By Patrick Perkins

As legend goes, there was once a fair Native American maiden called Utana. Her true love Red Eagle was attacked by a bear and died from the injuries. Filled with grief and sorrow, Utana threw herself from the top of Mount Timpanogos and died on the rocks below.

Gazing at the peak from the south, one can picture the skyline as the outline of a woman lying down. It is also said the Great Spirit combined the hearts of the two dead lovers into the Great Heart of Timpanogos, which is a stalactite in Timpanogos Caves.

Perhaps it's the heart of these two lovers which still resides within the caverns of these mountains that has led many avid hikers to fall in love with Mount Timpanogos.

Standing at 11,749 feet, Timpanogos is the second tallest of the seven peaks around the valley. However, it is by far the most popular for hiking.

There are two major trails which lead to the mountain's summit.

The first starts at Aspen Grove. As the shorter of the two trails, this hike travels about seven miles to the top of the mountain as it switchbacks up the mountain.

The trail travels by Emerald Lake, which is situated in the middle of a lavish mountain meadow at the base of the Timpanogos glacier.

The second trail to the peak, known as Timpanooke trail, originates in American Fork canyon and is 7.5 miles in length.

The appeal of Mount Timpanogos draws hundreds of hikers every year. To many BYU students, climbing the peak is almost seen as a rite of passage, and a requirement while attending university.

"I hike Timp at least once every summer," BYU student Ryan Nelson said. "I couldn't imagine going to BYU and not hiking it."

The hike has been popular for a long time and there used to be an annual summer activity called "Timp Hike." On the third or fourth weekend in July, thousands of hikers would scale the peak on a designated day.

The large number of hikers caused significant environmental damage to the mountain and the event was eventually cancelled.

Because the hike to the summit is not too difficult, it provides an enjoyable hiking experience even for the inexperienced nature lover.

The mountain provides breathtaking views of Utah Valley as well as fields full of wildflowers and other wildlife.

While Utana may have given her life for the one she loved, her beauty can still be seen in the mountain which holds her legend.



Copyright Brigham Young University 26 Jun 2008