Tuesday - Hike Mount Timponogas

Mark has always wanted to climb Mount Timpanogos.  Three years ago we were going to do it, but Robert hurt his head and required 14 stitches preventing us from making the hike.  This time we made sure everyone stayed safe and healthy so we could do the climb.

It started at 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2013.  Alan, Mark's older brother was convinced to come do the hike with us.  We had two Camelpaks and extra water bottles, sun screen and bug spray, first aid kits, trail maps and cell phones.  We were set.

Off we went ... 

Robert 14, Mark, Alan and Marissa 16

 The beginning didn't seem so hard, nice back and forth - long back and forth paths with little incline, but about a mile into the 7.5 mile hike up it started to get steeper.  We took a break at the waterfall.  It was a perfectly timed break.  The weather was chilly so Marissa borrowed Alan's long sleeve shirt.

Marissa on the trail

 Devon sitting on a rock near the waterfall during our first break.

Devon at the waterfall

Mount Timpanogos starts at around 5000 feet above sea level and the tip / summit is at 11, 700 feet above sea level.  It's nearly a 7000 feet elevation.  OH MY GOODNESS!  7000 up in one day and then 7000 feet down in the same day.

One view of Mount Timp

 At various times different people lead the trail.  Devon was the lead at first, then Robert but Robert got too far ahead so we put Alan in the lead followed by Robert and Marissa.  Mark and Betsy were always the tail end so that we were sure everyone was safe in front of us.  There were times I wished Mark would pass me so I could go slower, but he insisted on being last - no one left behind ... so I trudged on.  The kids really enjoyed the hike and you could tell that their cross country training really helped them adapt to the strenuous climb.

Alan leading the trail about 3 miles up in a beautiful meadow area

 About 2 hours into the hike and 4 miles into the hike we reached a general "half way point" at Emerald Pond (some people call it a lake, but it's really small).  Maybe it used to be a lake but we less snow fall it's only a pond this year - who knows.  Anyway, it was a great spot to take a break.  We all reapplied sunscreen, bug spray and refueled our bodies.  Betsy had packed snacks for everyone - trail mix for her and Mark, Cheese its and Clif bars for Robert and Marissa and Clif bars and blocks for Devon.  We also had beef jerky, fruit rolls but no chocolate - it would melt.  Water was a must!  You could really tell we needed it.  There was a strange thing that also was evident by this point, our hands had started to swell due to the altitude pressure.  After about a 20-25 minute break we ...

went onward ...

The next section of the climb was brutal - no joke!  It was a huge area of broken fallen rocks.  There was not real set path, no real footing.  I think we all rolled our ankles a few times.  It was hard work figuring out the footing and this section was at least a mile long.  It was on the edge of a cliff at points, so that added an element of danger.  As we broke out of the broken large rock area the incline became something like an 70-80 degree incline.  Holly cow!  It was like rock climbing the walls at the gym but in real life.  We were almost going straight up.  We had to go slow and do one person at a time to allow for rocks slipping and falling below.  Once we got past this very steep area we hiked another half mile or so and made it to the saddle!  YES!!!  We are almost there.

Mark, Marissa and Devon at the Saddle

 The saddle was another great resting spot.  It was flat and wide.  We could all fit up there.  It was also a very windy place - We are so high up we could see for miles in both directions.  I'm sure some people only hike this far and then turn around.  If I weren't with Mark and everyone I might have thought to do that, but we carried on.

 The last bit didn't seem to be too far away from the saddle, but the more we hiked and climbed and hiked and climbed it didn't seem to get any closer.  At this point we are almost going straight up again.  It is were the mountain goes up completely vertical so we have to zig-zag back and forth but in short areas so we are making large rise climbs.  While you are going up you wonder, "how in the world are we going to get down?"  But then just as we (some of us) were feeling like we can't go on, we turn a corner and see that we are within 1000 feet.  Up and up we go until at last we reach the VERY SUMMIT!  It's exhilarating!!!  It's thrilling!!! It's exhausting but worth it!  We did it!  We hike Mount Timpanogos to the top.  There wasn't much room up there, but there was a metal shed to protect people from the wind.  While I was up there I took this next photo looking down.  The white is unmelted snow, the black is a shadow, the green is grass (see the trails in the grass) and the bluish green circular formation in the middle is Emerald Pond.  Now you can see how much altitude we have hiked - and that is just from the half way point.  From the pond just repeat the distance down and that is to the bottom of the canyon.  We are up high!!!

In the past people have been able to bring up a piece of tarp or plastic and then slide down in the snow from the top to the pond, but there wasn't enough snow to do that so we had to turn around and hike down the same way we came.   You've got to be kidding.

Someone could make a fortune if they offered hang-gliding or helicopter rides off the summit to the bottom.  Or even a gondola ride.  I'd pay big bucks - but no such luck.

the view down from the top

Our family at the TOP of Mount Timpanogos

Our family with Alan at the very top

It took 4 - 5 hours to get up and about 4 to get down.  All in all it was 9 hours top to bottom.  Alan lead the way down to Emerald Pond, Betsy lead the way down after Emerald Pond.  It was a great day!  The kids still had energy, but the grown ups were waisted (maybe not Mark).  Some of us got sun on the way down.  When we reached the waterfall Alan accidentally lead Marissa, Robert and Devon off the trail into some very thick brush and they got lost.  Betsy had to come show them the way out and the way to the proper trail.  Marissa said she knew she wasn't on the trail, but Alan said to keep going.  

One of the things that stood out from hiking Timp was that there were so many spiritual parallels to the hike.  I felt the scriptures all around me and I would think something that I had remembered from the scriptures as a safety or a precaution.  It was amazing!  Most importantly - stay on the straight and narrow path.

Anyway, we made it down, washed off, drank lots of water and headed home (to the hotel).  Devon fell asleep on the way home, and Robert and Marissa were close to it.  It was an excellent day - one that I'm sure none of us are likely to ever forget!