MooTheCow - Aug 26, 2023 11:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2023
Trail run
I was originally planning on driving to Butler Peak, but due to a giant sinkhole, the gate was closed to motor vehicles where Forest Road 2N13 intersects Rim of the World Drive. So I made the best of the situation by jogging up to the peak instead, which was actually a pretty nice experience. The trail/fire road is wide, runnable, easy to follow, and offered quite a bit of solitude due to the vehicular closure (I only saw one other person during that jog, who was on a bike).
My gear was about as basic as it gets: a long-sleeved shirt, pants, one 500ml water bottle, a cell phone, and a worn-out pair of Nike Invincibles. But it got me up and down fairly quickly and safely (car-to-car time was 2 hours and 6 minutes for a total of 9.5 miles), so I'm happy :)
On a related note, there's a summit register that was placed in early fall 2021 (IIRC). It's currently very close to being full.
Parked on the 18, gained the ridge just to the Southeast of Butler, then topped out on Butler. Continued along the miserable, thorny ridge to Crafts. Descended via a steep drainage to the 18 and our awaiting 2nd car. Total distance was 4.9 miles, vertical was 2600 feet.
cab - Apr 11, 2011 11:24 am Date Climbed: Apr 10, 2011
Lake View Saddle
Got in a late-season snowshoe up and over Crafts and on to Butler. Great views from the lookout tower to lots of peaks in the San Bernardino Mountains. The snow was pretty sloppy and thin on the way down from Crafts but I was able to leave the snowshoes on for the whole trip.
bechtt - Dec 25, 2009 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Dec 19, 2009
SW Ridge via Crafts Peak
Part of 3 day, 15 peak (or bump) trip with Bob Burd including 12 active HPS peaks.
colinr - Aug 3, 2008 1:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2008
Mountain biked to near the top of Grays Peak, then Butler Peak. Hiked the last little bit to reach the top of each. Awesome views from Butler Peak lookout, rivaling the views I had from atop San Gorgonio two days prior. Lookout man said that nobody was supposed to be in the Butler Peak area still closed to the public after last year's fires, but he warmed up and showed me the views a bit after the initial formality of informing me I wasn't supposed to be there. My legs grew tired near the end of the 20 mile ride after several days of fun: Castle Rock hike and Pine Knot-Cabin 89 ride on 7/28, 25 mile San G hike on 7/29, and an 18 mile Pine Knot-Grandview Point-Plantation ride on 7/30.
theronmoon - Jun 29, 2007 5:54 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 1994
First of many!
Rode my mountain bike up from Fawnskin. At one point had a couple of bees go down my jersey and sting the hell out of my chest. I said a few bad things very loud, lost control, and looked up to see a whole troop of boy scouts staring at me. A really great experience.
MooTheCow - Aug 26, 2023 11:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2023
Trail runI was originally planning on driving to Butler Peak, but due to a giant sinkhole, the gate was closed to motor vehicles where Forest Road 2N13 intersects Rim of the World Drive. So I made the best of the situation by jogging up to the peak instead, which was actually a pretty nice experience. The trail/fire road is wide, runnable, easy to follow, and offered quite a bit of solitude due to the vehicular closure (I only saw one other person during that jog, who was on a bike).
My gear was about as basic as it gets: a long-sleeved shirt, pants, one 500ml water bottle, a cell phone, and a worn-out pair of Nike Invincibles. But it got me up and down fairly quickly and safely (car-to-car time was 2 hours and 6 minutes for a total of 9.5 miles), so I'm happy :)
On a related note, there's a summit register that was placed in early fall 2021 (IIRC). It's currently very close to being full.
philadendron - Sep 15, 2013 7:06 pm Date Climbed: Sep 13, 2013
Short and steepParked on the 18, gained the ridge just to the Southeast of Butler, then topped out on Butler. Continued along the miserable, thorny ridge to Crafts. Descended via a steep drainage to the 18 and our awaiting 2nd car. Total distance was 4.9 miles, vertical was 2600 feet.
cab - Apr 11, 2011 11:24 am Date Climbed: Apr 10, 2011
Lake View SaddleGot in a late-season snowshoe up and over Crafts and on to Butler. Great views from the lookout tower to lots of peaks in the San Bernardino Mountains. The snow was pretty sloppy and thin on the way down from Crafts but I was able to leave the snowshoes on for the whole trip.
bechtt - Dec 25, 2009 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Dec 19, 2009
SW Ridge via Crafts PeakPart of 3 day, 15 peak (or bump) trip with Bob Burd including 12 active HPS peaks.
colinr - Aug 3, 2008 1:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2008
Unauthorized Grout Bay-Gray's Peak-Hannah Flat Trail-Butler PeakMountain biked to near the top of Grays Peak, then Butler Peak. Hiked the last little bit to reach the top of each. Awesome views from Butler Peak lookout, rivaling the views I had from atop San Gorgonio two days prior. Lookout man said that nobody was supposed to be in the Butler Peak area still closed to the public after last year's fires, but he warmed up and showed me the views a bit after the initial formality of informing me I wasn't supposed to be there. My legs grew tired near the end of the 20 mile ride after several days of fun: Castle Rock hike and Pine Knot-Cabin 89 ride on 7/28, 25 mile San G hike on 7/29, and an 18 mile Pine Knot-Grandview Point-Plantation ride on 7/30.
135driver - Aug 6, 2007 11:55 am
Eat it.Done many times with the bros. Good times.
theronmoon - Jun 29, 2007 5:54 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 1994
First of many!Rode my mountain bike up from Fawnskin. At one point had a couple of bees go down my jersey and sting the hell out of my chest. I said a few bad things very loud, lost control, and looked up to see a whole troop of boy scouts staring at me. A really great experience.