Wasatch Rebel
05-18-2012, 03:45 AM
I got off to a later start than I had wanted with this hike...I wanted to get some early morning pics of the sun hitting the peaks, but 6:49 was too late. Still, it was a great day for a hike. I chose the Butler Fork Trailhead for my starting point. Made it nearly to the top before quitting with .23 miles to go (measured by GPS). The lower trail up towards Mill A Basin had some patches of snow, and then approaching the saddle between Raymond and Gobblers Knob there were some large patches of snow, easily crossed--about a foot deep. From there I was able to catch glimpses of Mt. Raymond and knew there might be some difficulty getting to the top because I could see some large patches of snow along the ridge. Sure enough, when I got to the ridge and looked up, there was a lot of snow on the northwest side and actually partially overhanging the southeast side, so that the trail that began up the ridge vanished underneath the snow and only showed itself for a brief few feet later. I could see where some brave soul(s) had traversed the snow and made it to the top, but at that point, I decided that since I was alone, had no cell phone, and was the caregiver for my disabled wife, I wouldn't risk going further. It sucked to stop that close. I think if I was up there today, I'd have gone for it, but left my back pack and everything else stashed so that I had my full ability to catch myself if I began slipping. The snow was mushy and was collapsing in places and as I had tried following the footsteps of someone who'd been up there earlier in the week, I had slipped through in a place or two and I just didn't trust walking on the snow. So now, here's the pics, only I can't figure out how to add captions to them, so I'll try and make a list of what they are:
1). Mt. Raymond
2). Twin Peaks, etc.
3). Another view of Raymond
4). Gobblers Knob
5). Quakies bent over trail by avalanche
6). The Quakies were just barely getting their leaves
7). The ridge and trail to Gobblers Knob
8). Looking down from Raymond to the saddle between Raymond and Gobblers
9). Looking up the ridge on Raymond. Still a lot of snow on the northern edge
10). A better glimpse of the ridge
11). The last .23 to the top
12). That's me sitting on the north side, just below the ridge. That snow was about five feet deep at that point.
13). The last place the trail was visible, except for a brief appearance later.
14). Looking at the amount of snow on the Millcreek side, I was glad I chose the trail I chose.
15). I got a good view of the entire south side of Big Cottonwood. Still a lot of snow at Broad's Fork, the Lake Blanche Trail, Mineral Fork, etc.
1). Mt. Raymond
2). Twin Peaks, etc.
3). Another view of Raymond
4). Gobblers Knob
5). Quakies bent over trail by avalanche
6). The Quakies were just barely getting their leaves
7). The ridge and trail to Gobblers Knob
8). Looking down from Raymond to the saddle between Raymond and Gobblers
9). Looking up the ridge on Raymond. Still a lot of snow on the northern edge
10). A better glimpse of the ridge
11). The last .23 to the top
12). That's me sitting on the north side, just below the ridge. That snow was about five feet deep at that point.
13). The last place the trail was visible, except for a brief appearance later.
14). Looking at the amount of snow on the Millcreek side, I was glad I chose the trail I chose.
15). I got a good view of the entire south side of Big Cottonwood. Still a lot of snow at Broad's Fork, the Lake Blanche Trail, Mineral Fork, etc.