Often, people mistakenly believe that climbing the mountain is simply a matter of walking up the trail, and that if its a nice day in the neighborhood it must be a nice day on the summit. Though the legends vary, most explain the curious outline of a woman that can be seen in the peaks of Mount Timpanogos, or the origin of the "Great Heart," a large stalactite found in the Timpanogos Cave System. Worth a look as it gives you a good feel for conditions on the mountain as a whole. You read that right, 100 times. Ice skating in Utah is a favorite Winter pastime. By all accounts this modern story was quickly accepted as an authentic Indian Legend. (The peak in the center left is not the summit, its Roberts Horn.). The shelter itself provided some refuge from storms, although it could get cold in there. (The Wasatch Mountains are those that run along the Salt Lake City area.) Some people cannot even figure out which way to descend because they cant recognize the trail they came up, and cant be helped because they do not know the name of the trailhead they left from. Angel Rodriguez South Summit High School Peace of Mind . ECMWF, GFS, ICON, ACCESS-G, GEM, etc. From the Thanksgiving Point area, Highway 92 is the Timpanogos Highway through Highland, which goes to American Fork Canyon; you can also reach the mouth of American Fork Canyon by going up North County Boulevard, Highway 129, the bottom of which can be reached from Pleasant Grove Boulevard, to Highway 92, or by following Highway 146, 100 East in Pleasant Grove, which becomes North Canyon Road and travels along the base of the mountain to Highway 92. This year, 2008, we are seeing a huge snow season and so reading this might serve to remind us of avalanche danger: January 2nd 2006Snowshoer lost in avalanche; boarder missingBy Jason Bergreen The Salt Lake Tribune Two people were missing in Utah's snow-packed mountains Saturday night - a Salt Lake County snowshoer swept away in an avalanche in the Timpanogos Mountains and a teenage snowboarder who disappeared after apparently venturing into an out-of-bounds area of Snowbird Ski resort.At 11:30 p.m., search and rescue teams in Salt Lake and Utah counties were still searching for the teen, who was reported missing in the Mineral Basin area, said Utah County Sgt. To access the Aspen Grove trailhead, you can continue driving over the Alpine Loop highway from American Fork Canyon (or drive up the North Fork of Provo Canyon, past Sundance Ski Resort). Make good use of your light. If you want to adopt a higher ethic, then leave the mountain better than you found itpack out other peoples trash, scatter fire rings, and help maintain what few barriers there are blocking shortcuts across switchbacks. In 2006, a forty one year old man from Russia died when he tried to rescue a three year old girl who was distracted by a snack, and walked off the edge of the Timpanogos Cave trail; she slid to a stop just short of a precipice, but when he tried to reach her he slipped on the shale slope and slid over the edge (two other men eventually reached her and stayed with her until she could be hoisted by helicopter). In this springtime photo there is too much snow on the upper mountain to safely hike to the summit. In the depths of the cavern is a large stalactite known as the "Great Heart" of Timpanogos. The saddle is the dip in the western ridge of Timpanogos Basin by where the Aspen Grove (Mount Timpanogos) and the Timpooneke trails combine. Timpanogos, or Timp for short. One of the best times to hike is when the wildflowers are out, which is late July or early August, depending on conditions. Looking up the Timpooneke Trail; the trailhead parking lot is in the bottom center. On August 28, 2013, Ben Woolsey climbed Mt. The Aspen Grove (Mount Timpanogos) trail heads westward up the drainage to First Falls, which is also called Timpanogos Falls, and the trail was once paved as far as Second Falls, but that mile and a quarter of pavement is being left to deteriorate. J. Willard Marriott Library. Here is an example of why hiking before the snow has melted is risky. The mountain towers about 7,000 feet over Utah Valley, including the cities of Lehi, Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, American Fork, Lindon and others. Places to camp near the Timpooneke trail are spaced adequately apart with the best camping in the area just as you enter the basin at about 10,000 feet. Thousands of years of precipitation, wind, and glacial erosion have sculpted the east face of the Mount Timpanogos massif. So to avoid the hassles of parking on a weekend do one of these: 1) Arrive very early 