Mill B North Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon - June 15, 2024

[scatman]

I was privileged to have the opportunity to hike with @regehr, @Ugly and Simon today. The trail of choice was the Mill B North Trail located in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I had never hiked Mill B before, but both @Ugly and @regehr highly recommended it, so how could I go wrong.

Regehr was kind enough to pick me up on his way to the trailhead, and we met up with Ugly and Simon at approximately 6:30 in the morning to begin our hike.


Mill B North Trailhead information sign


A choice right off the bat. We went right.


Looking down on the S Curve in Big Cottonwood Canyon where the trailhead is located


I of course would take up the rear for most of the day. Nobody told me there would
be hills on this one.


Following Mill B North Fork at the beginning


Approaching the wilderness boundary


California ninebark was plentiful along the trail


Stopping for a quick stretch, and to let Scatman catch up.


Sun is beginning to hit the northern ridge of Big Cottonwood Canyon


Looking through the shadow towards the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon


Broads Fork Twin Peaks and the Cottonwood Ridge dominated the views on this hike


With some peeks of Wildcat Ridge thrown in for good measure


Looking across the canyon towards Mineral Fork and Mount Superior and Monte Cristo



Can't get me enough of the Cottonwood Ridge


Western wallflower


Wasatch Beardtongue


The infamous bikini pose for @Rockskipper!


Ugly enjoying the view


A look up the draw towards Mount Raymond


Our first run in with snow


Some downfall on the trail to make @Bob happy.


Horsemint was powerful along some sections of the trail


Aspens lifted my spirits on the way up


More Mineral Fork for everybody


Just love the aspen


Spring Beauty


Canary violet


Reaching a trail junction at the base of Mount Raymond


A portion of Wildcat Ridge to the west


Enjoying the views of Wildcat Ridge


Turning around and heading to find a location for lunch


Lunch time just off the trail


I hauled my 75-300mm zoom lens with me, so I felt obligated to use it. Mount Superior.


Monte Cristo


Broads Fork Twin Peaks


The summit of Mount Raymond above


Another gorgeous view of the Cottonwood Ridge on our way back down


Back down the draw


You can see some of a rattlesnake in the shade at the center of the image


Along with it's rattle if you squint hard enough.


Looking back at Mount Raymond


White forget-me-nots


Hookers onion


A wild rose


More Wildcat Ridge


Ninebark along the trail - very plentiful


A white wild rose


Common yarrow


Back at the trailhead.

Just a great hike with wonderful companions. Thanks for letting me tag along guys.

 

[Rockskipper]

The infamous bikini pose for @Rockskipper!

How can it be the bikini pose without the bikini? I think you should wear one under your kilt next time, then you can do it right.

 

[Ugly]

Ninebark! I was way off!
I am not sure the rattlesnake is exactly believable.
Those who do not like snakes can just as easily believe we did not see a chubby 3 footer cruising across the snow. I only saw the last foot and a rattle go into the pile of pine tree, so surely I could have just seen a branch


That was a great 7 or so miles. I have some action shots and pics to add later.

 

[SteveR]

Nice day out! Tapping into your knowledge of Utah flowers- a bit of thread drift. One of the highlights on our recent (hard to believe it was over a month ago now) desert trip were the wildflowers. With the help of a book that we bought and some online resources we were able to identify all but one that we noticed in the swell:
The general form reminds me of the moss campion found in the alpine up here, but the flowers themselves make me think of something in the daisy family.

 

[regehr]

thanks for posting pics and for organizing this!

 

[scatman]

Nice day out! Tapping into your knowledge of Utah flowers- a bit of thread drift. One of the highlights on our recent (hard to believe it was over a month ago now) desert trip were the wildflowers. With the help of a book that we bought and some online resources we were able to identify all but one that we noticed in the swell:View attachment 131865
The general form reminds me of the moss campion found in the alpine up here, but the flowers themselves make me think of something in the daisy family.

Not sure on the type of flower. Perhaps some kind of buttercup? This was blooming in May?

 

[fossana]

Correct on family Asteraceae. Thanks to Google Lens and the UT Native Plant Society:



- https://www.unps.org/segolily/Sego2013JulAug.pdf

 

[scatman]

How can it be the bikini pose without the bikini? I think you should wear one under your kilt next time, then you can do it right.

I think the bikini might be restrictive if I were to wear it under the kilt. You know I'm all about my freedom. Besides, I'm not sure the hiking crowd in Big Cottonwood is quite ready for that.

 

[SteveR]

Correct on family Asteraceae. Thanks to Google Lens and the UT Native Plant Society:

View attachment 131866

- https://www.unps.org/segolily/Sego2013JulAug.pdf

Thanks @fossana !
And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming...

 

[Ugly]

I will add a few pics.

We started early, so the shade was a welcome factor until more than a mile into the hike, when we got some sunshine.

Some lovely mahogany.


More mahogany and the constant views of the snowy ridge dominate the photos.


Rugged, rocky ridges.


"Smile @scatman."
"I am smiling..."
The clouds looked rather dramatic at the moment too.


As we climbed to the aspens, there were some banks of clouds to keep off the heat.


These guys were following @regehr and I on the way up... and I would follow at a lengthening distance on the way down.


Action shots.


If you look close, you can see swarming gnats. We did not really have many bugs, but I think the bugs are on the cusp of getting worse.
The mosquitoes had not hatched yet, just these gnats that we ate a few of, and some flies.


Careful, maybe there's a rattlesnake ahead, or maybe behind at this point.


I have a similar picture here, because by this time, near the end I was slow. Some cramps in my actual knee... never had those before and very strange. I will need to start doing some more exercises. I tweaked this knee in the Needles, but this was the most vertical since then.

The Ninebark- whose name had evaded us- was so prevalent throughout this section of hike. It smelled great.


Some thimbleberry, and the rushing creek.


It really was a fine Saturday morning hike! I am glad we were able to go.

 

[scatman]

Great shots @Ugly!