The View from Here

A couple of days ago, in an effort to prepare ourselves to hike Timp next month, Kendell and I went on a hike. We've not hiked enough this summer, mostly because of time issues. So we decided to just go and hike. Up for an hour, down for an hour. If we didn't make it to the top, that would be fine. The top wasn't the goal; just the exercise.

For our first get-in-shape hike, we went to the Slide Canyon trail. Here, this is better known as the Y mountain. Because this particular mountain has an enormous Y painted on it. (For BYU.) We've hiked the Y several times, of course, as good Utah County-ites. But we've never continued on. The trail past the Y will eventually take you to the top of Y mountain. We didn't, of course, make it to the top of the mountain in our hour up. But we did hike through a landscape we've never experienced before.

This is an experience I love: going somewhere new. It also frustrates me to think I've lived my entire life within driving distance of this trail and I've never experienced it; it reminds me of how much more fully I should be living my life.

Once you leave the Y behind, the trail slants up and across the entire face of the mountain, until it finally curves around the south haunch and takes you east, into the canyon. The west face of the Wasatch mountains are visible from the main freeway, but the deep canyons are hidden. This one is steep, narrow, craggy with granite and crowded with trees. We didn't see another soul on the trail, save the eight lizards we disturbed. We hardly even talked, just pushed up through the trees.

Now, of course, I'm determined to go again when we have more time, so we can see the entire trail and get to the top. But for now, I wanted to just share this gorgeous sunset we experienced, coming back down the trail:

 
 

Comments

[Becky K]

That is so pretty! And, I am obviously a loser because I have never ever set foot on Y mountain. Can I still claim to be from UT County and admit that? To be fair, I don't think I've been on U mountain either!

When are you hiking timp? Exciting!!

[Jamie]

I hiked the Y for the first time this summer. I've lived here for 15 years! crazy. I didn't know you could go higher. THe thought never crossed my mind b/c I barely made it to the Y. :)

[michele in la]

Oh - what a beautiful view :). Glad you enjoyed your hike. I need to get myself in shape also - have to reach down deep to walk at the park (full of baseball and football field) where I've walked a zillion times - no beautiful majestic views around here :(. Thanks for the reminder to get out there and walk!

[heidikins]

Gorgeous! Timp is still on my list for this fall...must pick a weekend I suppose!

(Confession: I grew up in U. County and have never hiked Y mountain. But, I have spent several evenings sitting on the "U" in SLC.) ;)

xox

[Isabel]

That is gorgeous.

I've never hiked to the "Y". I can't call myself a "good Utah County-ites". Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

:-)

[Chris S.]

Gorgeous pic! The other day I was actually thinking that it's pathetic that I have never hiked to the Y. Better put it on my bucket list ;)