GOBBLER'S KNOB (9.15 miles / 4,585 ft. elevation gain) With the intention of heading up to do a Desolation-Dog Lake loop, I forgot that the gate doesn't open until July 1. Instead I lucked out by finding the Terraces Elbow Fork trailhead and did Gobbler's Knob (first time on this section of trail). Nice 1 mile run along the creek until the trail begins to climb. At the split in trail I took to right fork heading up to Baker's Pass. Passed a few hikers coming down as the wind kicked up and storm clouds were rolling in. Once to the pass, I wasn't sure if Gobbler's Knob was to the left (west) or up to the right (east). (I know now that the summit on the right is Mount Raymond--5 feet less elevation than Gobbler's Knob--which from the saddle, looks like it's lower in elevation than Mount Raymond.) After 3 false summits, finally got to the real summit of Gobbler's Knob. Super windy and dark clouds rolling in.
Crazy looking twisted stumps on the way to the summit. ![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--3MoBAVZfy0/UbtszSUohJI/AAAAAAAAMag/pKfpv-EXwvg/w737-h553-no/20130613_193604.jpg)
Summit looking into SL Valley with sun rays shooting through the clouds ![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hUjSK3B2Qs8/UbtszWw6vuI/AAAAAAAAMag/5b8kmSlsbDM/w737-h553-no/20130613_193524.jpg)
Oh crap! Instead of going down the way I came up, I cut straight down the ridge and snowfields to the main trail taking about 1 mile off. Took a spectacular wipe-out sliding down on one of the snowfields--got the whole thing on video. Wiped the snow and mud off and continued down trail. Storm clouds blew over and turned out to be a perfect evening. One of those evenings where something about the sunlight creates an almost neon green hue to everything. Stopped to check out a small buck in the aspen's and snapped some shots. ![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y3VgfHCsB-A/UbtszbE-a2I/AAAAAAAAMac/ssC5JNFG2iI/w737-h553-no/20130613_201152.jpg)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-92qzkvuq80w/UbtszSJJjhI/AAAAAAAAMbM/YoGgAvcqQw0/w415-h553-no/20130613_201602.jpg) Made good time getting back to the trailhead on perfect trail conditions. Great little trek. ![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-o4ML2gpQSR8/UbtszTqMW4I/AAAAAAAAMac/fdtQTSmtTRs/w737-h553-no/20130613_205114.jpg) I have this little problem with collecting things on my runs. I kind of over-did it on this one...heart rocks, cool shapes, the one on the left looks like a fish--even has a mouth.
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