Picket Post or Flatiron...

Tom Treks · Gear Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3347

Went on a hike up Picket Post yesterday and it proved to be very worthy of mention.

I can truly say that this hike is a bit more "hairier" than Flatiron. A bit more scrambling and actual climbing than the Flatiron depending on the route you take. I was a major "shutter-bug" on this hike. Joe's summation was a 2 at route finding. I beg to differ. Especially coming down (unless you were weened on this "hill"). The elevation is a tad lower, but ultra classic routes. Extremely scenic.

What is the consensus? Picket Post, or Flatiron? Which is better? I say Picket Post by a hair.

Great hike. Great views. Not too much further up 60 East.

sidhayes · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 116

I believe that Flatiron is much "tougher" because it climbs nearly 1000 feet more. As for route finding, Picket Post is harder. It usually takes me 1/3 longer for the ascent of Flatiron.

Tom Treks · Gear Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3347

Hmmm. Interesting Sid. Maybe it being my first time, I felt PP to be the tougher of the two. I still think the scrambling up PP is a bit tougher, but I'm kind of wary of "drop-offs" as it is. It's actually only 700 ft more or so on FI. Seems more direct.

1/3 more for Flatiron eh? I'll bet if I found a "failsafe" route up and down, I would agree. It's definitely close though. You have to admit that at least.

Can I rent your stamina for a weekend? Neutral

ck1 · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 1331 Location: Mesa

I'd agree with Sid. Flatiron is tougher b/c it's a bigger hike. Though route finding is a bit easier with the route following the canyon, whereas PP is more exposed. The climbing sections on PP are hairier than Flatiron, that's for sure. The exposure on Flatiron is minimal, save for that last notch before you top out, where on PP there's more of a potential for a fall.
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Daryl · Posted: 10/5/2003, 4:49 pm Post subject:

Flatiron is tougher, but they are both great hikes.
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kurthzone · Posted: 10/5/2003, 6:32 pm Post subject:

ck1 · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 1331 Location: Mesa

Arizonaheat · Posted: 10/5/2003, 8:06 pm Post subject:

I agree with Sid too. Flatiron!! I think Cactuscat,my daughter and I were some of the first to sign CK1 book he left there. We had taken one with us to replace the old, but CK1 already had.
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azhiker96 · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1419

I also think the Flat Iron is a tougher hike. It has more elevation and more rock hopping. Picketpost does have a greater pucker factor with the exposures but the climb itself had less highstepping and bouldering than FI.

JW · Posted: 10/6/2003, 11:20 am Post subject: Picket Post by a hair, maybe.

Tom and I discussed this question after finishing PP. I'm thinking that PP is a hair tougher, but it probably depends a bit on how many times you've done each one. I've done both about the same number of times this year. PP has some good vertical sections, but I've whacked some routes up below the flatiron that are steeper.

Hey Tom, I set my personal best ascent time on PP on Saturday. I'm curious to see if I can equal it on the Flatiron by trail running the first third below the basin. I'll let you guys know. Jim.

Tom Treks · Gear Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3347

Other than the "miniscule" faux-pas on the way down, how did that rate? We definitely took the "other" way down.

I'm curious.

Anyways, I don't call you "Sid Jr" for nothin' Wink

Tom Treks · Gear Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3347

JW · Posted: 10/6/2003, 11:57 pm Post subject: PP flag/misc

Yeah, it's too bad about the flag. Everytime I've been up there (and Larry, too), I've re-buttressed the pole with stones. But it was a big flag, a lightening rod and totally exposed to the wind. Think the Boy Scouts did it originally. Maybe another future Scout project.

Tom, I'll get you for that "Sid-Jr" crap; if anything, I'm the senior!
Jim.

Hikngrl · Posted: 10/15/2003, 4:48 am Post subject:

How do you vote on this thing? If I could, I would vote that Picket Post is toughest, now that I have done both. I tired on picket Post and had to rest. Maybe it is because I haven't been "out there" as much as I would like and I am outta shape I don't know but I didn't once feel bad on the Flat Iron.... That's been a while ago.... maybe it's just like child birth and you forget the bad stuff and only remember the good stuff!
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Greg Jackson · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 5

Flat Iron is definitely more difficult because you have to jockey around all the other traffic.