Tuesday's Hike: Mt. Timpanogos Summit

There were thousands of people on the trail when we went on Labor Day, which was great because we never lost our way and everyone was so encouraging to everyone else. I saw a huge bull moose and a couple of mountain sheep while traipsing along on the trail. I always think of seeing wildlife as a big bonus to any hike. While we were at the summit, some rain clouds were coming our way, and people in our group could hear the high electrical buzz that accompanies lightning. Luckily, though, nary a lightning bolt struck our party.

Watching the sun rise while high in the mountains is one of the most rejuvenating experiences I think a person could ever have, and the day we went, this particular sunrise was gentle and breathtaking. I think that just seeing and experiencing that added five more years to my life. The weather was on our side all day long, which made our hiking experience highly enjoyable. I'm going to go on this hike again, for sure.

Things to know about this hike:

• Parking for this hike is on the Alpine Loop, so you have to pay to get into the canyon
• There are two ways to get to the Summit: through Timpanooke Campground or Aspen Grove (we went by way of the former)
• I'd take a Sharpie with you so that you can claim your place on the summit's shack
• Time: 8-12 hours, round-trip (our group did it in 9 hours, including breaks)
• Location: Alpine Loop
• Difficulty: difficult, requires preparation
• Hazards: wildlife, snow fields, rock slides, steep inclines, streams to cross (10 +)