VERY well written. I really enjoyed reading this TR, adding a personal touch instead of just an account of the climb made it impossible to stop until the end. Sounds kind of odd to walk through an area knowing some poor climber lies deceased somewhere under the snow nearby. Great pictures by the way, looks like a fun climb.
Update: we flew up yesterday (and others today) to look for the missing snowshoer. No luck so far with dogs, RECCO, and probes; but the snow is melting fast.
Well, we finally found him yesterday. Six months to the day! The snow has been melting fast for weeks. We spotted his sleeve from an airplane, then went up and lowered him a thousand feet to a flat area for helicopter transport. I hope this brings some peace to the family at last.
Thanks for catching that and correcting me!
And thanks for the feedback, happy to hear you enjoyed it. Interesting how nearly any outdoor story - positive or otherwise - always inspires you to want to get out there again.
One thing though - there really is a glacier in above Emerald Lake. I thought like you for a long time - I thought that there was just a snowfield that lasted some years, but not others. However, there is a glacier - it is buried under a thick layer of rockfall. As proof - in 1994, after a long drought, a crevasse opened up - revealing a glacier. I always wanted to believe that there was a glacier, because of the opaque color of Emerald Lake, and because I noticed every time that I decended over the rockfall area in late summer I could faintly hear a trickle of water (in certain areas). There is a good article about the glacier here on SP, written by Scott Patterson. Check it out. So, I know that there will be doubters, and those that contend that it no longer meets the definition of a glacier, but I AM A BELIEVER!!! :)
Yeah, that IS a good article and it's nice to know the glacier may live on. Thanks for passing it along. I wonder if there's an eager geology student out there who'd be willing to set up a study to find out if that ice is moving.
I wonder if there's an eager geology student out there who'd be willing to set up a study to find out if that ice is moving.
The problem would be that all the ice is buried under thick talus, and would be hard to study. The "crevasse" of 1994 would indicate that it does move, but who knows when or if it will ever be exposed again? Moving or not, it is buried under much talus and invisible--for now at least.
I did a similar trip in March 16 years ago. Up the west face and down to Emerals Lake. It stormed that night and we couldn't go down Aspen Grove, and it was very tough to go back up to the Glacier Saddle because of the cornice. Quite an ordeal.
Nice to see you climbed it. Photos of the snowfilled hut bring back memories.
I somehow had missed this TR. This is the kind of writing that would do a magazine proud as you have combined the adventure with your own introspection. Timp is a mountain that deserves respect and you certainly have added to that respect with the way you described it in your TR. Nicely done and thank you.
I've spent a very windy night in the hut, but no snow. Sunrise at Emerald Lake can be the most beautiful thing you see in the mountains. Timpanogos is classic. I admire anyone who climbs the west face.
You can now read a lot more about the rescue of the lost snowshoer and many other Utah County rescues in the new book 75 Search and Rescue Stories. Find out what it takes to join search and rescue!
Hi, just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading your report. Very interesting and exciting. I first went up the West side (front) of Timp in June 1985, but there was very little snow left. I don't like the snow (and cold)! My friend and I went from the Baldy Saddle to the south and up straight up that first ravine. It was very steep/loose limestone scree near the top but we made it. Next year we did it up the next gully to the south which was easier. Next year we did the ridge in between (that was scary). Then, a few years later we went up Grove Greek, crossed the road and up to the saddle between North and Bomber Peaks, then along the ridge to the "glacier" saddle, and down the front to Battle Creek. So, I've been up and down the front about 5 or 6 times. Lots of solitude! So I liked your story. But I won't do it in the snow! Crazy. Thanks for sharing...
Thanks!
I'm glad you stick to your preference/comfort zone, but it's funny bc I never want to do it without snow! As long as it's solid, it's so much nicer than all that shale and shrubbery.
True about the solitude. It's a pleasant surprise to find anyone else on the west face.
Awesome read! Have done this very route June 25th 2010. Didn't quite make it to the top. Had my 11 year old with me and my 16 year old. Turned into a 22 hour one day ordeal with broken ribs.
agreenstreet - May 19, 2006 5:56 pm - Voted 10/10
InterestingVERY well written. I really enjoyed reading this TR, adding a personal touch instead of just an account of the climb made it impossible to stop until the end. Sounds kind of odd to walk through an area knowing some poor climber lies deceased somewhere under the snow nearby. Great pictures by the way, looks like a fun climb.
ShaunR - May 26, 2006 9:11 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: InterestingThanks! Glad ya liked it.
Update: we flew up yesterday (and others today) to look for the missing snowshoer. No luck so far with dogs, RECCO, and probes; but the snow is melting fast.
ShaunR - Jul 2, 2006 1:44 am - Hasn't voted
Re: InterestingWell, we finally found him yesterday. Six months to the day! The snow has been melting fast for weeks. We spotted his sleeve from an airplane, then went up and lowered him a thousand feet to a flat area for helicopter transport. I hope this brings some peace to the family at last.
Nelson - May 20, 2006 1:28 am - Voted 10/10
ElegantAn elegant piece of writing. I really enjoyed it. Congrats on the climb and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Makes one want to get out there!
