher elevations, the steep rocks can be avoided and the upper reaches of the peak can be attained quite easily–despite appearances to the contrary from a distance.  The final 30 or 40 feet involves Class 2+ scrambling up slabby rock, but there are fun, safe ways to negotiate this last obstacle.  The summit area is a fine one for great views and photography of neighboring summits along the Continental Divide of the Rabbit Ears Range as well as more distant peaks. 

My puppy Orizaba and I were able to follow cattle trails up the lower parts of our route, and then elk/deer trails higher up. The round trip distance from the logical parking location along County Road 53 to the summit and return is a bit more than 2 ˝ miles, with an elevation gain of approximately 800 feet.  The entire route up and back is on BLM land. Some limited bushwhacking is necessary, and the creek crossing will be troublesome during periods of high flow.  Beaver dams have impounded much of the willow-covered “flats” along the creek, so it’s somewhat challenging finding suitable crossing places,

The cache is a small glass jar  that’s wrapped in black tape. It’s hidden at the base of a small fir tree that’s in a cluster of weak/dying trees about 65 feet down the ridge from the highest point of the mountain.  The container is held in place by several small rocks I moved to the hiding spot, and it’s covered with a few sticks.  Be certain to bring a pen or pencil for your cache log signing ceremony. During summer, also bring mosquito repellant!

While you are on Ironclad, try to recall illustrations of the original North American ironclads, the USS Monitor and the Confederate warship the Virginia (or Merrimack).  They fought the first battle ever between ironclad ships, in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862.  That battle proved that the age of unarmored, wooden warships was past.  Does Ironclad Mountain remind you of the shape of one of these ships?  

11/14/2016 By Death from Below
There are only a couple of days left of "Summer" so I headed to the high country on Northern Colorado to fill in some Delorme Map pages. I saw this one and others that have been placed for a long time, but never found. This on seemed within my skill set so I added it to the gps'r.

When I arrived near the cache, I scouted the road first to see if there was a closer approach, but the no trespassing signs seemed authentic and I parked at the recommended spot. I went up and down stream to locate a crossing that would not get me stuck in mud and I found a good spot a few hundred feet upstream. I did not anticipate a second crossing at the canal, so I also located a crossing for this obstacle.

At the tree line, it was anybody's guess on where to go. I just plowed right in and bushwacked most of the way in. I ran across several wild life trails and a few roads. None of these seemed to move in the direction I needed and onward I pushed. I ran into the rock "burgschrund" near the summit and just plowed upward (I did bring my leather gloves).

On top I immediately noticed that I was way further north than I anticipated (0.3 mi from the cache). I scrambled along the knife edge for some time and of course at the south end was an almost impassible cliff on 3 sides. I dived over the East side and managed to get down to the proper level to move to the finish.

The cache container and log sheet are as good as new. I also signed the summit log located nearby.

This is FTF #136 for me and a great adventure. Thanks Denali41 for placing this cache so a novice like me can complete. Dipping my coins.

07/22/2014 By Alpine Reviewer
Published