All the Way to the Top

Our family hiked to the top of Mount Timpanogos several times while we lived in Provo. Years later Wendy brought the experience to life in the form of a children's book. Here is her story. (Susan is Wendy. The pictures are from other sources.)

All The Way To The Top
Page 1: When Susan woke up it was still dark outside. Today was the day! She jumped out of bed and went to the window. The moon was full and low in the sky and she could see Mount Timpanogos filling the horizon. She could imagine the Indian princess laying there as in the legend. She could see her head, her body and her feet in the silhouette of the rough peaks of the mountain. Today she would hike all the way to the top! Today she would be up on the summit!
Page 2: Susan dressed quickly. She put on her jeans, a tee shirt, two pairs of socks, her hiking boots and her jacket. She knew that later in the day it would be too warm to wear a jacket and she could tie it around her waist, but now it was still cool. She reached up on her shelf and got out her lucky hat. On a day this important she wanted it with her.
Page 3: After a quick breakfast of cereal and fruit, Susan, her sisters Jacqui and Janet, and their mom and dad piled in the car. Mom had packed a backpack for each of them with water, snacks, lunch, and an extra pair of socks. Mom's pack had sun block, lip balm and a first aid kit.
Page 4: As they reached the mouth of Provo Canyon it started to get light. They could see the Provo River twisting down the canyon and the tall cliffs looming up on each side. As they drove further up the canyon they passed Bridal Veil Falls and looked up to see the gondola ride and the restaurant on top of the cliff. They had ridden up the gondola and had dinner on Mom's last birthday.

Page 5: They drove past the Sundance ski resourt and up the Alpine Loop. Now they were on the other side of the mountain. Finally they came to Aspen Grove and parked in the parking lot. This was it! The beginning of the trail. Everyone piled out of the car and got their packs on. Dad led the way.
Page 6: They hiked for several hours before they rested. Susan looked at everything as they hiked up the trail. They were in a Quaking Aspen forest and Susan loved the slender white trees with their fluttering round leaves. They were her favorite trees. In the fall the leaves would turn yellow and the whole mountain would be a blaze of color. Susan saw some squirrels and a doe with her fawn. They turned and leaped away when they saw her.

Page 7: At last they reached Stuart Falls and stopped for a snack. The falls were so beautiful.
The water tumbled from the cliffs above and fed the little creek below. They dipped their cups into the creek and drank the ice cold water. It was so good. This far up the water was clean and pure.




Page 8: They got back on the trail and continued to hike. By now it was getting warm. Susan took her jacket off and tied it around her waist. She was glad to have her lucky hat because the sun was bright. They hiked up out of the forest and across a huge rock slide. It was hard going, trying to keep from slipping on the rocks. By now Susan's feet were starting to hurt a little and she was getting tired. Mom said they would stop for lunch as soon as they got to Emerald Lake.
Page 9: It seemed like hours before they got to Emerald Lake. It was at the bottom of a huge glaciel and was made from melted glacial ice. Susan immediately tore her boots off and ran for the water. The water was so cold!!! Her feet were numb in minutes. They rested and ate their lunches. They could see the summit hut high above them at the very top of the mountain.
Page 10: Soon it was time to get back on the trail. They packed all their trash into their backpacks, and Mom put lots of sun block on their faces. Then Dad led the way again. The last part of the trail was switchbacks to the summit. They were above the trees and on the rocky top of the mountain. Susan looked down and could see parts of the trail that they had already come up.






Page 11: Finally they got to the top! They could see everything! The whole valley, Utah Lake, Provo Canyon, Deer Creek Reservoir, and all the mountains for miles and miles. They were so high that they couldn't see many of the roads down in the valley, just the freeway. It felt so good to have made it. Dad took a picture of all of them in front of the summit hut, and more pictures of the view from the top.


Page 12: Going down was much faster than going up. It was hard to keep from running, and sometimes they didn't. They slid down the glacier on their coats. It was fun to play in the snow in the middle of the summer. They had a big snowball fight, although the snowballs were a little bit icey. The only bad thing about going down was the way Susan's toes kept jamming into the front of her boots. They were pretty sore by the time they got back down to their car in the Aspen Grove parking lot.

Page 13: They were very tired driving home. Susan, Jacqui and Janet all fell asleep. They were sore all over, but it felt good because they knew they had made it all the way to the top.
Page 14: As Susan went to bed that night, she looked out the window at Mount Timpanogos again. She imagined the sleeping princess, and right where her knees would be was the summit. She remembered how her town and valley looked from up there. It was exciting to think that from now on when she looked at the mountain she would know that she had been all the way to the top.