Today our boys did not have school so we decided to have an adventure. We wanted to hike to the top of Mount Timpanogos but it snowed last week. We were a little concerned that there might be problems with the trail and getting all the way to the top, especially with our younger boys. So we decided to go to Timpanogos Cave instead. Good thing we checked before we went because the cave has been closed for nearly a month!
Since our top two options didn't seem to be working out we decided to hike up to Scout Falls from the Timpooneke Trail. We figured it was still "low enough" that the trail would be reasonable passable for our family. Once we got there we discovered that we might have been able to make it all the way to the top of Mount Timpanogos with minimal mud and snow but we were already committed to the shorter hike and time was against us.
When we finally arrived at the trailhead we met a nice fellow hiker named Bob. He was very friendly and seemed very eager to talk with us. He shared all sorts of information and trivia about the trail and surrounding area before we started on our hike. He told us about a guy we might pass on the trail who is going for a world record of hiking to the top of Mount Timpanogos 1,000 times in his lifetime! This guy is planning to make a total of 75 trips this year alone to celebrate being 75 years old! We were also told about a moose and calf that were in the area we were going to visit (and that we should be careful). Bob had a lot to say but we finally got started on our hike.
(Our friend Bob)
(Family at the trailhead)
The trail to Scout Falls is about 1.5 miles from the parking lot. Our boys started out confident enough but they began to feel the effects of hiking at a higher altitude pretty early in the hike. But in spite of the altitude and some areas of steep ascent, they hiked in relatively good spirits!
(On the trail)
(A peak at the backside of Mt. Timpanogos)
(Quinten wanted to stop but the family didn't.)
About a 1/2 mile into the hike our boys were ready for their first hiking break. Since we didn't arrive at the trailhead until nearly noon we were ready for lunch. We found a great little pullout spot on the trail and stopped to eat.
(David)
(Donovan)
(Gidean)
(Family eating lunch)
(Backdrop for lunch)
The boys have learned that I love to take pictures on our adventures. And they boys love to see themselves in the pictures that we use to make blog posts, memory books or just display in screen savers. So they are on the lookout for great picture opportunities. Sometimes they find great pictures and sometime, not so much. The good pictures are sprinkled throughout the post.
(Aleky and Michael)
(Quinten)
(Hiking the trail)
(Brick wall in the mountain. We thought is was a secret entrance into Hogwarts)
(Quinten and baby waterfall)
(Waterfall stream that we crossed several times on our way up)
(Michael)
(Donovan)
(David)
(Quinten)
(Hiking the trail)
(Change of trail terrain)
(Hiking the trail)
(Quinten and the stream of many crossings. Notice the waterfall at the very top.)
(Stone steps. We must be getting closer to where the giants live.)
(Aleky recalled from the trail for a picture)
(Family at trail fork to Scout Falls)
(Climbing the tree roots in order to get to the falls. This was a fun part of the trail.)
(David under tree roots)
(Approaching Scout Falls)
When we finally reached Scout Falls we were a little less than impressed. The actual falls were small and there was no place to really sit down and relax. The terrain was steep and rocky and there were no good flat places to sit down together.
(Scout Falls)
While we were at Scout Falls we couldn't help but notice the amazing panorama before us, looking out across the valley. It was beautiful to see the majestic mountains, especially with the beginning of fall and the changing leaves. Michelle thought that mountains and the valley would be a great backdrop for a family picture. However, the terrain was too steep and the lighting of the shade against the bright and beautiful backdrop posed some photographic challenges. As a result, we did not take a great family picture with this backdrop. However, we did discover a great opportunity to take some silhouette pictures instead.
(Backdrop)
(Michelle and Donovan)
(Family Silhouette)
(David)
(Aleky)
(Quinten)
(Michael)
(Donovan)
(Khayyam and Michelle)
(Khayyam and Michelle)
(Leaving the falls)
(Climbing back down the tree roots)
(Michael under the tree roots)
Each time we passed over the waterfall stream I wanted to try a little creative photography. I tried a few different pictures and attempts to get a beautiful waterfall stream picture. A few of these pictures are included in this post.
(Stream)
(Hiking)
(Hiking)
(Donovan balancing on a log)
(Boys crossing wet trail)
(View of mountain)
(Gidean, Michael and Aleky at a bent aspen tree)
(Aleky)
(Michael)
We ended up going to the flats above Scout Falls. This was a great place to have a snack and get a better view of the surrounding mountains. While we were on the flats we were able to do a few things. Aleky collected a backpack full of rocks that he wanted to add to his rock collection. Quinten found a cool looking caterpillar. And we visited with a guy from the Czech Republic who happened to be here for a day on his 3 month vacation (to many beautiful outdoor adventure locations in the western US).
(Michelle and David arriving on the flats)
(Donovan)
(Donovan)
(Gidean, Michael and Quinten find a caterpillar)
(Caterpillar)
(Michael)
(Quinten)
(Gidean)
(Family eating snacks)
(Family eating snacks)
(Quinten, Gidean and Michael)
(Aleky eating a homemade Energy Bite©)
(David)
After our stop on the flats we headed back down the mountain. Now that our boys knew the way they could not be contained. The younger boys headed down the mountain, mostly at a run. I caught glimpses of them from time to time as we made our descent.
(Gidean)
(Aleky)
(Donovan, Quinten and Gidean)
(Stream with shadows)
(Stream)
(David, Donovan and Michael)
(Michelle, David and Donovan)
(Waterfall stream)
(Quinten and another caterpillar)
(Aleky after carrying a backpack of rocks)
(Aleky)
(Michelle, David and Aleky)
(Gidean found a beautiful fall colored leaf)
(Donovan took this picture. He said it reminded him of the Arches.)
(David carrying Gidean when Gidean just couldn't seem to go any farther. What a nice brother.)
(Donovan - selfie)
We had a fun adventure on this 3+ mile hike on the backside of Mount Timpanogos. The boys were great and did fantastic on the trail. Obviously, we had some fun with the camera. It was great to see the mountains as they begin to change color for the fall. We still want to hike to the top of Mount Timpanogos but we'll see if we make it this year of if we'll have to try again next summer.
