Iron Mountain Friday

Still working on my 52 With-a-View list, I decided to hike Iron Mountain for my 41st. Jonathan joined me.

Clouds still hovered over the peaks from rain the night before, but this meadow at the start of the hike was stunning.

Richly studded with Bunchberries and ferns, it was a delight, though we soaked our legs and shoes on the wet brush.

Early signs of fall were fun to find in late July.

The views were limited,

so, after recording our summit (no views on the wooded peak), we chose not to continue to another set of ledges,

but were satisfied with the view at the first overlook.

Back at the base, we were enthralled with the lush vegetation, with tall stands of purple Fireweed, and then, one of my favorites…

White Turtlehead! I love turtleheads—I mean, look at that shape. They do look like turtle heads with their mouths open!

These flowers attract a slew of pollinators, from bees to hummingbirds, but they are a primary food source and larval host to the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly. This butterfly ranges from southeastern Canada through New England, the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia, Mississippi, and northeastern Oklahoma. But their populations are highly fragmented and localized, only found in small micro-zones within this broad range. I will be on the lookout for this butterfly beauty!

Bunchberry Cornus canadensis

Fern in the order Polypodiales; possibly Northern Lady Fern Athyrium angustum (I didn’t ID it in the field)

Red Maple (leaf) Acer rubrum

Fireweed Chamaenerion angustifolium

White Turtlehead Chelone glabra

Iron Mountain (2723’), Jackson, NH

July 31, 2026