The view from the top
My friend, Amanda, and I hiked to the summit of Mount Timpanogos yesterday. We planned on it taking 8 hours or so but ended up finishing in 5 hours and 55 minutes! It was tough and my legs are feeling it today, but it was worth it. The view is gorgeous and the accomplishment pretty fantastic.
The summit of Mount Timpanogos is 11,749 feet, second highest in the Wasatch Mountains. The hike is 7.5 miles one way with an elevation gain of 4580 feet. We saw plenty of mountain goats. In fact we had to scare them off the trail so we could get by them. We passed within 5 feet of a mountain goat that sat there and stared us down. I also spotted a small brown animal with a tail that looked suspiciously like a mountain lion. Since they hunt mountain goat, I'm not too far off in thinking that's what I saw. Gotta keep things interesting, you know!
mountain goats
Amanda and the goat ahead on the trail
Funny story about this "toilet" if you can call it that. This is about 3/4 of the way up the summit right on the mountain side pretty much in plain view. Sure it's off the main trail a bit, but really not any better than using a tree. At least the walls were somewhat in place. Needless to say, I didn't need to go that bad!
Tre at the trailhead
Mom and son outing
On the hike
Pretending to lift the rocks
This part of the trail was nicknamed 'The Tunnel' by Tre
View of the city (it was windy so it is dusty down there)
Pretty views
More pretty views with Tre in the foreground
Upper Falls
Tre by the falls
Tre and I with the falls in the background
More pics of the falls
Tre happy that we made it to the waterfall. We somehow missed the lower falls, hiked on and on until we lost the trail and had to backtrack, I was just about to turn back and follow the river down when I went to find a bush to relieve myself and stumbled upon the upper falls. Didn't even realize until we got home and looked it up that we missed the first falls. No wonder it was a longer hike than I was expecting!
Tre took a picture of me with the falls in the background
Pretty tired boy, but he did it and was super proud of himself. After we stopped for Wendy's and ate Frosty's and fries then hit the gas station for Gatorade, treats and an energy drink for me :) In all we hiked over 5 miles of strenuous terrain in 3.5 hours and 80 degree weather. Good job buddy! Thanks for spending the day with me.
