Sunday, August 3, 2008

Hike Timpanogos...check...

So for the past 5 years my goal every summer has been to hike Mt Timpanogos. The best time of the year to do it, I have heard, is in August, and every August has come and gone faster than any other month and made it impossible for me to accomplish my goal. My friend Phil mentioned that he was hiking Timp earlier in the week and by my maybe a little over reactive excitement he had no choice but to invite me. So he picked me up at 6:30 AM Saturday morning ready to go. I really didn't know what was in store, I hadn't heard much and definately didn't do my research. So we start out and the hike is going great. The mountains were so beautiful, there are basically no words to describe. I love being outdoors and really being able to appreiciate what we are so lucky to have here in Utah so close to us. I went with a couple of Phil's friends who were each 6'10 and 6'9 so you can imagine how long their legs were..about the lenght of my body.. So for every 1 step they took, I was taking about 4. I kept up for a bit before I would fall too far behind and refused to run up Timponogos Mountain. Phil was so nice though and stayed with me the whole time. I hate being that girl who holds everyone back, but under the circumstances I really couldn't do anything about it! On the way up I saw Stephanie at Emerald Lake. I was so jealous that she was on the way down...and I still had 7 hours left.

So I'm pretty sure you can't see from this picture, but this is from Emerald Lake and the very top where there is a little white shack is where we were going. I litterally thought it was going to be impossible. That other picture was the crew at the top of the mountain. It felt sooo good to be finally at the top!



The picture above on the left is how we both felt aout going down the glacier. I thought it was the worst thing in the world when I was looking at it. There was a steep slope of rocks that I thought would be a much better option. I couldn't have been more wrong. The rocks were all completely loose and I basically slid all the way down them dragging my hands trying to stop myself. I came to a stop and just started crying! It's funny to think about how dumb I was being now, but in my head I was like I don't even know how I got here, and why I am doing this, and my hands are getting all cut up! I slowly moved my way over to the snow of which I was afraid was just ice and I would break a bone, or hit my head or some other disaster would happen. But once I got in the little trail of the snow where people slid down, I finally realized there was nothing other to do than slide down on my butt and get completely wet. Once I got over that fact, I was just fine and actually enjoyed myself...a little. Phil was so patient though I felt so bad cause I know that boys are so different and that for him it was just going to be so fun sliding down so fast, but he wouldn't go unless I was down first. Once again, I hate being that annoying 'girl'. The picture of the glacier is turned sideways, but I couldn't figure out how to fix it...sorry. And the picture to the right is Phil and me at the top. I was so so excited. I had no idea how windy or cold it would be up there! Once again, I was unprepared. Overall it was sooo much fun and I am so glad I did it. It's not something that I want to turn around and do tomorrow, but maybe some other day in my life. Did I mention that it is probably the best butt work out of my entire life? Seriously I thought I was going to die! I still am so so sore, but it was well worth it!