today i finally had the opportunity to hike mount timpanogos!
we hiked during the night so we could reach the summit for the sunrise (hence all the sleeping yesterday). we started out on the trail about 2:15am and got to the very top of the mountain about 7am. it was absolutely gorgeous and i am so glad that i went, but let me just tell you... i do not think my legs have EVER been in so much pain. [*side note: this pain ended up lasting for the entire week and it was about five days before i could semi-comfortably go up or down stairs.]
i have done a fair amount of hiking throughout my life, but this was by far the most challenging hike i have ever done. i went with a fun group of people though so we had a good time. being the geniuses they are, the boys packed a gourmet breakfast that we cooked on the top of the third tallest mountain in utah; they cooked deluxe french toast (on a skillet!), complete with strawberries, bananas, syrup, and whipped cream. and don't forget the sausages, hot chocolate, and orange juice! we stuffed ourselves and then ended up having extra (that we did not want to carry back down the mountain) and passed it our to fellow starving hikers.
we ended up starting back down the mountain (after eating, resting, napping, taking pictures, and attempting to fly a kite) about 10am and we finally reached the bottom about 2pm. i have never been more grateful to relieve myself, if even in a honey bucket (yes, that was about 13 hours that i did not get to go to the bathroom)! i am so grateful for this beautiful world we live in.
it is a miracle to me that i had this amazing opportunity, that we were all safe, and that i am blessed with a healthy, strong body that was able to carry me along such a physically grueling journey up and back down a massive mountain.
