This is a popular trail on any nice summer day. You will be covering almost a mile of that elevation gain on foot. A few people turn off at the old toilet trail when they reach the beginning of Timpanogos Basin, and from a smaller basin to the west work up the ledges to the northwest to find the wreckage of a B-25 bomber that crashed there; that requires off trail route finding on difficult, isolated terrain. J. Willard Marriott Library. From there almost everyone heads directly toward the saddlethe colon the ridge to the west by cutting across the north facing slope on a beat in trail that is more or less passable, although there is a section with rocks that are are unstable underfoot, snow lingers late into the summer above a cliff band, and the last push up toward the saddle is steep with little traction on the dirt. 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 The trailhead to the Timpooneke route is just beyond the campground area.BTW, the nearest major airport is Salt Lake City international, located about 45 miles north. The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple is the 49th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.. One reason the wilderness meadows are so beautiful is the absence of fire pits. Its dangerous once youre out of the woods. Vanman's pic at the summit in late October, Fred Beckey's Great Peaks of the Continent, Routes Do not park in the campground or at the Aspen Grove Alumni Resort, you will be ticketed or towed. It is dangerous to cross the steep snowfields that can linger into midsummer, because you can slip and then slide rapidly to the rocks below, because you can fall into a moat where the snow melts away from the rock at the edges of the snowfield, and because certain snowfields with runoff flowing beneath them essentially melt from the bottom up, and when they get thin they can break under your weight and drop you a surprising distance into cold snow melt, an experience that tends to be fatal. Driving directions to Mt. Mt. Climbing the glacier in 1907, and exploring what appears to be a small crevasse below a large crown fracture. In 1993, a fifty year old skier from Florida, who was part of a group skiing in a closed area of Sundance, died when he was buried in an avalanche. At an elevation of about 11,750 feet (3581 meters), give or take a foot or two or three depending on which source you consult, the summit is almost a mile and a half higher than the valley floor, and it has different weather than the valley. People who summited received round commemorative pins, which changed each year, and some participants were awarded Timp Sticks. Ben Woolsey, aka "That Guy" a retired postal worker from Utah County, regularly places and maintains the summit register on the mountain. Hidden Lakes is a popular camping area for backpackers. It is not my intent to describe every risk you may encounter on visiting this area but the author of this page is not responsible for your safety. Be one of the people who come back with happy stories, not stories of near misses. I won't try and explain the concept of Prominence but it is worthy to note that Mt. He takes her to a cave where they live together in happiness for a time. The story of a native maiden climbing to the top and laying down to die is a fictional creation that was written in the early 1900's by BYU . 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. Mount Timpanogos-South Peak 11722 422 Hiking info for North to South Mount Timpanogos Traverse and Emerald Lake Loop, located in Uinta National Forest, Utah. 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 may be instructive to learn how people die on Mt. http://user.xmission.com/~wake/timp.html, Supposedly Karl Meltzer did the round trip in 1:58. Regardless of who is "responsible".we are all literally responsible for our land. The site for the temple included 17 acres of farmland already owned by the Church and had once been a part of a Church . 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. According to Wikipedia (and several other sources), the elevation of Timpanogos is 11,752' (3,582m)? Bob, I've added a section for these other peaks on the Timpanogos page. The glacier is one of the highlights for many of those who summit the mountain, using it as a quick descent route. In 2005, a young man committed suicide near the mouth of Provo Canyon. Seven Memphis police officers, two EMTs and one lieutenant have now been either fired or "relieved of duty" after the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols. All in all, its best to consciously avoid serious hazards. Paul W. 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, one died from rockfall, four died from heart attacks, one died from a bear attack, two died from a ski lift accident, one from a zip line accident, two were murdered, four committed suicide, two causes of death were unknown, and seven died from airplane crashes. The map on the left below shows how to get to the trailheads. According to wilderness ranger Colton Rogers, trail adoptees work to keep trails in good condition and rehabilitate shortcuts. The shelter itself provided some refuge from storms, although it could get cold in there. A difference you will notice is that at the summit the air pressure is lower, so even though the air has the same percentage composition of oxygen as air in the valley, the air at the summit is thinner so there is less oxygen available to you: about 78% of the oxygen thats available at valley floor air pressure, and only about 66% of what youd be used to if you came from sea level air pressure. Building