Mount Timpanogos

"There once was an Indian maiden by the name of Utahna. . . ." Or, so the tale begins, of how this mountain looks like a reclining Indian maiden. Whether there ever was such a Native American tale or not, BYU professor Eugene Lusk "Timp" Roberts first published it in 1922 in an effort to bolster interest in the Annual Hike Timp pilgrimage to the summit from Aspen Grove. Regardless of its origins, all my life I have been told that Mount Timpanogos looks like a sleeping Indian maiden.  And I can see it. The really funny thing is that my wife sees it too, but in the opposite direction from how I do!

Timpanogos Sunset

Mount Timpanogos, Lehi, Utah County, Utah, USA, May 8, 2017. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300, f/4.5-5.6 at 70mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/4.5 for 1/80 second, ISO 200, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

The name Timpanogos is from the Timpanogots Ute language. It translates as "rock" (tumpi-), and "water mouth" or "canyon" (panogos). The mountain dominates the skyline over Utah Valley, being 7000 feet taller than the valley floor at 11,752 feet and about a mile long (5,270 feet of vertical prominence), making it the 47-th most prominent mountain in the contiguous states.

Last Rays

Mount Timpanogos, Saratoga Springs, Utah County, Utah, USA, April 1, 2016. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300, f/4.5-5 at 70mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/4.5 for 1/100 second, ISO 320, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

There have been a lot of stories about the mountain's glacier. Some say it is melting and used to be more prominent. Others say it is completely gone. The truth is, a little of all the stories is correct. Long ago, there was a cirque glacier that was clearly visible in the deeply recessed hanging valley below and to the north of the main summit. That glacier disappears during the dust-bowl of the 1930s leaving a talus surface in its place. It was assumed that the glacier was gone, even though there are visible snowfields year round most years. Then, in 1994 a crevasse opened up revealing a glacier still did and does exist beneath the talus slope. The debate, however, rages on over whether this actually is classified as a glacier or not. You decide.

First Sunlight

Mount Timpanogos, Orem, Utah County, Utah, USA, January 2, 2014. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300, f/4.5-5.6 at 95mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/4.5 for 1/125 second, ISO 900, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

I have lived within sight of this mountain for most of my adult life, yet, have never climbed to its summit. That is unusual only because it is the most climbed peak in the entire Rocky Mountains. It is however one of our favorite places to get away for an afternoon/evening to just enjoy being out and to make good inmages.

Nearly Winter

Mount Timpanogos, Wasatch Cache National Forest, Utah County, Utah, USA, October 5, 2015. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300, f/4.5-5.6 at 70mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/5.6 for 1/125 second, ISO 320, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.