Climbing and Exploring Utah's Mt. Timpanogos - Softcover

Kelsey, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0944510000 ISBN 13: 9780944510001

Publisher: Kelsey Pub, 1989

Synopsis

This book is a guide to perhaps Utah's best known mountain, Mt. Timpanogos, or Timp for short. Timp is located due north of Provo, and it dominates all of Utah Valley. Timp has now been made into a wilderness area.

Timp is famous for several reasons. One, it's the second highest peak in the Wasatch Mountains at 3581 meters; it has the closest thing to a real glacier in the state; and between the years 1912 and 1970, there was an event called the Annual Timp Hike. Over the years, thousands of people climbed the mountain, usually on the 3rd or 4th weekend of July. The reward at the summit was a "summit badge". One man collected 42 badges before this annual ended. But it got too popular and the mountain got loved to death, as about 7000 hikers were on the mountain in 1970. After that, they called the whole thing off, because of the mess made of the mountain.

The book has 14 maps showing climbing routes. This is a huge mountain with 7 cirque basins, all at or near treeline. Its summit ridge is 7 kms long, from North Peak to the South Summits, all of which have an elevation above about 3400 meters. This book discusses routes for both summer and winter climbing.

Besides a hiking or climbing section, the book also features the story of the Annual Timp Hike, some of the history of Provo and American Fork Canyons, including a history of Robert Redford's ski resort, Sundance. Also, the history of the train dubbed the Heber Creeper, along with the Timpanogos Cave which is now a national monument. Another chapter discusses tragedies on the mountain, including hiking accidents, air plane crashes, snowslides and murders. Many local people, those who have spent lots of time on the mountain, consider this book to be a kind of second bible.

About this title

About the Author

The author was born in 1943, and experienced his earliest years of life in eastern Utah's Uinta Basin; first near the town of Myton, then Roosevelt. In 1954, the family moved to Provo, where he attended Provo High School, and later Brigham Young University, where he earned a B.S. degree in Sociology. Shortly thereafter he discovered that was the wrong subject, so he attended the University of Utah, where he received his Master of Science degree in Geography, finishing that in June, 1970.

It was then real life began, for on June 9, 1970, he put a pack on his back and started traveling for the first time. Since then he has seen 223 countries, republics, islands, or island groups. All this wandering has resulted in a number of books written and published by himself. Here are his books, listed in the order they were first published: Climber's and Hiker's Guide to the World's Mountains and Volcanos (4th Edition), Utah Mountaineering Guide (3rd Edition); China on Your Own and the Hiking Guide to China's Nine Sacred Mountains (3rd Edition-Out of Print); Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau (4th Edition); Hiking and Exploring Utah's San Rafael Swell (3rd Edition); Hiking and Exploring Utah's Henry Mountains and Robbers Roost (Revised Edition); Hiking and Exploring the Paria River (3rd Edition); Hiking and Climbing in the Great Basin National Park (Wheeler Peak, Nevada); Boater's Guide to Lake Powell--Featuring Hiking, Camping, Geology, History and Archaeology (2nd Updated Edition); Climbing and Exploring Utah's Mt. Timpanogos; River Guide to Canyonlands National Park & Vicinity; Hiking, Biking and Exploring Canyonlands National Park & Vicinity; The Story of Black Rock, Utah; and Hiking, Climbing and Exploring Western Utah's Jack Watson's Ibex Country.

He also helped his mother Venetta B. Kelsey, write & publish a book about the town she was born and raised in, Life on the Black Rock Desert--A History of Clear Lake, Utah.

Edition details

• Publisher: Kelsey Pub
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0944510000
• ISBN 13: 9780944510001
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208