2) Carpool 3) Arrange to be taxied.The Mt. It often seems to be a revelation to the local college crowd that a dark, windy, high altitude summit isnt very warm in just shorts and a cotton t-shirt. I love this! A typical TERT high camp team, at the Timpanogos Shelter near Emerald Lake on a Saturday: a team leader and assistant leader, an amateur radio operator, and medical personnel, all volunteers. There are several decent places to camp but be forewarned that they generally are taken early on the weekends. for more accurate forecast. Dont go where the terrain is dangerous, just because you think youre on an official trail and want to assume it must be safe despite appearances to the contrary. Here is a summary of most of the deaths in the past one hundred years; scroll down for additional details in a section below: eleven died from falls, five died from dropping through collapsing snow bridges into holes or from sliding into crevasses, four died from avalanches, four died from snowstorm-induced hypothermia or from late autumn cold, Be aware that it isnt always easy to find your way up the trail at night unless you not only have a good light with fresh batteries, but are already familiar with the route. While I'm posting, I'll add that I heard that after 50 years the Forest Service can consider structures to be historical. Building the trail with picks and shovels. It was really hard and strenuous for me, so a little pass Scout Falls some others and I had to turn around and head back down. First of all just know that the Aspen Grove lot is larger, so if it is full then the Timpooneke lot is definately full also. It is past time to see the exception to the rule, and return decent toilet facilities to the upper mountain. Before you get to First Falls, and just before reaching the wilderness boundary, Lame Horse trail will veer away to the right; mind the sign, and take the summit trail to the left. "Mount Timpanogos is the impressive wall that dominates the landscape on the northeast side of Utah Valley. So long as youre prepared, and will refrain from doing anything stupid on the mountain, you should. UT In the wintertime the Alpine Loop is closed between Aspen Grove on the Provo Canyon side, and a short way above the Tibble Fork (North Fork) turnoff on the American Fork Canyon side, at Pine Hollow. Hike your way past stunning vistas to explore a hidden underground world. On February 18 TERT radio operators at the trailhead shacks both keep in touch with high camp and dispatch, and provide advice to hikers; they camp at the TERT sites in the nearby campgrounds. In 1978, a thirty six year old man from Idaho, returning from a trip to Colorado, flew a Cessna 172 into the cliffs above Emerald Lake, in zero visibility weather, killing him. Timp is located due north of Provo, and it dominates all of Utah Valley. Timpanogos is a huge mountain, extending almost seven miles in a north to south direction with many of its peaks reaching over the 11000 foot mark. At the rocky ledge there was a big stick that looked as if it had been placed pointing uphill, to direct hikers up that way. Mt. In 1972, a sixteen year old girl and a seventeen year old girl, both from Utah County, were raped and murdered at the Aspen Grove trailhead by someone who had recently been released from a mental hospital. Since there are now several peaks here from the Timp massif, I was wondering if you had considered attaching them as children here. Runners regularly train on Timp. If youre starting as early as youll need to if you want to find parking on a Saturday or a holiday, the volunteer might not be up yet, though. If it becomes dangerous to continue, turn around. Mount Timpanogos - 10-day weather forecast comparing all major weather models, e.g. The glacier is one of the highlights for many of those who summit the mountain, using it as a quick descent route. Mt. Nobody was ever good enough for her, and many young men were turned away. Temperatures will be well below freezing (max 16F on Sun morning, min 0F on Fri afternoon). He now has over 835 summits of the mountain and will keep pushing that record higher and higher. Even though this occurred two years ago, this story should serve as a reminder that this big beautiful mountain has a very dark side in winter. The top of Timp, as seen from the Timpooneke trail in Timpanogos Basin. All in all, its best to consciously avoid serious hazards. Legend has it, that if you look close enough at Mount Timpanogos, you will see the silhouette of the beautiful princess: laying on her back, her flowing her cascading behind her, and her knees bent upward. Other things we learn are to properly outfit yourself for your adventure, and to pay attention to whats going on around you. She lept off the mountain, plunging to her death. --
