On September 26, 2004, Gordon (K7HFV) "Reese" (KB7JDS) and Clint (KA7OEI) hiked a loop in Butler Fork of Big Cottonwood canyon to look at the turning leaves.  This loop took us up to the ridge between Butler Fork and Mill A basin (past the "turnoff" to Circle All Peak) and along that ridge to the junction of the Desolation Lake trail, along the Desolation Lake trail, and (finally) once again down Butler fork - a total distance of approximately 5.85 miles and taking about 4 hours and 45 minutes.

It had been noted that, on several occasions in the past, the aspen trees in this area turn a striking color of orange - in addition to their more normal yellow color - before falling.  Why this seems to happen here more than other places isn't known (to us) exactly, but it may have something to do with the microclimate's influences on temperature, water, or maybe something else entirely.

While the colors and scenery were impressive, we were not greeted with the landscape covered with those spectacular oranges that were reported in years past, but rather smaller, isolated pockets.  Why?  Not knowing the reason for this coloration in the first place makes it necessary to guess, but it may be that there was more water this year, that it just wasn't quite late enough in the season, or maybe something about this year's weather just wasn't conducive to producing this display.

Images (.JPG format):

• IMG01545.jpg - Up canyon toward Clayton Peak.  Similar, but slightly tighter zoom is #1549.
• IMG01553.jpg - A view up Butler fork.  Similar is #1557.
• IMG01554.jpg - The top of Mill-A fork and Mt. Raymond.  The orange patch amongst the yellow (just right of dead center) is believed to be a patch of aspen, displaying the hoped-for color.  A similar, but wider shot is #1556.
• IMG01558.jpg - A view across Butler fork and up the canyon.
• IMG01559.jpg - Across Big Cottonwood Canyon, with the ridge between Butler and Mill A forks in the foreground.
• IMG01566.jpg - Along the Desolation Lake trail:  A view across/up Butler fork.
• IMG01573.jpg - Across Big Cottonwood Canyon, looking down Butler fork.  (That's Cardiff Fork just right of center - with Hidden Peak and the barely-visible Snowbird tram sticking up above Cardiff Pass.)
• IMG01580.jpg - At the top of Butler Fork, looking down.
• IMG01582.jpg - Looking down the length of Big Cottonwood Canyon and Butler fork, from the top of Butler fork.
• IMG01584.jpg - A last hurrah of sunlight in a tributary of Butler fork.
• IMG01586.jpg - The last vestiges of sunlight at the top of Millcreek canyon, as viewed from the pass at the top of Butler fork.  See also #'s 1587 and 1588.-

• GPS track of the hike - The recorded GPS track of the hike.
• Elevation profile of the hike - The elevation profile of the hike.
• A more detailed GPS track - A more-detailed map with the GPS track of the hike plus the surrounding landmarks.

• If you want one (or more) of these images and wish some sort of adjustment (color, brightness, exposure, etc.) please let me know:  All of these image have been processed in some way.
• No-one ever said that all of these images (or any of them) were good.  Some of them may have definite focus/exposure "issues."
• EXIF data is present for most of the images, showing time, date, and precise exposure conditions.  Recent versions of Irfanview will show this in the "View->Image Information->EXIF" tab.  Note that cropping/noise reduction required the use of another program which may have removed some/most of this EXIF data.
• All images taken using a Sigma SD-10 camera using the 18-50mm zoom lens.

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