Has anyone done this climb? Any rack suggestions? I'm thinking of soloing it to practice and wondered how the free climbing was since I suck at solo free climbing. Can I aid past those sections with big gear? Will it be wet right now?

I know Chris Mac has it in his "road to the nose" book, but don't want to buy it for one route. I already have the topo for it since it is the first five pitches of Atlantic Ocean Wall.

Thanks

I just did the first five pitches of Iron Hawk yesterday (i.e. El Cap Tree). The free is pretty laid back. Pitch 2 is an exposed ramp that gets a 5.9 rating maybe a little bit easier though. The pitch(es) following are 4th class traverse and can be done as one to a two bolt anchor at the base of the corner that is the last pitch to El Cap-mas tree. The last pitch you can aid through if you like, it is some stout 5.9 lieback to offwidth with easier in between. Beware on this last pitch of chossy rock. Go past the tree to two bolt anchors and rap to the ground with two, two-rope rappels.

Given the leaning nature of this route, I don't think it's particularly well suited to soloing. It'd be a pain in the ass to clean pitch 2 since it traverse so much and has a fair bit of free climbing.

I gotta think there's something better you can hone your aid chops on.

Someone on the Taco suggested: the starts of New Dawn, Mescalito, and Free Blast (if it's not crowded). I just figured it would be more fun to have a cool ledge to gun for as opposed to just climb till tired, then rap. Thanks though.

edit: Thanks for the info Jendza. It is indeed the Iron Hawk start, not AOW. Chris Mac suggested that as a better start for AOW, which actually starts at the base left of the tree.