Upon planning our trip to the motherland this year, I just had to include a hike on Mt. Timp. I have hiked to the summit probably 3-4 times. My first hike I was probably 8 or so and it seemed like all we did was slide down glaciers all the way down. Another time I was with Jay Taylor and Jacob Davis and we dared each other to swim in Emerald Lake. I remember it felt
like my body was going to freeze in place if I stayed had I stayed in a few more seconds. Well this hike was a whole new adventure. Utah has had a late spring so I realized there was still some visible snow on Mt. Timp. As you can see with the pics, there was a lot more snow than I expected. There was plenty of true hiking where we actually had to find the trail and do some bushwhacking, etc. Even though this is a regularly hiked trail, we found out the late spring and our early start made our hike a little more difficult. We had to cross lots and lots of snowfields and try to find the trail. I even had a hairy moment on a shale rock cliff where I had to give the mountain a big hug for fear of sliding off of it. Note to self: do not venture out on shale rock cliffs with water running down them; they become more like a natural slide.
like my body was going to freeze in place if I stayed had I stayed in a few more seconds. Well this hike was a whole new adventure. Utah has had a late spring so I realized there was still some visible snow on Mt. Timp. As you can see with the pics, there was a lot more snow than I expected. There was plenty of true hiking where we actually had to find the trail and do some bushwhacking, etc. Even though this is a regularly hiked trail, we found out the late spring and our early start made our hike a little more difficult. We had to cross lots and lots of snowfields and try to find the trail. I even had a hairy moment on a shale rock cliff where I had to give the mountain a big hug for fear of sliding off of it. Note to self: do not venture out on shale rock cliffs with water running down them; they become more like a natural slide.
So we didn't even make it to the summit! When we got to the plateau before the summit climb, it was covered in snowfields; it looked like an Antarctic wasteland. My dad and I wanted to see if we could approach the summit, but G was not interested in risking death/injury for another 1000 feet. In retrospect, it was much like the final scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where the Holy Grail has fallen onto a small nook in a bottomless schism. IJ is inches away from the grail but will likely fall to his death if he reaches any further. Of course, he chooses wisely and chooses life over death. Good choice. I chose the better part myself as well, but needed a little heel digging by my wife to see the light. What she didn't realize is all she had to say was "Indiana, let it go" and I would have instantly recognized my foolishness! It also made me realize that my dad and I are much alike when it comes to our decision making. We both minimize the danger ahead and can only think of the final goal.
On the way down, we slid down a couple glaciers. My favorite part was when I told my dad "are you sure you want to go down THAT glacier??" to which he responded: "Why not?" I could only laugh as his trajectory carried him past the snowfield onto and over several large boulders. That's where our minimal thought to danger decision making was exposed. The other unexpected part of our hike was the effect of snow on our dog Shadow. I think it unlocks some innate programming and she kicks into hyperdrive. Whether it was charging at full speed back and forth from me to Galen or barking/on the verge of biting us as we slid down glaciers on the way down, she was in her happy place.
This was a GREAT hike. It was a return to a place that reminded me why I love hiking. I would love to return and finish the summit another time.