For the record, it was George Mallory's Everest quote at the beginning, not Ed Hillary. Hillary said "we've knocked the bastard off"!
Edit: I just looked at your profile page, and website. No wonder you write so well! :-} I'll check that out some more later. Thanks again.
ShaunR - May 20, 2006 3:43 am - Hasn't voted
Re: ElegantThanks for catching that and correcting me!
And thanks for the feedback, happy to hear you enjoyed it. Interesting how nearly any outdoor story - positive or otherwise - always inspires you to want to get out there again.
dillweed - May 20, 2006 8:52 am - Hasn't voted
Nicely doneI liked your story - quite an adventure.
One thing though - there really is a glacier in above Emerald Lake. I thought like you for a long time - I thought that there was just a snowfield that lasted some years, but not others. However, there is a glacier - it is buried under a thick layer of rockfall. As proof - in 1994, after a long drought, a crevasse opened up - revealing a glacier. I always wanted to believe that there was a glacier, because of the opaque color of Emerald Lake, and because I noticed every time that I decended over the rockfall area in late summer I could faintly hear a trickle of water (in certain areas). There is a good article about the glacier here on SP, written by Scott Patterson. Check it out. So, I know that there will be doubters, and those that contend that it no longer meets the definition of a glacier, but I AM A BELIEVER!!! :)
Peace.
ShaunR - May 20, 2006 2:39 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nicely doneYeah, that IS a good article and it's nice to know the glacier may live on. Thanks for passing it along. I wonder if there's an eager geology student out there who'd be willing to set up a study to find out if that ice is moving.
Keep on believing!
Scott - May 21, 2006 3:06 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Nicely doneI wonder if there's an eager geology student out there who'd be willing to set up a study to find out if that ice is moving.
The problem would be that all the ice is buried under thick talus, and would be hard to study. The "crevasse" of 1994 would indicate that it does move, but who knows when or if it will ever be exposed again? Moving or not, it is buried under much talus and invisible--for now at least.
ShaunR - May 22, 2006 3:04 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Nicely doneScott, any idea how thick the talus layer is? Interesting stuff.
Scott - May 21, 2006 3:17 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice TRI did a similar trip in March 16 years ago. Up the west face and down to Emerals Lake. It stormed that night and we couldn't go down Aspen Grove, and it was very tough to go back up to the Glacier Saddle because of the cornice. Quite an ordeal.
Nice to see you climbed it. Photos of the snowfilled hut bring back memories.
Dean - Jan 27, 2007 9:52 pm - Voted 10/10
Great writingI somehow had missed this TR. This is the kind of writing that would do a magazine proud as you have combined the adventure with your own introspection. Timp is a mountain that deserves respect and you certainly have added to that respect with the way you described it in your TR. Nicely done and thank you.
Dean
madjohnbo - Mar 22, 2007 2:27 pm - Voted 9/10
Awesome storyI've spent a very windy night in the hut, but no snow. Sunrise at Emerald Lake can be the most beautiful thing you see in the mountains. Timpanogos is classic. I admire anyone who climbs the west face.
Beanusless - Jan 31, 2009 9:08 pm - Hasn't voted
AmazingCompletely outstanding. Congratulations
ShaunR - Jul 18, 2011 3:41 pm - Hasn't voted
75 Search and Rescue StoriesYou can now read a lot more about the rescue of the lost snowshoer and many other Utah County rescues in the new book 75 Search and Rescue Stories. Find out what it takes to join search and rescue!
ShaunR - Oct 10, 2011 12:09 am - Hasn't voted
New & ImprovedI just revised this trip report and posted it, along with 45 expedition photos, for Kindle at http://amzn.to/joymisery
Several portions are clarified and developed better. I even fixed the info about the glacier :)
abradmiller - Oct 1, 2012 9:47 pm - Voted 9/10
Done it when dry!Hi, just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading your report. Very interesting and exciting. I first went up the West side (front) of Timp in June 1985, but there was very little snow left. I don't like the snow (and cold)! My friend and I went from the Baldy Saddle to the south and up straight up that first ravine. It was very steep/loose limestone scree near the top but we made it. Next year we did it up the next gully to the south which was easier. Next year we did the ridge in between (that was scary). Then, a few years later we went up Grove Greek, crossed the road and up to the saddle between North and Bomber Peaks, then along the ridge to the "glacier" saddle, and down the front to Battle Creek. So, I've been up and down the front about 5 or 6 times. Lots of solitude! So I liked your story. But I won't do it in the snow! Crazy. Thanks for sharing...
ShaunRoundy - Jan 3, 2013 1:27 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Done it when dry!Thanks!
I'm glad you stick to your preference/comfort zone, but it's funny bc I never want to do it without snow! As long as it's solid, it's so much nicer than all that shale and shrubbery.
True about the solitude. It's a pleasant surprise to find anyone else on the west face.
timp47 - Jan 1, 2013 5:23 pm - Hasn't voted
timp climbAwesome read! Have done this very route June 25th 2010. Didn't quite make it to the top. Had my 11 year old with me and my 16 year old. Turned into a 22 hour one day ordeal with broken ribs.
ShaunRoundy - Jan 2, 2013 3:10 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: timp climbHow far did you make it, and how did the broken ribs happen??