Mount Timpanogos

"There once was an Indian maiden by the name of Utahna. . . ." Or, so the tale begins, of how this mountain looks like a reclining Indian maiden. Whether there ever was such a Native American tale or not, BYU professor Eugene Lusk "Timp" Roberts first published it in 1922 in an effort to bolster interest in the Annual Hike Timp pilgrimage to the summit from Aspen Grove. Regardless of its origins, all my life I have been told that Mount Timpanogos looks like a sleeping Indian maiden.  And I can see it. The really funny thing is that my wife sees it too, but in the opposite direction from how I do!

Timpanogos Sunset

Mount Timpanogos, Lehi, Utah County, Utah, USA, May 8, 2017. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300, f/4.5-5.6 at 70mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/4.5 for 1/80 second, ISO 200, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

The name Timpanogos is from the Timpanogots Ute language. It translates as "rock" (tumpi-), and "water mouth" or "canyon" (panogos). The mountain dominates the skyline over Utah Valley, being 7000 feet taller than the valley floor at 11,752 feet and about a mile long (5,270 feet of vertical prominence), making it the 47-th most prominent mountain in the contiguous states.

Last Rays

Mount Timpanogos, Saratoga Springs, Utah County, Utah, USA, April 1, 2016. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300, f/4.5-5 at 70mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/4.5 for 1/100 second, ISO 320, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

There have been a lot of stories about the mountain's glacier. Some say it is melting and used to be more prominent. Others say it is completely gone. The truth is, a little of all the stories is correct. Long ago, there was a cirque glacier that was clearly visible in the deeply recessed hanging valley below and to the north of the main summit. That glacier disappears during the dust-bowl of the 1930s leaving a talus surface in its place. It was assumed that the glacier was gone, even though there are visible snowfields year round most years. Then, in 1994 a crevasse opened up revealing a glacier still did and does exist beneath the talus slope. The debate, however, rages on over whether this actually is classified as a glacier or not. You decide.

First Sunlight

Mount Timpanogos, Orem, Utah County, Utah, USA, January 2, 2014. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300, f/4.5-5.6 at 95mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/4.5 for 1/125 second, ISO 900, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

I have lived within sight of this mountain for most of my adult life, yet, have never climbed to its summit. That is unusual only because it is the most climbed peak in the entire Rocky Mountains. It is however one of our favorite places to get away for an afternoon/evening to just enjoy being out and to make good inmages.

Nearly Winter

Mount Timpanogos, Wasatch Cache National Forest, Utah County, Utah, USA, October 5, 2015. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300, f/4.5-5.6 at 70mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/5.6 for 1/125 second, ISO 320, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

The Best Laid Plans

We planned to go out in the early evening, watch the sunset, go see some animals in the dusk, and then photograph the Milky Way after dark. The Milky way is currently high in the sky and the moon is below the horizon, making for really good conditions.

Unfortunately, a deep gray overcast settled in with rain, wind and no let-up in sight. That altered the plan for the evening substantially. We did drive over west of Tres Piedras and saw four elk and a handful of deer, but nothing we could get a decent photo of.

Just as the light was failing, we outran the storm and got this image of a beautiful sunset over Hopewell Lake.

Hopewell Lake, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, USA, August 27, 2016. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 at 70mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/4.5 for 1/40 second, ISO 200, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

Sunset at Locomotive Rock

Sunset at Locomotive Rock

The air has been very hazy all day today due to the amount of forest fire smoke. Lauri and I drove down to Bluff to do a little Family History sleuthing since her Great-Grandfather led the expedition through the Hole-in-the-Rock to colonize Bluff. As we finished dinner tonight it was apparent that there was great promise for some good sunset shots so we drove up to the old pioneer cemetery and waited for sunset. We were rewarded!

Locomotive Rock, Bluff Historic Cemetery, Cemetery Hill, Bluff, San Juan County, Utah, USA, July 16, 2016. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 at 27mm, Manual Exposure mode, f/22 for 1/50 second, ISO 200, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.

Sunset on Timp

When the sun is setting over in the Western sky, usually just after you can no longer see it, the tip top of Timpanogos is bathed in light. Occasionally, if the sunset is particularly colorful and red, this is the result!

It does not last long and if you are not ready you will miss it entirely. Just seconds before, literally, more of the mountain was lit up and the color was yellow, not reddish orange. Seconds later, it was gone!

Sunset on Timp

Saratoga Springs, Utah County, Utah, USA, April 1, 2016. Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 at 70mm, Manual Exposure Mode, f/5.0 for 1/400 second, ISO 400, processed in Photoshop CC.

Beverley Beach Sunset

Beverley Beach Sunset

Beverley Beach, near Newport, Lincoln County, Oregon, USA, July 24, 2015, Nikon D90, AF-S Nikkor18-55mmG f/3.5-5.6 at f/10 for 1/320 second, ISO 360, processed in Photoshop CC.

Thunder and Rainbow at Sunset 

We were over at Checkerboard Mesa taking photos of plants and just listening to the sounds of approaching nightfall. There was no one else around, strangely odd for this National Park at this time of year. The birds were chirping and singing and there had been a little rain, more was being threatened and it was quickly becoming dusk. We actually were there looking for Desert Bighorn Sheep, but. . . .

We started to head back towards Springdale to see if we could see any more sheep before the light totally failed. Just past Checkerboard Mesa, the sunset was so compelling that we just had to stop and create some images. There is so much happening in this image - the Thunder storm that was brewing to the North, the rainbow as the rays of the setting sun passed through the advancing rain, the sunset itself, the wonderful silhouettes. Has become one of my all-time favorite images!

"Thunder and Rainbow at Sunset"

Checkerboard Mesa, East Mesa, Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah, USA, June 12, 2015, Nikon D90, AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G, Manual Exposure Mode, f/7.1 for 1/200 second, ISO 400, processed in Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC.