Mt. Timpanogos Hike 2013

Mark and I decided that hiking Mt. Timpanogos once wasn’t enough.  We needed to do it again, but this time starting at the Aspen Grove trailhead.  Two years ago we started at the Timpooneke trail so Leslie suggested we try the other trail option.  We kept with tradition and hiked the mountain with Jared and Leslie but this time Erik decided to join us. 

Right from the start I realized the Aspen Grove trail was harder than Timpooneke.  I could tell we gained elevation quicker since there were so many switchbacks in the first mile.  For some reason we started out speed-hiking (maybe because we started out in the dark at 5 a.m.), so that sapped my energy right off the bat.  Or maybe it was because a really annoying group of teenagers (who ended up being a drill team) started out the same time as us and we wanted to put as much distance between us and them.  We were pretty far ahead of them at one point and could still hear them screaming and yelling.  In any case, we slowed down a bit after we realized we didn’t need to hustle so much. 

About 45 minutes into the hike the sun decided to peak over the horizon.  It was beautiful.  The picture doesn’t show the amazing view of the valley below. 

Our first stop of the hike was to enjoy the sunrise and shed our long sleeves. 

Leslie and Jared still smiling at 6 a.m.!  Just about an hour into the hike. 

Our second break was at Emerald Lake. 

Erik was the young spring chicken of our group and would go on ahead and then find a spot to wait for us to catch up…pretty much the entire hike.

We were enjoying the view here.  Little did we know that the trail ahead of us was a huge mountain of scree that we were to pass over.  By far the worst part!

We made it to the Saddle.  Doesn’t Erik look thrilled! 

Awesome view of Utah Valley. 

Jared, Leslie, Erick, Mark and me.  It was cold and windy at the Saddle. 

We made it to the top just before lunch. 

Proof that we made it.  

And proof that Leslie made it and signed the register, too. 

I’ll tell you right now that this smile was NOT on my face going down the mountain. 

My handsome hubby.

So remember the scree we had to climb over to get to the top?  Well, you have to climb over it again on the way down.  Can you spot Jared and Mark?  If you can, it gives you a sense of how big the scree area is. 

Leslie is still all smiles.  Her smile disappeared the last 2 hours of the hike down.  Her IT band flared up and gave her so much pain. 

What’s left of the glacier. 

We stopped for one of many rests on the way down at one of the waterfalls so Leslie could soak her knee in the freezing cold water.  I think it actually helped.  I caught Mark unaware in this photo.  

We finally made it down the mountain!  Pretty sure I felt like dying.  My poor blistered feet hurt and my hip was crying ‘uncle’.  (Jared didn’t get the memo that you’re supposed to put your hands on your hips for the picture.)

I’m glad we did the hike again.  I feel so accomplished afterwards but I’m probably not going to be able to do it again.  I love to hike but my body just can’t handle the intensity.  I might be 33 years old but my hips are those of a 70 year old.  I’ll have to stick to shorter hikes and leave the big mountains to Mark.