Iron Mountain / Ellie Lane Run
I got into work before 6am yesterday just so I could leave early and grab a quick run up at Iron Mountain in the Poway / Ramona area. The Ellie Lane portion of this run crests over three high points, and isn’t for the weak willed. When I hit the trailhead it was in the upper 80′s, humid, and windless deep in these mountains. This was probably one of the toughest runs I’ve had in quite a while, and I was smiling the entire time…
I’ll be updating this post in the future with more pics, maps, and technical details. There’s quite a bit left to photograph. Hopefully it’ll be a bit cooler on my next hump up this hill, allowing me to not only enjoy the run more, but the scenery as well. Today I just wanted to get this thing over with. I was running low on water and my hands were insanely swollen due to dehydration. I have a pic, but didn’t want to gross anyone out. Ahhh…good times 
As always, feel free to click on the pics to embiggen…
The run begins just off the shoulder of highway 67
It's rattlesnake season. I saw quite a few tracks in the dirt, but so far no snakes.
Yep, they weren't joking today. High heat and humidity makes for a painful run.
This run looks sooo inviting at first...
...but once you're past the initial grove of trees, its true unforgiving nature is revealed.
The first real challenge of this run is the steep log hill
A section of the trail near the first peak
Decisions, decisions. I almost always opt for the cruel meat grinder called Ellie Lane.
On Ellie Lane, looking down towards Ramona
Ramona Overlook
Looking back at the trail I just ran up
The peak view of Ellie Lane. There was a haze in the air today, but on clear days you can see out to the Pacific ocean.
Near the end of the run Ellie Lane skirts past a small lake
There was quite a bit between the peak and the end of the run, but due to the heat and technical difficulties with my camera (the final few photos came out strangely), I didn’t capture everything I wanted to (table top rock, the rock-walled chicanes, oak tree bench, etc…). Ah well, I guess that’s something to look forward to in the next couple of weeks.
It’s beautiful man, but that run scares the #$%@ out of me! We don’t haven’t critters or weather that can kill you out here on the east coast.
Curious- how much water do you take on a 3.5 mile run under those conditions?
Ellie Lane is slightly longer (and much more brutal) than the Iron Mountain run, depending on which trail you choose. I’ve yet to bring up my GPS unit to get an accurate number, but I’d have to guess it’s a 5.5 – 6 mile run. My Camelbak carries 70oz of water when filled. I had perhaps 2/3 of that in the pack when I started. I have a bad habit of not drinking enough water, so I had a bit of water in reserve after the run.
What a nice place to take your camera with Herman – love it
And you’re running there – well done! I would love to be there while taking it easy with my cameras, and maybe have th eluck to shoot one of the nasty snakes there 