Ben Crawford hiked Timp with us last year and he decided to come along with us again this year. Also, Scott decided to come last minute (he wasn't too sure about it after getting sick on the Timp hike last year and not liking the Baldy hike last month.) At first Ben wanted to leave at 2 am and we were game, but then he had a friend who was going to come with him and we decided to pick him up at 5 am instead. Ben's friend didn't end up able to come but we decided to stick with our 5 am plan.
By the time we got ready, we didn't get to Ben's house until 5:30. His house was dark and there was no sign of Ben. We tried knocking, and calling, and texting and gave up at about 5:40. Just as we were pulling away we got a text from Sheree that Ben was up now and getting ready. His alarm didn't go off, but he scrambled to get ready. In the end we got to Timpanookee at about 6:15. There wasn't any parking left at the trailhead so I dropped them off, had Ben carry my backpack and parked way down the road and high-tailed it to catch up with everyone. We were reunited on the trail at about 6:45.
For quite a while, things were uneventful. The kids made amazing time. For a long time, Michelle & Todd were way in front of us with. We weren't going nearly fast enough for Ben though. Our slower pace was driving him crazy. He would wait behind us sometimes and then hike fast/run to catch up. He was able to keep his sanity this way.
The weather was ideal - we pretty quickly shed our early morning layers. After a couple/three hours we made it to the approximate halfway point. There is a long rocky straight ridge that gets a little more steep. A couple of things happened here. 1) We got to the point where the sun made it high enough that it was shining on us. 2) We hit the switchbacks which were more steep than the hike so far. 3) Todd hit the point where he got tired.
Krista, Ben & I went ahead for a mile or so and then waited for the others. The others made amazing time and were only a few minutes behind us. By this point Todd was feeling really tired and looked quite pale. He said he was feeling sick. I told the others to go ahead and I'd wait with Todd and see what happened. Michelle would have preferred to stay behind but with my hurt knee she agreed to go ahead. Todd & I took it a lot slower at this point, but I was concerned that Michelle might be waiting for us at the meadow near Emerald Lake, so I pushed Todd to go as fast as he could with not feeling well.
When we made it to the start of the meadow and Michelle wasn't there we relaxed and slowly meandered up the meadow toward where the trail goes up to the saddle. Todd was feeling better, but he decided that he'd had enough so we ate lunch (which was grasshopper cookies and grapes, since Michelle had the other food in her backpack) and just relaxed in the meadow. It was pretty windy but we found a nice spot by some rocks that broke the wind. We had a great time relaxing and Todd had a blast on the rocks. This was a 12 mile round trip hike for Todd - not bad at all for a 7 year old! (We actually saw a 4 year old and a 2-3 year old that hiked all the way to the summit - amazing.)
In the mean time Michelle, Krista, Ben & Scott headed up to the summit. Scott made it! Scott making it to the summit was the highlight of the hike. He was so close last year and was so sick. But this year he made it and didn't get sick. Krista also met her Sunday School teacher - Brian Boyce at the top. Krista was rather shocked by Brother Boyce's claim that this was his 527th trip to the top when he signed the log book a few lines above us. Hummmm?! She was also disappointed that his grilled hamburgers were not waiting at the top as promised.
Finally, we were reunited in the meadow and began the long walk down. Michelle & I with our bad knees were slower than the kids - but they had to stop more. Between our bad knees and lots of breaks for the kids it took us almost as long to get down as up. Todd & I went ahead to get the van and met back in the parking lot. Those who went to the top finished the approximately 15 mile hike in about 10 hours.
We dropped Ben off and were heading straight to a labor day BBQ at Grandma & Grandpa Clark's that we were late for. However, Todd got car sick and maybe a little sick from the long hike and threw up in the car. So we headed home for a quick pit stop to clean up (and ironically everyone but Todd took a quick shower - ah to be seven and not care.) Then we went to Grandma & Grandpa's for a delicious dinner of steak & salmon.
Scott, Brian, Krista & Ben hiking up the trail - Michelle & Todd finally decided to wait for us to catch up with them.
Scott, Ben & Krista doing some kind of pose??? on the way down.
Ben, Scott & Krista on the way down.
The moon setting and the sun rising.
Brian, Todd & Krista resting near the halfway point. We are still in the shade for a few minutes, but about to get to the sun.
Krista signing the book in the "shack" at the summit.
Scott at the saddle with a mountain goat in the background.
The same shot of Scott at the saddle but you can see the summit in the background.
Scott signing the book at the summit. Way to go Scott!
Ben, Scott & Krista posing at the summit overlooking Utah Valley.
Todd hiking.
Krista, Scott, & Ben doing another pose at the top.
Krista, Michelle & Scott on top of the world.
Ben & Scott doing ??? next to the shack at the summit.
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