Backpacking without Kids

For the first time in our marriage since we had our first child we spent a whole 24 hours childrenless.  My son has a had few sleepovers with grammy at great grandma's but the nan babe has stayed with us.  I never even left my son for the night until I went to the hospital to have Nan.  We had plans of a babymoon, but pre-term contractions canceled those. The point was we were without kids, it was quite nice.  We went backpacking without kids.  Up Mount Timp, all the way to the TOP.  

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

My body doesn't do well with altitude, if I hadn't lived the last 7 years in the mountain west, I don't think this hike would have been possible for me.  Although many people hike straight to the top without stopping, I don't think I would have been able to.  We hiked 4 or so hours, up to the tree line where there is a lake and meadow, I barely made it there, I got so dizzy near the end and found it challenging to keep my breathing regular.  Luckily about 20 minutes before our hike finished for the day, we saw these mountain goats, we saw at least a dozen and it was quite cool.  

So then we stopped for the night, and froze, it was cold and windy, luckily we had lots of layers, a tent and a sleeping bag. In the tent we were fine.  Like I said, without stopping and sleeping for the night I wouldn't have been able to make it up to the summit, my body needed to get acclimated to the higher altitude. We went to be bed early enough, and there was enough night hikers that we woke up and 4, to continue to top, without our packs.
It was weird I felt like we were traveling with a cult or something, like something out of Indiana Jones it was pitched black dark outside, and there were so many people hiking to the top that there was almost a constant line of flashlights all the way to the top.

We timed it perfectly and got to the very top at sunrise.

Ah, love,  Funny thing is, we were hiking Mt. Timp, we got married in Mt. Timp temple, and Labor day is always the mark of when I met Brent.  Although I think I met him actually the last week in August, so its past labor day, but none the less, I have now know Brent seven years. And finally after four and half years of being parents together we got to spend 24 hours without our kids. Yes, I realize all that up there is a stretch but whatever.

I can't believe I actually made it to the top, it is so STEEP!

I really don't plan on doing it again, its so steep, and although I had a fun time, it was actually quite miserable. The second day was much better. Just to the falls is a nice hike though. I personally don't like hiking beyond the tree line.  Its so rocky and barren.

But I'm glad I got to go backpacking with my Brent.