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- Dec 23, 2013
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Woke up bright and early on Sunday morning and drove to the Butler Fork Trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon to meet a group of hikers at 5:00 am. The group consisted of six hikers from the Wasatch Mountain Club and was led by a gentleman named Sam Grant. Sam had hiked the route the previous year in June with ninety degree temperatures and so he felt by moving the date up to May, it would not be so hot, though we would have to deal with snow. The other hikers, including myself, had never attempted Wildcat Ridge before.
We left three vehicles at the Butler Fork Trailhead and drove the rest to the Mount Olympus Trailhead, where we began to hike at 5:30 am.
Our route for the day would begin at the Mount Olympus Trailhead, on to the top of Mount Olympus, which is the official start of Wildcat Ridge, and then follows the ridge line east to Mount Raymond, the official end of Wildcat Ridge, and then hike down to the Butler Fork Trailhead to our waiting cars. Along the ridge line we will be summiting not only Mount Olympus and Raymond but Triangle Peak and six other unnamed peaks which are all part of the Mount Olympus Wilderness.
Wilderness boundary sign
The Hike up Olympus was uneventful and we took a short break at the top to fuel up for what lay ahead.
Approaching the top of Olympus
Breaking on top of Olympus
After the short rest, we began to downclimb the east side of Olympus and then make our way onto the ridge that separates Olympus from Triangle Peak.
Gaining the ridge between Olympus and Triangle Peak
Once on top of the ridge, we worked our way along the knife's edge at a slow pace; occasionally we would drop slightly off the ridge to the north or south for an easier route. Eventually we made it to a flat area at the base of Triangle Peak. We discussed the easiest way to ascend the peak and determined that any line to the top would be good, so we all chose our own route.
Working our way along the knife's edge
Looking up at Triangle Peak
Good view looking back along the knife's edge and the north and south peaks of Olympus
Almost to the top of Triangle
Once at the top of Triangle we took another short break. While the distance to the top of Triangle Peak from Mount Olympus is only .8 miles; it took us three hours to get there!
After Triangle Peak, we headed slightly south east to Peak 9,587 where we could see Mount Raymond for the first time, and then on to Peak 9,773.
Downclimbing Triangle Peak
Peak 9,773 as seen from Triangle Peak
First glimpse of Mount Raymond (towards the upper left of the image)
View looking west of Peak 9,587, Triangle Peak and the two peaks of Mount Olympus
We then continued to follow the ridge line, though again we dropped down off of it when necessary. Since we are hiking this route in May instead of later in June, we had to deal with some snow along the way.
Working our way along the ridge with snow added to the mix
Mount Raymond getting closer!
After twelve hours, we finally reached the base of Mount Raymond! Looking up the south slope towards the top of the mountain, I'm not sure that I can get it done. But I figure that I've come this far so I might as well grind it out.
Almost at the base of Mount Raymond
Nearing the top of Raymond
We made it - the group on top of Mount Raymond
After resting and getting a good bite to eat, we descended the last four miles back to the trailhead. It took us 15 hours and 45 minutes to complete the route and I was worn out.
Thoughts - If you enjoy a lot of scrambling and don't mind a fair bit of exposure along with some bushwhacking, or perhaps you would like to test your stamina, then this hike is for you. Seriously though, you get great views to the north and south when on top of the ridge and we had the entire route all to ourselves. If contemplating hiking Wildcat Ridge be sure and bring plenty of water and food and make sure you're in good physical condition to complete it because there are few points where you can bail out. I might add that three days later my legs are still sore.
If anybody would like to see all the photos of the hike here is the link.
Wildcat Ridge Traverse Images
Enjoy!
We left three vehicles at the Butler Fork Trailhead and drove the rest to the Mount Olympus Trailhead, where we began to hike at 5:30 am.
Our route for the day would begin at the Mount Olympus Trailhead, on to the top of Mount Olympus, which is the official start of Wildcat Ridge, and then follows the ridge line east to Mount Raymond, the official end of Wildcat Ridge, and then hike down to the Butler Fork Trailhead to our waiting cars. Along the ridge line we will be summiting not only Mount Olympus and Raymond but Triangle Peak and six other unnamed peaks which are all part of the Mount Olympus Wilderness.
Wilderness boundary sign
The Hike up Olympus was uneventful and we took a short break at the top to fuel up for what lay ahead.
Approaching the top of Olympus
Breaking on top of Olympus
After the short rest, we began to downclimb the east side of Olympus and then make our way onto the ridge that separates Olympus from Triangle Peak.
Gaining the ridge between Olympus and Triangle Peak
Once on top of the ridge, we worked our way along the knife's edge at a slow pace; occasionally we would drop slightly off the ridge to the north or south for an easier route. Eventually we made it to a flat area at the base of Triangle Peak. We discussed the easiest way to ascend the peak and determined that any line to the top would be good, so we all chose our own route.
Working our way along the knife's edge
Looking up at Triangle Peak
Good view looking back along the knife's edge and the north and south peaks of Olympus
Almost to the top of Triangle
Once at the top of Triangle we took another short break. While the distance to the top of Triangle Peak from Mount Olympus is only .8 miles; it took us three hours to get there!
After Triangle Peak, we headed slightly south east to Peak 9,587 where we could see Mount Raymond for the first time, and then on to Peak 9,773.
Downclimbing Triangle Peak
Peak 9,773 as seen from Triangle Peak
First glimpse of Mount Raymond (towards the upper left of the image)
View looking west of Peak 9,587, Triangle Peak and the two peaks of Mount Olympus
We then continued to follow the ridge line, though again we dropped down off of it when necessary. Since we are hiking this route in May instead of later in June, we had to deal with some snow along the way.
Working our way along the ridge with snow added to the mix
Mount Raymond getting closer!
After twelve hours, we finally reached the base of Mount Raymond! Looking up the south slope towards the top of the mountain, I'm not sure that I can get it done. But I figure that I've come this far so I might as well grind it out.
Almost at the base of Mount Raymond
Nearing the top of Raymond
We made it - the group on top of Mount Raymond
After resting and getting a good bite to eat, we descended the last four miles back to the trailhead. It took us 15 hours and 45 minutes to complete the route and I was worn out.
Thoughts - If you enjoy a lot of scrambling and don't mind a fair bit of exposure along with some bushwhacking, or perhaps you would like to test your stamina, then this hike is for you. Seriously though, you get great views to the north and south when on top of the ridge and we had the entire route all to ourselves. If contemplating hiking Wildcat Ridge be sure and bring plenty of water and food and make sure you're in good physical condition to complete it because there are few points where you can bail out. I might add that three days later my legs are still sore.
If anybody would like to see all the photos of the hike here is the link.
Wildcat Ridge Traverse Images
Enjoy!
