Old Timpanogos

Old Timpanogos By Elmer W . Pratt, Scoutmaster

"Old Timp" is high and rugged. It is one of nature's best examples of sturdy strength. Like a huge sentinel, it towers many thousand feet above the beautiful Utah Valley, and seems to keep a divine watch over the prosperous community below. This mountain, with its wild beauty unchanged by human hands, was the source of attraction to a troop of Boy Scouts on their first annual outing, July 17, 1919. There were twenty-three husky representatives of the Lin-

Left: Those who made the trip. Right: Scoutmaster Pratt and Assistant John Baxter at the camp at Aspen Grove

don second ward, Alpine stake. They were accompanied by ten young ladies, members of the Veyo Bee-Hive Swarm of the same ward. The trip was made under the direction of Scoutmaster Elmer W. Pratt. Early on the morning of the first day, the party, with three wagon-loads of food and camping equipment, went up Provo Canyon to Wildwood, and thence proceeded up North Fork. Here the road was steep and rocky, and it was only through much effort that Aspen Grove was finally reached. A camp was soon established and supper was heartily enjoyed by every- one, i

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No bears were seen, but some wonderful bear stories were told around the campfire that night. The next morning at sunrise, there was a string of boys and girls in single file climbing the steep trail which kd to the summit of Mt. Timpanogas. Terrace after terrace was climbed, until a large flat was reached near the top of the mountain. Here

Top: the party climbing the glacier Bottom: the lake taken from the glacier above

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was a lake, clear and cold. Its banks were covered with a pro- fusion of red, white, and blue flowers. After lunch, the climb was continued around the lake and up across the glacier which formed the bank on the upper side, thence along a narrow trail to the highest peak. From there, many cities and towns could be seen. The valley below was like a huge checker-board, each farm being a square. Utah lake appeared as a large pond; and the automo-

Left : a part of the glacier looking up from the lake Right: "Timpanogos" taken from the saddle

biles on the roads, looked like so many ants. It was an inspira- tion. It was worth the effort which had been put forth. A slide down the glacier, a snowball fight, a long, long trail, supper and bed, are events of the return to camp. The next day, all returned home, each having had instilled in his heart, in his mind, and in his physical being, two great principles: that of resourcefulness, and that of overcoming ob- stacles; and the knowledge that for each obstacle overcome, there is a reward. Lindon, Utah