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Base Camp
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- Statistics:
- Date Hiked: July 21, 2003
- Miles Hiked: 12.5 (?)
- Elevation Gain: 4,900'
- Hiking Partner(s): None
- Description:
- A
last minute schedule change had me in the Sasquatch Mountains of
northern Utah to go for a hike.
Mount Timpanogos (11,750’) is actually the second highest peak
in the Wasatch Range.
To get to the Aspen Grove Trailhead take exit 275 off of I-15 and
head east up the Provo Canyon.
About 7 miles up the canyon, take a left towards Sundance.
Go through Sundance, and immediately after driving past Aspen
Grove and dropping down a small hill, the trailhead parking lot will be
on the left.
Take three dollars with as the area requires a fee.
- I
didn’t exactly get an early start, and in fact I would consider 11:00
am to be late for this particular hike.
The trail starts out on well maintained gravel and shortly
becomes paved with asphalt.
(Yes, paved with asphalt.)
The asphalt remains until the first major waterfall along the
hike which is approximately one mile in.
I would estimate that there were at least 8-10 major waterfalls
along the creek flowing out of Emerald Lake.
After about an hour, I was debating on whether or not this was a
good idea given the late start, humidity, and 100 degree temperatures
Salt Lake was experiencing.
I decided to press on and after gaining some elevation and
catching an occasional cool breeze, things improved.
- The
first section of the hike contains numerous switchbacks as you work your
way up the canyon below Robert’s Horn.
The scenery was amazing and I felt as though I was in a tropical
rainforest some of the time.
I finally made my way up to the ledge where the Hidden Lakes
reside, and I caught a slight break as the trail leveled out up to
Emerald Lake.
From Emerald Lake I caught my first views of Timpanogos and made
it to a shelter at the base of Timp.
- I
briefly read that there is a “glacier” on Timpanogos, so I threw in
the crampons and ice axe before I left.
Once I was at the trailhead, I decided to leave this equipment to
save weight and avoid being tempted to take a more difficult route by
myself.
Once at the shelter, I looked north at the Timp Saddle and then
back south to the Glacier Saddle.
The southern route was much closer and appeared manageable.
However, I decided against it and started towards the north and
the Timp Saddle.
After about 50 yards, I looked back for a final glance at the
large snowfield and couldn’t resist.
I turned around to attempt the shorter (and what looked like more
fun) Glacier Saddle alternate route.
- I
started up the snowfield and was making good progress.
The snow was soft in the early afternoon sun, and I didn’t slip
at all.
The grade was low until you get to the very base of the saddle
where I would estimate it at between 40 and 45 degrees to the top for a
couple of hundred feet.
As I said earlier, the snow was soft and it was fairly easy to
kick secure steps into the snowfield and maintain balance with my
trekking poles.
Actually, the most difficult section was above the snowfield on
some very loose scree.
I felt like I was back in the Lost River Range.
Anyway, I safely gained the ridge at the Glacier Saddle and was
surprised that more people don’t use this approach.
I would highly recommend it and wouldn’t do this hike any other
way.
- From
the Glacier Saddle, I was only 470’ from the summit.
I stashed a quart of water and some of my food and was off.
Most of this section of the route skirts the western side of the
summit ridge and is fairly exposed.
I had the summit to myself where I rested and snapped photos.
I descended the same way I came in and caught a couple of great
glissades down the snowfield. I was back in Boise (ID) at 11:30
pm.
- Time Statistics
- Trailhead - Emerald Lake 2:30
- Emerald Lake - Glacier Saddle 0:55
- Glacier Saddle - Summit 0:25
- Total Ascent Time 3:50
- Summit Time 0:10
- Total Descent Time 2:20
- Total Trail Time 6:20
- Maps:
- Click here to view a 2D map of
the area where this hike is located. The route I took is in blue.
- Click here to view a
second 2D map of
the area where this hike is located. The route I took is in red.
- Photographs:
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www.
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hiking
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