Every year my extended family plans a hike to the summit of Mt. Timpanogos (Timp). My Dad first took me up when I was 7 years old, I take each of my kids up when they get around 6 or 7. There are two routes to the top, we usually take the easier but longer route that starts at Timpooneke Campground at 7,370 feet. From there the hike is about 18 miles round trip and ascends to 11,749 feet.
It’s a strenuous hike with the last leg being through shale path that ascends about 500 feet to the summit house. From there you have an amazing view of the entire Utah Valley that makes the trip worth it!
Yesterday (Sat, Aug 11th) we made our annual journey to the top. About 2 miles into it, I found myself extremely dizzy, like I was drunk. I think it was mostly due to lack of sleep lately and especially the night before (I had only had 2 hours of sleep before the hike). The hike from about 2 miles in up to
the Saddle was the worst hiking experience I’ve had in a long time (the worst was hiking the mountains of New Mexico while I had whooping cough, for about 40 miles of it I was coughing until I threw up about every half hour). Once I made it to the Summit and ate lunch and took a half hour nap, I felt much better (besides, then we were going down!).
While we were on the Summit, an interesting thing happened. Ash Buckles twittered that an Army helicopter had circled his town a few times and then headed up over Timp – at that time, the helicopter was actually on the other side of the mountain, what looked to be 100 feet from us, we could see the pilot moving around in the helicopter – that’s how close he was to us! No idea what he was doing though, he headed out towards Provo Canyon.
On my next trip I’ll have to take my laptop up there to preserve my geek-hood, Scott Lemon is disappointed in me that I didn’t take it this time! The only reason I didn’t bring it with me was I didn’t plan on working from the summit or checking Google Maps or Amazon at all!
I got pretty fried – it never occurs to me to use sunblock when I’m hiking! And my feet are very sore from being smashed into the toes of my boots for 3 hours coming down. Other than that, I’m thinking about doing King’s Peak (highest point in Utah) pretty soon
On the way down, one of the many Mountain Goats that populate the summit was very close to the trail:
Photos:
Mt. Timpanogos – Wikipedia
Me at the summit
Pat, my brother at the summit
The Goat.