, The legend was adapted as a ballet by Jacqueline Colledge of the Utah Regional Ballet Company, "Legend of Timpanogos" in 1994, performed at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and is still occasionally presented by the company. Utah Urban Legend: Beaver Creek Nudist Ranch. In days of yore the local community rallied to build the shelter, but more recently the U.S. Forest Service failed to maintain the historic shelter despite promising to do so, and when the shelter largely collapsed in the 2022 the Forest Service refused to restore it. This is a hike that I remember doing as a young child. Just do your best to follow the original trail, skipping shortcuts as much as possible. "Timp" Roberts also initiated a short play of the legend at the 1934 Timp Hike bonfire. American Fork It's been done before to have mountains as children to other mountains. A new section has been added that includes links to all the other peaks in the Timpanogos Massif area. A light covering of new snow mostly falling on Fri morning. Read the trip reports that have been put up for more information about routes and experiences. The location of the face is just a little bit north of the summit. In 1937, a fifty three year old Ohio man on the annual Timp Hike died of a heart attack near the top of the glacier, despite efforts by Boy Scouts and doctors to resuscitate him. Timpanogos in them and the newest kid on the block is written by SP'er Randy Winters. I think I counted over 100 people of all ages on my recent visit (july 22). Does anyone know where the old trail goes from there? In 1946, a thirty nine year old man who had gone to the Stewarts Flat area alone to teach himself to ski was found dead of a heart attack. You should also probably let someone know where youre going, and what they should do if you dont report back. Torch lighting ceremony at a prehike program. Devastated, Ucanogos vowed she would not live without him. If you are backpacking, please dont camp on the island in Emerald Lake, or anywhere next to water, unless you want a visit from the backcountry ranger. With close proximity to Salt Lake City, beautiful wildflowers, wildlife sightings, and incredible views, it's no wonder this is a well-traveled trail. The wildflowers in the upper basins, particularly the Timpanogos Basin, are incredible. Unless youre out of water and need to head to Emerald Lake with your pump or chemicals, or you want to take a walk into the basin to see the flowers, take the right trail, up the west side of the basin, and be careful because there are spots with a steep drop off where the trail has eroded away due to inadequate maintenance. The other shot, taken by Phil Lowry while actually taking a break from running to the summit, features the three highlights of Timpanogos: goats, flowers, and one of the main hiking trails 1500 feet below (the trail is the Emerald Lake cutoff from the Timpooneke Trail). My list of 14 Utah Winter Date Night Ideas got such a great response, I decided to follow it up with a list of 14 Utah. Dont drive the Alpine Loop with a trailer or an RV, as its a narrow and twisty road in the middle part. Caine Alder, the gentleman quoted in the article, has apparently since died. Mount Timpanogos overlooks Utah Valley as the dominate peak in the region. Click either map for a larger view. But last year eight people were killed in the state, making it one of the deadliest avalanche seasons since records have been kept.As a follow up to this tragic story, Phil Lowry and Joey Dempster, along with family volunteers and members of Utah County SAR, spent a good deal of time in May 2006 poring through the melting snow looking for any sign of the dead snowshoer. Photos (2,138) Directions. In the caves of Timpanogos there is a heart called The Great Heart of Timpanogos. As mentioned earlier, there are two main trails that provide easy access to Timp's summit. Click here for the newest trip report, A good trip report about Timp features a loop trip that goes from the Timpanooke TH to the Aspen Grove. Regarding history, Timpanogos Basin used to be called Big Hole, Hidden Lakes used to be called Spring Lakes, Primrose Cirque used to be called Little Provo Hole, and Big Provo Cirque used to be called Big Provo Hole, and all of the waterfalls on the Aspen Grove side were named. Its somewhat safe to float Provo River just below Deer Creek Dam if wearing a PFD, but even stepping into the river near Bridal Veil Falls at spring flood would be unwise. Only March had slightly above-normal precipitation. But Utahna discovers Red Eagle's secret and once again scales the high reaches of Mount Timpanogos, where she throws herself to her death. 