19.5 Mile Timpanogos Loop for my Birthday

19.5 Mile Timpanogos Loop for my Birthday

I decided to treat myself to a Mt. Timpanogos summit for my birthday this morning. I have done the summit twice from the Timpooneke trailhead but never from Aspen Grove. I decided to make a loop of it.  Up Aspen Grove, down Timpooneke, then loop back to AG on the Salamander Flats, Snow Gauging, and Lame Horse trails. A 19.5 mile loop.

I put out the call and two fellow Wasatch Mountain Wranglers joined – Keith and Tim. We started at 5:00 and caught an amazing sunrise as we climbed the trail out of Aspen Grove.

Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (1)

This side is steeper than Timpooneke, less runnable, but features some  beautiful waterfalls, a few lakes and meadows, an old Forest Service ranger cabin, and views for days.
We spent a lot of time stopping and taking pictures, so I apologize to Tim and Keith for destroying their splits. But it was hard not to stop and gawk.

Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (3)
Just above the headwall up out of Aspen Grove – at about mile 4.5 – you hit a series of meadows. Here, looking back down the trial at Hidden Lakes.
Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (10)
Climbing out of the Hidden Lakes meadow and up to the Emerald Lake basin. Timpanogos Summit in the distance with the shelter just barely visible.
Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (16)
Looking down into the Timp basin I usually climb into from the other side – from Timpooneke.

Once we climbed over to the saddle, it a wind picked up and it got a bit chilly.  In the sun it was alright, but my hands got numb.  At the summit, two other wranglers, Josh and Jade, caught up to us. They had started from the other trailhead and were pushing for a fast round trip. We sat around for a bit up top.  It’s hard to just turn around and bomb back down when the views as so good.
Hat tip to Tim, as well, for picking up a ton of trash along the trail and on the summit.  Littering makes me so mad.

Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (19)
Looking East from the Timpanogos Summit. Wow.
Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (20)
Happy Birthday to me! Some people say this isn’t what they would have given themselves for their birthdays and that I’m crazy, but I think the mountain disagrees. Birthday summits FTW!
Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (22)
The rest of the WMW crew – Keith, Jade, Josh, Tim.

Once we got off the saddle the temps picked up fast. Lots of hikers were moving up their trail a high fiving us as we ran down, thinking we were more hardcore that we are. When we explained the loop we were doing, we did get some raised eyebrows. Maybe we are hardcore.

Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (24)
The Timp basin is at peak wildflower right now. Seriously people. Get up there!

Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (25)

About halfway down I rolled my right ankle hard. I heard an audible crunch. It ran of OK, though tender, until right at the bottom when I rolled it again. Sharp stab of pain. Oh boy…

At the trailhead I used the bathroom, drenched myself in water, refilled, and headed off for the return trails.  Those were a tough 5 miles for me. Very runnable, but not for me. It was also fun to see a few new places.

Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (26)
North Timpanogos viewed from the Snow Gauging Trail
Brenden Birthday Timpanogos Loop (27)
Looking down towards Aspen Grove from the Lame Horse Trail.

The heat, returned GI distress, and the ankle. But, we made it and it was gorgeous. I will definitely make this loop again, but hopefully in better physical conditions. Happy birthday to me!

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