TIMPANOGOS (Timpooneke Trailhead) Late start leaving the trailhead at 6:30. A good amount of snow has melted since last week. I wouldn't be surprised to have no snow under-foot by next week. Got a bit cool as the sun starting setting behind the mountain. Saw a few people coming down and nobody after the big meadow. Thought I might see some making the hike with the nearly full-moon but had the whole mountain to myself. Up: 2:08 not a bad pace but sub 2 is very doable for me at some future point when I decide to push it. Beautiful (nearly?) full-moon coming up over the peak. Pictures just can't do it justice. Got dark pretty quick. Threw on my headlamp and headed down. Saw a couple of small buck in the meadow before dropping down. I was reminded that I don't like coming down Timp in the dark (or at least trying to run in the dark). The trail is a dusty grey color with little variation. The light seems to reflect off-of it making depth perception difficult. Tripped up several times coming down. Often easier to turn the light off and try to navigate down (at the lower elevation the moon wasn't quite up), Had to pull way back making it down in a slow 1:49. Just under 4 hours round-trip. |