The Third Time was Definitely NOT the Charm

I have the most amazing older brother, I really do. He's always willing and patient when I want to come along and do things with him.
He and some friends had decided to do a night hike up Mount Timpanogos so that they could take pictures of the sunrise from the summit. He remember that I had wanted to hike Timp again this year and invited me to come along.
I admit I was a tad worried about my own physical fitness and how I might slow every else who was coming along down. I thought about it for a week but the side of me that longs for adventure won the argument and I agreed to go.


I have hiked to the summit of Mount Timpanogos two other times. The first time I hiked Timp, my cousin Kristy brought me along. I think I had to crawl up my apartment stairs once I reached home, because my legs just wouldn't work. The second time I hiked Timp I was in much better shape and I actually ran most of the way down the seven mile decline.
And then there was my third time....
A mile into it all I could think was, I don't remember the hike being this incredibly hard!

We had already hiked up one mountain side and you're looking at the rest of the hike still left (I took this picture on the way down since it was pitch black when we were hiking up it). Clear up at the top of the picture where you can still see the snow, the peak just to the right of it, was our ultimate destination. I thought it was painful hiking up this part, going down proved even more difficult.
I kept telling myself that I'd get into the groove of it and that eventually it wouldn't be so hard.
Guess what, the groove never did come! We reached Emerald Lake somewhere around 5:00 AM and my poor exhausted (beyond exhausted) body just had to take a break.

This little shack is right next to Emerald Lake and provided a great little place to rest. Eric didn't want to miss the sunrise so he continued on hiking while my cousin Mike, his friend Megan and I took a break. As much as I needed a break, I nearly froze to death once I stopped moving. I had originally planned on resuming the rest of the hike once I had rested a little, but time wasn't my friend and the longer I stood still the more my muscles ached and stiffened. Knowing I had to still make the hike home, I figured it was in everyone's best interest that I not actually summit this time. So I just hung around Emerald Lake and waited for Eric to return from the top.
The summit of Timp is actually at the very top of the mountain in the background.

I love how the green moss in the water actually makes the water look emerald! My camera just didn't capture the beauty I hoped it would.

I have never seen the glacier this little before. I was quite surprised because it had snowed quite a bit up here the weekend before.

I was looking forward to the hike down because in the past it has always been much easier for me. But once we actually started to hike back down I knew I was in trouble. I was so stiff and sore that I couldn't pick my feet up. Every little rock and tree root was just one more incredibly huge thing I had to try not to trip and fall over. And my knees, oh my knees! I thought they were going to give out on me at any second. I seriously had no idea how out of shape I was, and boy was I paying the price!
I have never ever hurt the way I did the last three miles of the hike, I was a complete and total mess, I just kept telling myself that if I fell or my body stopped functioning, it was going to cost me eight grand to be rescued. I literally would have rather died in pain then have to be rescued from a hike I thought I could do! I guess my pride (and the little Derik in my head, that said I better be dead if there's going to be a 8,000 dollar rescue) kept my battered body upright and my legs draggin just long enough to reach the car.
Thanks Eric, Mike and Megan for letting me come along but I'm real sorry I was such a pain.
So now that I've told you all about why I shouldn't have made this hike here's a few reasons I'm so glad I did.

These little yellow flowers were absolutely beautiful and the red fall leaves just poking through were the perfect contrast. This picture just doesn't do any justice!

These flowers were sparse, but so beautiful among all the greenery.

I love waterfalls!

I loved looking at everything, I am continually amazed at the beauty that is all around me. I'm so glad that I live amongst such amazing places. I'm glad even though it was painful and embarrassing that I got to experience this hike once again. It helped me to see weakness in me that I didn't realize were there. It made me want to get in real good shape and kick this mountain's butt instead of having it kick mine. I may need like a year to recover from this last trip, but I'm thinking that 30 is a good age to once again try to conquer this mountain! I know this post is long but I saved the best for last. Check out this glorious picture my brother caught of the sun rise.

Makes me sad that I wasn't there with him! He's got more incredible shots just click here if you want to check them out.

This site was fun to look at as well. http://www.utahpictures.com/Timpanogos.php