801.581.8558. In 2020, a seventy two year old Provo man hiking up the Timpanogos Cave trail collapsed and died. Dont turn more of the mountain into that kind of mess! Do not try to get away with parking on the roadway in the no parking areas, or at the BYU Aspen Grove Family Camp, as you may be ticketed or towed. The same warning applies to backcountry winter travel elsewhere on the mountain, including skiing in from Bear Canyon or the Pine Hollow trailhead and from points east of the Baldy saddle. Another book mentioned above is "High in Utah", about the county highpoints and a mention of Mt. Pretty doggone good for a guy 71 years old at the time. Legends tell of two hearts joined at death to become one that now lies deep in the mountain. More information on prominence can be found at this site, peaklist .org Check out all the maps they have put together, it'll keep you busy on a rainy weekend. Prevent debilitating problems like blisters or dehydration or hypothermia, by wearing the right footwear and clothing, and carrying the right equipment. Skinning up Timpanogos is fun, but no other mountain in Utah has buried recreationalists so deeply for so many months. As an HCA Healthcare hospital and a Top 100 performing hospital in the nation, we offer the latest advances in life-saving technology with the compassion and personalized care of a community hospital. Last updated: November 14, 2022 Was this page helpful? This is also where Lower Killer Snow Hole forms in the spring and early summer. TERT shack near the Timpooneke trailhead. Timpanogos by Michael Kelsey and the book called High in Utah " by Michael Weibel and Dan Miller. Located in Salt Lake Valley and tucked in American Fork Canyon, it's the second-tallest peak in the Wasatch mountain range (Mt. There have been no avalanche deaths this year in Utah. If you happen to meet any officials from the Pleasant Grove Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, please tell them that the Forest Service should do more than token maintenance and should rebuild the missing parts of the trails (its not as if they dont have entrance fees flooding in that should be used for that), and also should restore the historic Timpanogos Shelter at Emerald Lake. If you drive across the top of the Alpine Loop, dont assume the Summit trailhead has a trail to the summit; thats the summit of the loop road, and there are nice trails there, but there isnt any official mountain summit trail leaving from that trailhead. Note that during late summer there may be no streams running anywhere along the upper miles of trail, although there will be water in Emerald Lake. All risks are assumed by the participant. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Many a day he made the round trip to the summit twice, in the same day. There is camping available at Aspen Grove but it is on a very limited basis. Timp's summit sits at 11,752 feet and provides expansive views of Salt Lake Valley and the surrounding wilderness. The trail switchbacks up the north side of the drainage from First Falls to above Second Falls, on up to one very long switchback sometimes called the Heber switchback, before traversing a talus slope (a rockslide) below the Primrose Cirque headwall and then switchbacking way up a steep section of the southwest part of the cirque and finally flattening out a bit in the Hidden Lakes area. Hiking or climbing in a mountain environment has many risks. If Fortunes wheel does not keep things small, and you are too injured to walk out, the Utah County Sheriff Search and Rescue team can hike up Timp and evacuate you. Free or royalty-free photos and images. It is easy to accept this description after you've experienced the cascades of tumbling water and realize that the vast cirques and basins were gouged into this huge mountain by abundance of glacial ice within the not so distant past. This is the Timpanogos Shelter at Emerald Lake, a historic structure and an important refuge on the upper mountain. In 2003, an eighteen year old, a nineteen year old, and a twenty year old from Utah County who were snowboarding north of Elk Point, died when a series of avalanches from high above came down the northeast chute and buried six of nine people in the area (a family of four nearby was knocked down by the avalanches air blast but was not caught in the snow, and they dug out one victim who was