the trail with picks and shovels. Timpanogos rises to an elevation of 11,752 ft (3,582 m) above sea level in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. There are approximately 17.4 miles of maintained trails accessible from the Aspen Grove and Timpooneke trailheads, (see map): A few years ago I went with a group of people from school to hike on the Timpooneke Trail to the summit of Mount Timpanogos. Far too many people go up the mountain utterly oblivious to the danger they are getting themselves into. The trail starts to the right. If you run into stinging nettle, or lightning, or an ornery moose or stubborn mountain goat, or rockfall, work out how to deal with it. Also, one other book worth checking is Dave Hall's Hiking Utah book. Snow obliterates the trail for a good part of the year and there are places where ice axe and crampons would be needed. There are many hazards on the mountain, and they are constantly changing. Dont cut across switchbacksstay on the trail, instead of carving erosion gullies into the mountain. Wikipedia has an entry on Mount Timpanogos. It would be nice if people asked to Forest Service to restore it. The summit is a small point in the long ridge about midway on the mountain. "Timp" Roberts also initiated a short play of the legend at the 1934 Timp Hike bonfire. 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. Read on.. Once upon a time, in a land far far away (okay, not that far away..just down in Utah County) lived a beautiful Native American princess named Ucanogos. This is the Timpanogos Shelter at Emerald Lake, a historic structure and an important refuge on the upper mountain. Make the right move by choosing this substantial 5-acre vacant land in Amargosa Valley, situated between the booming cities of Las Vegas and Death Valley Junction in California! Timp has now been made into a wilderness area. In 2018, a thirty six year old man from Orem fell and died while adventuring on his own in the East Peak/Elk Point area; no one knew he had gone to that area, although after he was reported missing and his car was found at Aspen Grove, his body was eventually found a few weeks after he fell. 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. Marva Eunice Taylor Parke, wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully surrounded by her husband, and family on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at the age of 81 . Planning a Timp Hike. Unless someones unleashed dog has chased them off. 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. You are responsible for your own safety while on Timp, but TERT does try to be available to give free help when the mountain gets its heaviest use, and that can cut hours off the time it would otherwise take to get assistance. Utah Urban Legend: Beaver Creek Nudist Ranch. This is a view of Mount Timpanogos in northern Utah as viewed from the edge of Deer Creek Reservoir. 12 Acres. Scoutmasters and parents, please go over this with your kids before setting out. Timpanogos Glacier is a rock glacier located on Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range within the Mount Timpanogos Wilderness (in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest) in northeastern Utah County, Utah, United States, [1] [2] and is the last known glacier in Utah. One of the best times to hike is when the wildflowers are out, which is late July or early August, depending on conditions. Another book mentioned above is "High in Utah", about the county highpoints and a mention of Mt. Be careful up high on the third group of switchbacks, because if you miss one particular switchback you will quickly be on dangerous ground, and even on the proper trail there is a short bit of rounded over rock that makes for hazardous footing. It's a popular tourist destination that holds a special place in the hearts of Utah residents everywhere. The beautiful princess immediately fell in love, and knew that this was the man of her dreams, the one she had been waiting for. Early Timp Hikes went up the glacier, sometimes with a fixed rope for aid. Now, this beautiful park is great for hiking, walking, and picnicking with friends and family. Many people say it something like Timp-a-nookie, but that doesnt seem like how its spelled, as the Tim-poo-knee-key adherents will tell you either politely or with some exasperation. Remember to take a jacket, even in summertime, because the caves are a little bit chilly. From the parking lot just past the fee station, the Aspen Grove (Mount Timpanogos) trail is toward the right side of the parking lot as you look uphill; the trail near the pit toilets is to Stewart Falls (Stewart Cascades). All these things make Timpanogos remarkable, however, what truly sets this peak apart from all the others are the mountain goats. 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. 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. 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. Timpanogos as well. Second Falls is about a quarter of a mile past First Falls, and it is where whats left of the old pavement ends. Mt. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. In the beginning, this mount had form without meaning. Captivating Canyon Caves. In 2010, a fifty eight year old Timpanogos Cave National Monument employee died while doing maintenance on the paved trail to the cave, when he accidentally drove a motorized trail bike off the side of the trail and fell hundreds of feet. Ben Woolsey - over 835 summits and counting. In 1943, three local men aged thirty one, thirty one, and thirty two died when they were caught in a snowstorm while deer hunting up on the mountain near the north end of Roberts Ridge, after having left their winter gear in their trucks because the weather was initially good; a fourth man was brought down alive. Ellen Mt. 