Hiero to Ridgeline question

[kgmolson]

How does this compare to getting to the Ridge via flatiron. I am hitting this route tomorrow and want to get an idea of what I am in for.

[joebartels]

All the access points to ridge are about the same as the Flatiron though the steepness comes in different places. The only access that I would seriously forewarn about is my Reverse Flatiron from Massacre Falls. Had a member do it a couple months ago and believe it scared 'em enough to stop hiking.

This one is pretty interesting and no more difficult going up. In the lower section you will go through more vegetation than you thought imaginable for the area. Then you're grateful when that part is over and you see cairns leading up a ridge in the creek bed on the left. Just follow them up. Once you get to the ridge, which is the low point in the ridge it will take a good half hour to get up to 5057. The place where most get lost is going down to Carney. You come down, then go over to a ravine behind the Three Sisters (you can't see the sisters from the top). When crossing the smooth rock ravine be on the lookout for cairns on the other side to lead you slightly up through the maze. If you miss it use-trails & lost-mans-scatter-cairns do the trick too but aren't as direct.

[kgmolson]

Sounds good Joe. I imagine it would be fairly tough to get bumped off track at Hiero canyon although i doubt the trail is as popular as FI. In any case, thanks for all the info... i'm sure it will be a BLAST!!!!