partially buried twice); none of the men were wearing avalanche beacons, the Utah Avalanche Center had issued a rare extreme danger warning that afternoon and searchers were limited in the amount of time they could spend in the area (not that it would have mattered at that point), and only one of the bodies was found within days, with the third body not located until the spring, by a rather surprised hiker. The switchbacks in upper Primrose Cirque have a number of false trails that can be confusing. Timpanogos at Sunrise from Silver Glance Lake Framed Print Gary Whitton $79 Similar Designs More from This Artist There is a sad truth about the stay-on-the-trail rule: the trails have so many spots that have worn away to nothing due to no maintenance, and so many areas that get overgrown each year, that people have beat in many side trails and it can be hard to even identify the proper trail. On the upside, they provide a lot of service for free. A few are: Provo peak, Spanish Fork peak, Loafer Mtn, West Mtn, Lake Mtn, Boulter Peak, and a few others. Much of Mount Timpanogos is a beautiful wilderness area. Timp, but it went out of print. At 4:30 p.m., when conditions cleared, a Department of Public Safety helicopter spotted Frederick and was able to land near him, about 1,000 feet below the slide.Frederick, who was uninjured, was flown to the Aspen Grove trailhead several miles from Emerald Lake. With 5,270 ft (1,610 m) of topographic prominence, Timpanogos is the 47th-most prominent mountain in the contiguous United States. This trailheads parking lot can fill up quickly on Saturdays and holidays during the summer, with hundreds of people heading for the summit, and as many setting out for Stewart Falls (Stewart Cascades). It was not visible, nor haunted; now it is both. I have observed several people who simply stealth camped nearby the day before they went up the trail. "We're just so sick about not knowing of Marshal," Love said. In 1982, a twenty nine year old man from Nephi died at Lower Killer Snow Hole when he fell through the snow, dropping into the rushing water and rocks of a snow cavern. These trails are each about seven miles long, giving you a round trip to the summit of fourteen plus miles. Michael Kelsey relates several calamitous events on Mount Timpanogos in his book, "Climbing and Exploring Utah's Mount Timpanogos.". Yes. There are many hazards on the mountain, and they are constantly changing. Mt. Snow obliterates the trail for a good part of the year and there are places where ice axe and crampons would be needed. If you walk the mountain path and venture into the caves on Mount Timpanogos, you will see where the great spirit melted their hearts together to create the Great Heart Of Timpanogos, astalactite inside the cave. It's a long and strenuous hike with the peak sitting at 11,749 feet, making it the second-highest mountain in the Wasatch Mountains. Timpanogos Emergency Response Team shack about a hundred yards up from the Aspen Grove (Mount Timpanogos) trailhead. Contact Us . This is an early summer TERT flight surveying mountain conditions. They used to post their records in wikipedia until wikipedia decided that running records were not encyclopedic enough for them, so here are some interesting stats (if you have your own record, please comment! The beautiful Mount Timpanogos looms 11,749 feet over Utah Valley, inviting the most adventurous people to see the views from the summit. He left the Aspen Grove trailhead around 6:00 a.m. Sunday, planning to reach the summit of Mount Timpanogos. The Aspen Grove (Mount Timpanogos) trail is a bit more scenic but also a bit steeper and more difficult. As the years passed, she grew more beautiful with each passing year. Sign the register, and chat about trail conditions and summit weather. 2038 W. Alpine Loop Road You would think the U.S. Forest Service would have put a decent amount of information online about the summit trails, but it hasnt. Please drive safely - several cars each year are driven (or inadvertently forced) off the highway, and need to be winched back up by a tow truck.If you want to do a little backpacking, there are several places to camp on both the Aspen Grove and the Timpooneke trail. The mountain towers about 7,000 ft (2,100 m) over Utah Valley, including the cities of Lehi, Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, American Fork, Lindon and others. Phil Lowry has encountered moose, both cow and bull, over 50 times, mostly on the Timpooneke Trail. Found Deceased UT - Jacob Routt, 36, hiker, Mount Timpanogos, 16 Sept 2018 JerseyGirl Oct 1, 2018 New Posts ID - 4 University