We did it! We climbed to the top of Mount Timpanogos. We literally climbed up the mountain with hands and feet up the sides of the cliffs. It was the most insane thing I think I've ever done. It was likely one of the most treacherous and physically intense things I have ever done. It was something that engulfed almost every emotion and feeling and body sensation all at the same time. There were feelings of joy, exhaustion, fear, anxiety, happiness, freedom, and everything in between. Words and photos cannot describe the experience. One must have the experience to fully grasp an understanding of what we just did.
We were not sure what to expect from this hike. We read reviews and did some research and even that did not prepare us well for the trip. We packed backpacking gear, including sleeping bags, tents, cooking supplies, trail food etc. Some of us had packs, and some just wore backpacks. We were able to take Becky's Second Nature pack that she used in the wilderness for several months. It was sentimental as I imagined everything she owned in that pack on her back traveling, hiking and sleeping outside. What an experience that would have been. I so wish there were journals of her experience that were left behind.
We traveled uphill for 6 miles. The whole thing was up. It was hard. We had to stop and rest often and drink water. We passed one giant waterfall about a mile from the bottom. After that there were no other sources of water until we reached Emerald Lake at mile 6. Some struggled with backpacking gear quite a bit, carrying weight uphill constantly. We rearranged packs and items and supported one another through the experience. We got to the Hidden Lakes, a mud pit that the kids went wading in and used the green mud as war paint. Once we realized that this was not our destination, we were glad. We hiked one more mile to Emerald Lake which was a beautiful destination. We camped our tents on the raised grass in the middle of the lake and enjoyed the beautiful view of the Mount Timpanogos all around us. The lake was clear, beautiful water, very cold. Some kids took a dip and cooled down from the treacherous hike. We had water to filter and fill our water bottles and cook our Cup'O Noodles with. We explored the area, tried out fishing using a hiking stick and fishing line with pepperoni as bait. Dillon, Jaxton & Cameron slept under the stars up near the hiking shelter. They said the stars were incredible in the night and there were some night hikers that came around while they were up there. Cooper, Amanda & Spencer slept in a tent. Summer & Blair had their tent, and Nate, me and Gramps had the other tent. It was a cold night and windy. Knowing we wouldn't sleep an ounce helped to not be discouraged by a rough night's sleep.
The next morning we arose around 6am to hike the last stretch to the summit of Mount Timp. We were told this would be about a 2 hour hike. We hiked around the mountain and up to the saddle. Some of the trails were literally straight up the mountain to the saddle and we had to use hands and feet to climb up the loose rocks. I was always terrified we would begin an avalanche of rocks. At the summit there were 2 mountain goats headed our way. We were not sure whether they were nice or not. I was good at this point to stay at the saddle. As I looked ahead to the hikers ahead of us, I saw that they were literally walking on the ridges of the rocky peak. If they lost footing, they'd fall 11,000 feet down. It was that far down! I began to have some anxiety about walking along the ridges of the rocky peak. How could this possibly be safe and how could it possibly be even allowed as a thing to do? Everyone began walking away from those mountain goats and so I followed. The trail was wider than it looked from afar, and as you keep your body angled toward the mountain, it wasn't a terrible trail. But you just couldn't look down because it could throw you off balance and you'd be gone.
As we approached the rocky peak, the trail got worse. There were small switchbacks going straight up the ridges of the rocky peak. So as you switched back, you literally had to use your hands and feet to climb to the next ridge. There were 6 or 7 of these switchbacks that we are literally climbing at 11,000 feet with no rope or anything secured to us. It was purely at our own risk. It was so insane. We got over the peak which led to the next trail to the top peak and we stopped for a break. The sun was shining through this ridge and we paused to reflect. I was terrified. Some of the kids were terrified. There were tears here at this ridge realizing the intensity of what we had just done. How had we survived that? How would we ever get down? What if someone lost their footing. We would need a helicopter. I was done at this point. I was emotional. Spencer was done. He was frightened. Grandpa did not remember any of this from his previous hikes 30 years ago. This was literal insanity. We all had an emotional moment there at the ridge. The summit shelter was on ahead straight in our view. Would we continue? Would we be done? What should we do? It could mean life or death. Grandpa and Spencer decided to stay put there on the ridge in the sunshine. They watched some mountain goats come not 10 feet from their place 11,000 feet up. What an incredible thing!
The rest of us trudged on, and thankfully the trail became less intense as the rocky ridge had been. It was more doable, but we still avoided looking down or loosing any footing. We climbed with hands and feet to the tip of the summit where we were able to step into the metal shelter constructed at the tip top. We had made it. We all were freezing cold up there, shaking with fear and chill, anxious as ever, fear and anxiety and joy and exhaustion and every emotion in between. It was an exhilarating moment.
The way back down was better, not quite as scary, but there was always the worry about loosing your footing. The hike back down to Emerald Lake felt longer than the way up. We were exhausted beyond measure after that, both physically and mentally and emotionally and had to lay down and decompress. After a bit, we got some coffee, ate some snacks, filtered some water, packed everything up and prepared for the trip down the mountain. The trip down was quicker, less tiresome and downhill. It used different muscle groups and footings than going up. Stepping downhill on loose uneven rocks does a number to ones' feet. We finally got down and felt amazed at the accomplishment that we had just done. Something unforgettable and memorable. A feat we never imagined we'd do. In fact, if we had known how treacherous the experience would be, we may have declined going at all. But I am so glad we did it. We accomplished something absolutely amazing and incredible. I will never look at a mountain the same again. I have a new perspective of those ridges around a mountain peak and I am grateful for the experience.
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