Hike Blogging: Gobbler's Knob/Mount Raymond, Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Yesterday's hike took me to the top of not one but two peaks, Gobbler's Knob at 10,246 feet and Mount Raymond at 10,241 feet. The trail begins at the Butler Creek trailhead, about 10 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake County.

I got to the trailhead early and avoided any problems with parking. Most of the trail passes through the Mount Olympus Wilderness Area and is not too difficult, but the first part is quite steep. Elevation at the trailhead is 7,120 feet, for an overall elevation gain of over 3,100 feet.

This is Mount Raymond seen across from Mill A Basin. As the name implies, it was heavily logged in the 1800's. The trail goes through aspen groves to Baker Pass there on the right of the picture. From there, you follow it up the ridgeline to either Mount Raymond on the left or Gobbler's Knob on the right.

A view of downtown SLC as seen from the summit of Gobbler's Knob. The trail going to the top is fairly steep but much easier than the one going to the top of Mount Raymond, as I would soon find out. There also were several snow fields that covered the trail. The mountain partially blocking the view of Salt Lake City is Grandeur Peak.

Looking out towards Mount Olympus from the summit of Mount Raymond. The tan patch on the far mountains is Kennecott Copper's Bingham Canyon mine. The trail to the top of Mount Raymond is even steeper than Gobbler's Knob and the last quarter mile or so you're scrambling over rocks on a knife-edge ridge. If you're afraid of heights or don't have good balance, don't try it. Trust me on this one.

Captain Holly on top of Mount Raymond, with the Salt Lake Valley in the background. There was a plastic canister on top that had a notebook for people to sign. I left The Warren's address in it, so if you're here because you climbed Mount Raymond, congratulations.

My cheap $2.00 Wal-Mart pedometer was right on again, showing that I hiked just slightly under 10 miles. Overall, it was good training for the next hike on my schedule -- the dreaded Ibapah Peak.