of Idaho Students Murdered - Moscow # 35 Latest: SUNchips A moment ago Crimes in the News UK - Terri Harris 35, Lacey Bennett 11, John Paul Bennett 13, Connie Gent 11, Killamarsh 18 Sep 2021 Latest: Legally Bland This was the only spot where she truly felt at peace. Timp, One of (57) 5000 ft. Prominence Peaks in USA, View Name: Mount Timpanogos topographic map, elevation, terrain.. Also, one other book worth checking is Dave Hall's Hiking Utah book. You can pronounce Timpooneke any way you like. It was really beautiful and Scout Falls was nice and cold. I won't try and explain the concept of Prominence but it is worthy to note that Mt. The Utah County Sheriffs Mounted Posse helps get supplies positioned for TERT, and helps Utah County Sheriff Search and Rescue with searches and evacuations. Check the table of contents and note the section that is in bold print. Timpanogos area is part of a Recreation Fee Demonstration area, $6 a day and payable at either end of the Alpine Loop Scenic Highway. Timpanogos rises to an elevation of 11,752 ft (3,582 m) above sea level in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. One thing we learn from these incidents is that it is never good to fly a bomber into the side of the mountain. FAX: 801.585.3464 212 Mt Timpanogos Premium High Res Photos Browse 212 mt timpanogos stock photos and images available, or search for mt timpanogos utah to find more great stock photos and pictures. I'll take it and regardless of how long any of you take to reach the summit, it isn't the time it took, its the fact that you had the resolve to get it done and you can pat yourself on the back. At least twelve recorded versions of the Legend of Timpanogos exist today. More recently, Kaden Hunter ran to the summit from the Timpooneke trailhead on July 26, 2010 in 2:13:40. As Wallace Stegner pointed out, wilderness is the challenge against which our character as a people was formed. John Muir urged: Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Mt. From Hidden Lakes on up, mountain goats are a common sight on Timp. Just went up there for the first time and I was not expecting to be that close to the edge of the cliff. Timpanogos, On Zions Mount: Mormons, Indians, and the American Landscape, Allen & Mikes Really Cool Backpackin Book, The Treasure Trove of Annual Timp Hike History, The Story of How Hiking Timp Became Popular, Conflicting Views on the Aspen Grove Trail Route, One Take on Whether the Glacier Is a Glacier, Another Take on Whether the Glacier Is a Glacier, A Good Example of a Wilderness Medicine Patient Assessment, Utah EMS Information on Patient Assessment, A Good Lecture on Some Basics of Backcountry Medicine, Wilderness First Responder Scope of Practice Background Information, Dangerous Bee Stings May Become More Common, Shoulder Dislocation Reduction Techniques, List of Shoulder Dislocation Reduction Techniques. Just did the hike this weekend. Taste the thrill of caving as you twist and bend to enter beautifully decorated rooms. : https://www.patreon.com/seculartalk Subscribe to Krystal Kyle & Friends On Substack! Mrs. and Mr. Roberts on Timp. All Rights Reserved. It helps to have your 6 bucks ready to pay the fee. They are pretty accustomed to humans, but can be VERY aggressive. They even keep talking about a possible permit system. The higher you climb, the less gravity there is pulling on you, so that may be encouraging. Always presume that snowfields near waterfalls are particularly dangerous. T-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more, designed and sold by independent artists around the world. A ski pole. Mount Timpanogos Hike Details Distance - 14.8 miles roundtrip from Timpooneke trailhead, 13.6 miles roundtrip from Aspen Grove trailhead Approximate hiking time - 8 to 10 hours Elevation at the trailhead - 7360 feet at Timpooneke, 6889 feet at Aspen Grove trailhead Elevation at Mount Timpanogos summit - 11,749 feet Listed here as "Elevation: 14743 ft / 4494 m"??? Be prepared! Timp is a cultural treasure that should not be subjected to a permit system. Any information provided here cannot substitute for your own sound judgement and decision making skills. In 1985, a seventeen year old girl died when she slipped and fell down a steep snowfield and over a ledge while hiking with classmates from the Unified Studies group from Orem High School, which was making its way through the Big Provo Cirque area above Sundance when this and another accident happened. The summit hut, in the off season. It also emphasizes the need to respect the mountain by having a low impact in the wilderness while visiting there.