Show Sports Feature Hiking Mt ML Cleova Williams Staff Writer has some of M Mount the most beautiful alpine terrain terrain ter rain in Utah Its trails are favorites with ith both local hikers i ers and foreign visitors The climb up from the Tim Tim- panagos campground on the northeast northeast northeast north north- east side to Emerald Lake is one that any hiker will enjoy It is s a mildly difficult trail with a moderately rising slope The trail follows long switch backs up to Emerald Lake which lies at about feet Emerald Lake is fed by runoff from Tim permanent snowfield snowfield snowfield snow- snow field the II glacier Lush vegetation surrounds the lake Just after a good rain the meadows become carpeted with wild flowers They look like patches of color splashed across the scenery Lavenders whites and yellows yellows yellows yel yel- yel- yel lows are mixed with the deep oranges oranges oranges oran oran- and reds of Indian Paint Brush Frequently unprepared hikers start up without water food or a first aid kit It is a common y sight sigh t to find thirsty hikers begging wa water er from fellow travelers A small percentage of Timp's hikers turn off the lakes lake's trail to climb to the top The trail gets steeper and the switch-backs switch shorter Sunlight and shade alternate as hikers move through the trees Bluebells Blue Bluebells bells grow among the rocks It is easy for quiet hikers to surprise a doe and her fawn as they come around a blind curve Liquid brown eyes stare fleetingly at the intruders intruders intruders in in- then the deer leap to invisibility invisibility invisibility in in- visibility among the rocks Heat from exertion and the summer summer summer sum sum- mer sun make the small streams tempting Hikers stomp through the water stopping to get their shirts and hair wet It It isn't a good idea to drink the stream water Many cases of illness have been traced to local streams On the way to the top several loose rock slides have to be be carefully crossed At the top the view of Utah Valley Valley Valley Val Val- ley is spectacular The cultivated J PJ P.J. j r h farmland lies below in a panorama of patchwork Utah Lake has a hazy mist rising from its deep blue water Mountains rise on the far horizon blurred by the distance Wind currents at the top entice anything capable of flying to take to totne the air follow the Hang gliders currents currents currents cur cur- rents as they fly over the top and circle down into the valley Catching an up draft they ride it back to the heights Two hawks circle peak gliding and drifting on the air currents Sunlight shines through golden brown feathers They wheel wheelin in an aerial dance close enough to almost touch Sparrows catch the wind current as it comes up from the Utah valley They ride up the side of the mountain mountain mountain moun moun- tain and buzz any nearby hikers They shoot over ver the top sounding like bullets as they zip past Their wings are pulled tightly to their bodies They rocket down the other side Catching wind currents is a sparrows sparrow's sport Some of them brake at atthe the top spreading their wings and tail feathers Then they fly back into the Utah Valley to catch the current again Hikers at the top of Timp pass around water lunches and cameras There is a camaraderie among among mong those who have made it The fastest way down is to slide on the tIte glacier It is made of packed winter snow Grooved slides have been carved into the surface by frequent frequent frequent fre fre- fre- fre quent use and are the safest trails Out on the open ice you whip around uncontrollably Once you start sliding it is almost impossible to stop The ice scrapes your hands when you try to brake The ride is a fast thrill to the bottom One hiker described the decision dedsion to climb to the top of Timp and slide the he glacier as a flash of insanity If it is there are hundreds of Utah hikers every year who delight in the insanity |