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Butt Mountain up-and-back

CHALLENGING DAY HIKE

11.8 miles   1800' elevation gain   season:  mid July-Oct   drive: 1:25

 

Butt Mtn from Deer Creek Mdws

 

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Dogs and horses welcome.  Sorry, no bicycles.

 

 

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A long walk up a big mountain. One of our highest peaks.  A brief, rocky cross-country final ascent at the top.  Outstanding views on clear days. 

The east flank of Butt Mountain is the mid-point of the famed Pacific Crest Trail, halfway between Mexico and Canada.  The trail is usually empty, but in mid-July the surviving thru hikers come striding up our trail toward Butt Mountain, and then back down the other side heading toward Canada.  See Trail Journals for their nearly real-time accounts.

Deer Creek (of Deer Creek Canyon along Highway 32, Deer Creek in-and-back, and Deer Creek bridge along Highway 99 near Vina) originates in a spring 0.5 mi to the east of the summit of Butt Mountain.

There is a lonely campsite nestled in the trees near the top.  On moonless, clear nights the Milky Way galaxy can be seen stretching across the sky.  And if the unimaginable extent of the universe becomes overpowering, one can look down far below to the lights of Chester twinkling cheerily.