I wish it were possible to capture and share that sweet mountain fragrance. Nothing beats the smell of mountain air especially in the morning! Today I decided to hike a little ways up the Butler Fork trail. Butler Fork trail begins 8.2 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon where you will find a small parking area right at the trailhead. Butler Fork will take you to Dog Lake as well as to the top of Mount Raymond and Gobblers Knob. I was short on time today so my goal was to hike one mile up to just check out the trail. And I really liked it!! I will definitely be repeating this hike! Check it out . . .
Butler Fork trail had everything you could want in a mountain trail; beautiful pines, lush vegetation, follows a small stream, plenty of aspen, wildflowers and great views.
After about half a mile you will come to a junction with a small sign for Dog Lake on the right and Mill A Basin on the left. I choose left to Mill A Basin.
A little further up the trail I met a bow hunter coming down the trail. I worried a little that it might not be safe to hike with hunters in the canyon. Next time wear my bright orange! But he was very nice and gave me some good information about the trail.
Again the wild plants were amazing. Some of the cone flowers and elderberry plants were taller then me. And the I love the brilliant orange berries of the mountain ash trees.
Before I turned around to head down I got a pretty good picture of Gobblers Knob.
Looking down from Mill A Gulch at the Big Cottonwood Canyon road. Also a view of Kessler Peak.
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| Kessler Peak is barely visible. |
I enjoyed my hike as usual. Mother nature rarely disappoints!
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"For myself I hold no preferences
among flowers so long as they are
wild, free, spontaneous!" Ed Abbey
Wildflower of the Week
The Butler Fork trail was covered with these Showy Goldeneyes. The Showy Goldeneye looks like a small yellow sunflower. It was nice to see wildflowers at the end of August and you will see these by the thousands.
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Peaks Bagged
1. Grandeur Peak ♦♦ 8299
2. Reynolds Peak ♦♦ 9422
3. South Guardsman Pass Peak ♦♦ 10,420
4. Mount Baldy ♦♦ 11,068
5. Mount Evergreen ♦♦ 9,840
6. Mount Tuscarora ♦♦ 10,660
7. Mount Wolverine ♦♦ 10,795
******Miles hiked tally
beginning March 22, 2013
115.7
