Gobbler's Knob, June 19, 2015

Like hiking through Lothlorian. I'm a fair-weather-fan of 'Lord of the Rings', but if I were a Wood Elf, this is where I'd live.  Along the Bowman Fork trail out of Millcreek Canyon.

Raymond Slabs (as in Mt. Raymond), from the Bowman Fork Trail.

Still a little snow on the Cabin Run on the NW face of Gobbler's Knob.

Mt. Raymond from the upper Bowman Fork Trail, looking towards Baker Pass (view SW).

From Baker Pass, the view south towards the snow-covered BCC/LCC divide: (l-r) Kessler Peak, Mineral Fork (not to be confused with Mineral Basin of Snowbird), Mt. Superior, Monte Cristo and the LCC ridge line. The green basin (r) is Mill A Basin on the NE side of Mt. Raymond. 

View from just above Baker Pass, hiking towards Gobbler's: Mill A Basin just below, the snow-covered peaks on the skyline are (l-r) Dromedary Peak (rounded), Sunrise, O'Sullivan's, and Broad's Fork Twins. 

Zoomed view of Dromedary, Sunrise, O'Sullivan's and Broads Fork Twins (summits blocked by branch).

Mineral Fork (with mining/ATV road visible) and Mt. Superior and Monte Cristo and the LCC ridge line. A popular BC ski run called 'Rampage' (for obvious reason) is visible (and still ski able). It's the leftward slash of white at mid-height, 1/4 from the right.  

Gobbler's Knob summit (10,246 feet) an 1/8 mile ridge hop away, viewed from the lower, SW summit (10,224 feet). Butler Basin is on the right, Alexander Basin is barely seen (the timbered slope) down and right of the summit.

Tough to stop taking pictures in beautiful country. Upper Mill D South (aka Lake Blanche Cyn.) and Broads Fork, snow going fast. 

Butler Basin (foreground) = awesome BC skiing. The peak across the way is Kessler with its huge avalanche paths (and popular BC ski runs), affectionately named God's Lawnmower (l) and Argenta (r).  

Last of the snow - must touch before it's gone.

Long way down. SW face of Gobbler's.

Capital Reef N. P., June 5-6, 2015

Thunderstorm over Boulder Mountain.

My granddaughter, Lydia, with a better beard than I'll ever grow!

Trail to Hickman Bridge, while it's still dry.

Pretty girls. Harper and her Momma.

I think these are Tulip Prickly Pear (Opuntia Phaecantha).

The rain starts, and we hide out in a sandy cave next to a small bridge over the forming stream. My grandson testing the waters. 

Couldn't ask for a better spot to wait out the weather.

Owen still testing the water . . .

Lydia and Harper playing tin the sand.

Harper heaven!

Rain getting heavy, just before a small flash flood blast through at our feet, just big enough for a slight scare . . . scared for the grandkids of course. Soon after taking this pic the stream filla the basin at our feet. We were lucky to have the bridge (left) to cross back to the escape trail.  

When life gives you rain, make sand angels??

Small flash flood sounded like a jet overhead for a few seconds before it crashed though . . . .
 and we scramble to higher ground . . .

 . . . our sandy cave was still dry, but why chance-it?

Not huge but strong enough to knock you off your feet.

Streamers off the cliffs.

Almost back to the car. This was a dry gully when we started up.

Yes, some folks need to be told.   

Next day's hike up Cohab Canyon. Lydia doing her best 'Audrey Hepburn,' and pulling it off pretty dang well I think. 

Watching for more rain.

I love Capital Reef. So much to explore.



Overlooking the orchards of Fruita. 

Lydia wants to climb.



Owen looking for adventure while the ladies shop.

Red rock, fruit trees and the family. "Is this heaven?"

Bountiful Peak, May 30, 2015

NE aspect of Session's Mountain still covered, but going fast. 

Power Wagon Peak, my intended ski run is melted out. 'Plan B' is Bountiful Peak. 40 years ago my Dad scared the crap out of me - numerous times - when he loaded up the '69 Dodge Power Wagon with ALL my family, me in the bed (sans seat belt), and climbed up and over this peak on the old road (the only road over the top back in the '70's). The drive was passable by only 4X4's and was 'off-road' technical. Several spots were pretty damn 'roll-able,' at least in the mind of a 10-year-old kid bouncing around in the bed of the truck. I remember one spot, on a 35 degree slope, where two wheels (diagonal) were suspended in the air, the truck teetering one to the other, which brought laughs from my Dad and brothers. I was scared to death. Today the 'new road' (straight ahead in photo) by-passes the old road by cutting straight across the contour of the mountain rather than climbing up and over along the top of the ridge (skyline in the photo). As you can see, the new road is drive-able in a Toyota Prius (almost). I call the peak 'Power Wagon Peak' due to the mental abuse inflicted by my Dad and his truck. 

Back in the mid-70's my Dad drove us up there on July 24th (I remember watching the Bountiful Handcart parade he night before, which always the day before July 24 (approximately 1973), and the whole bowl was still deep with snow with a big cornice across the top. I've wanted to ski it ever since. Sadly, as you can see, it's no longer skiable this year. Times they are a changing.    

View of the Central Wasatch from Bountiful Peak, the 1930's CCC terracing in full view.

The 'ride' at the end of the road (descent into Farmington Canyon blocked by snow) at the Bountiful Peak parking lot. View north toward Francis Peak (with snow) beyond the Yamaha and BD Aspects.

Central Wasatch from the top of my ski run just south of Bountiful Peak. My ski run is out of frame to my left.

More views. Sessions Mountain in mid frame (heavy with snow), and the Central Wasatch on the horizon, with Gobblers Knob, Mt. Raymond Mt. Superior, Dromedary, Sunrise, Broads Fork Twins, Coalpit Headwall and Thunder Mt. clearly visible (l-r).

Francis Peak from Bountiful Peak.

The low point of my ski run on the south side of Bountiful Peak. It snowed about six inches last week, which when combined with the warm temperatures today made for soft, unsupportable snow. I heard the new snow collapse all morning, it didn't slide but still a warning to get off. 

My turns.

My turns again.

Lady Bugs not so lady-like in an orgy, a common scene on high peaks in the spring. 

Antelope Island from Bountiful Peak

Turns and boot.

Turns in wet snow.