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. Timp, you have an impressive drop that looks straight down on Emerald Lake below which demonstrates the exposure on the northeast side.An interesting note is that the '92 Utah Mt. It should definitely be added to the main page. For example, hiking into an electrical storm or during an electrical storm is reckless and dangerous. Be aware that deer hunting season is in the fall, andalthough the webmaster certainly doesnt oppose hunting for foodthere is a subset of hunters so clueless that they think it appropriate to ignore the rest of the outdoors and hunt on Timp along some of Utahs busiest trails (in 2016 a couple of them rode up to Emerald Lake on a Saturday when hundreds of hikers were on the upper mountain, and dozens of mountain goats were milling about near the lake, and shot themselves a goat in a display of manliness that seemed not to do much for public support of safe hunting). There is a lot of interesting historical information in the book, in addition to suggestions for many lesser known hiking routes (some of which are quite dangerous). Timpanogos is one of the most popular hikes in all of Utah. In 1966, a thirteen year old girl and a forty nine year old woman from Provo died when they fell from a malfunctioning ski lift at the Timp Haven Resort. The beautiful Mount Timpanogos looms 11,749 feet over Utah Valley, inviting the most adventurous people to see the views from the summit. This mountain almost delights in massive natural releases. The vast circues and basins were carved and gouged into this mountain by much more extensive glaciation as recently as 12000+ years ago. Jerika Binks, disappeared February 18, 2018, Remains discovered April 14, 2019, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, American Fork Canyon, Utah. Sliding down the glacierwhich is mostly gone in this photois an optional route down from the summit, but one that frequently causes injuries. Timpanogos is a great viewpoint for lots of these prominence peaks that abound in the area. Here is an example of why hiking before the snow has melted is risky. The switchbacks in upper Primrose Cirque have a number of false trails that can be confusing. Timpanogos Regional Hospital is a full-service hospital caring for residents of Utah County since 1998. 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. Everest expedition used Mt. You can normally hike to the top of the highest summit but when the snow flies or a storm is present, it becomes very quickly a mountain you need to take very seriously. You can pronounce Timpooneke any way you like. We have all heard the timeless love story of Romeo and Juliet, but did you know that Utah has its own tragic Romeo and Juliet love story? A ski pole. As mentioned earlier, there are two main trails that provide easy access to Timp's summit. (82), Additions & Corrections This shot was taken during a dramatic winter sunset with the golden sky reflecting on the dark water of the lake. I have observed several people who simply stealth camped nearby the day before they went up the trail. On the down side, youre going to hurt for a long time while waiting for SAR to arrive, and the bumpy ride down while being evacuated is especially uncomfortable. Gaze at the mountain, and venture into the caves, and decide for yourself! Her favorite quiet place were the caves at the top of the mountain pass. Much of Mount Timpanogos is a beautiful wilderness area. The fastest documented time to the summit and back via the Timpooneke Trail is that of Phil Lowry, 48, of Mapleton, Utah, who did the round-trip in 2:55 on August 9, 2009. Some people like to do night time hikes to be on the summit at dawn. View Mt. The Forest Service also prohibits campfires within the wilderness, so backpackers need to take stoves instead of building fire pits and tearing down trees. Jerika Binks, 24, was staying at a residential treatment / integrated recovery center near North County Boulevard in American Fork in Utah. There have been no avalanche deaths this year in Utah. The path is paved and a great hike for families. Cave tours are closed for the 2022 winter season. Frederick liked to go to the mountains almost every weekend, Love said. American Fork Timp is that is has the only real glacier in Utah, although it is very small. Don't climb near the falls, fatalities have occurred here in the past. Jan 20, 2021, 11:55 PM BY MORGAN WOLFE, KSL TV KSLTV.com PROVO, Utah - Utah County search and rescue crews have made two separate rescues on Mount Timpanogos in less than a week, and one hiker is warning others after he was taken to an area hospital for hypothermia and frostbite on his hands. The Timpanogos Shelter at Emerald Lake is now over 50 years. 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 covers a jaw-dropping 104,000 square feet with Sierra white granite walls and bronze doors. 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. Nebo being the tallest). If you find yourself in a pinch, here are a few suggestions. On August 28, 2013, Ben Woolsey climbed Mt. Up at the summit, its already winter. Deer, moose, mountain goats, marmots and pikas (coneys) are inhabitants of this area. Utahna believes the brave is the mountain god Timpanogos, and tempted by the maiden's beauty, Red Eagle perpetrates the ruse. 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.