Our Epic Hike to the Meadow

You know when you have that idea that you think is a really good idea at first and would be "totally epic" to do and then the more you think about it- you realize it might not be such a good idea after all? No? (Does that only happen to me?!)

We had talked about hiking up past the Y to the famous/infamous meadow (which one it is depends on who you talk to in the Hyatt family!) to camp there and then go up to the top of Y mountain (to look one last time for my dad's time capsule and check on our time capsule we buried 3 years ago). Ben and Carly were going to come with us (which would have been nice to split up the gear a little more) but then they weren't able to come. It's also been pretty hot and was just going to get hotter...so we were having second thoughts. We thought, maybe we'd just hike up there without gear sometime before we leave and find somewhere else to drive up to and go camping. But then a lot of the campgrounds showed they had a $20 fee and were an hour or so away...

SO- kind of last minute Friday afternoon both Tyler and I texted each other with "let's do it!" If we put it off, we'd never go up to the meadow! So I got out the packs and filled the water bottles/camelbacks (we knew we'd need a lot of water if we'd make it in the heat and up the Y!) and with our twine (yeah- we didn't have the most high-tech gear!) we managed to attach everything to something on our packs! 

We stopped by Subway and got sandwiches for our way up. Tyler dropped us off at the trailhead and then he took the car down to park a little ways away and walked back up (he got extra hiking in because there is no overnight parking in the Y lot). We finished tying up stuff and then loaded up! It was about 6:45pm when we got started, but it was still in the high 90s - so plenty hot (with intense sun on us!) I made it up the first 2 switch-backs of the Y trail and was pretty sure I wasn't going to make it any higher! We were both already sweating like crazy and I was already tired. We had hoped to make it to what we call Pride Rock (past the Y) before stopping to eat, but we ended up eating half our sandwiches right then (Jordy got some easy-mac)! With some food and having made it up what I think are the hardest switch-backs, we decided to keep on going and see how we felt then. We were taking it nice and slow and stopped at each switch-back- and with some pats-on-the-back from Jordy, we made it up to the top of the Y in just over an hour and a half! 

Tyler the "pack-mule!" What a trooper!! (He had to have been carrying about 60 lbs at least!) Jordy was pretty happy to have access to the water in the camelback! 

We made it!!! 

After a quick picture we were on our way again (we didn't want to lose momentum and we were quickly losing our daylight!) We made it to Pride Rock and finished our sandwiches and gave ourselves another pep-talk to keep going!

The view from Pride Rock is always impressive! And with the sun setting over Utah Lake, it was especially neat! 

Jordy was happy to be free from his pack for a few minutes!

On our way again! Bye Provo! 

We were surprised how much longer it seemed this time around to get up to the Meadow! (We could have sworn it was closer the last time we hiked up there!) It was better that we weren't in the sun anymore, but we were still just climbing in elevation. We made it as long as we could without our flashlights, but then we needed to pull them out for the last hour or so. We passed a few of the landmarks I remembered (a giant tree. some rocky path, a mini-clearing...you know-- really good descriptive landmarks for up there!!! :) We were also surprised how over-grown the trail was...in some places there was hardly a visible path and plants/weeds were up to our waists. But once we passed the split in the path (one going up to the top of Y mountain and one leading to the meadow) I felt sure we were almost there. NOPE! The trail just kept going! My legs felt like jello at that point and I had to just say "one foot in front of the other" (I have NO idea how Tyler was still going! Jordy had been so good- giving Tyler pats on the back on the way up and not complaining at all. But at this point, it was dark and he was half-asleep in the pack!) I said to Tyler "I think the Meadow is gone- we missed it!" It just felt like we had been going forever. Then we saw a clearing through the trees and walked out into an "opening"-- yet the grass was still so high! But sure enough, it was the meadow!

There was a small group of guys that came into the meadow from the opposite way just a few minutes after us, and they actually set out their sleeping bags in one of the only "clear" spots up there by the fire pit. We weren't really interested in making a fire at that point (it was almost 10:30pm- we'd just make smores at home!) so we just tried stomping out a spot to set up the tent. (The tall grass actually helped with padding a little bit!) I was holding Jordy as Tyler set up the tent and then we laid out the sleeping bags and were ready to sleep! Luckily we brought warm pajamas for Jordy (it was pretty cool up there without the sun!) and snuggled up together- so we were plenty warm (We also luckily brought extra shirts because ours were soaked!) I think Jordy had fun looking up through our tent at the stars! We hadn't taken any extra padding, so Tyler and I were sleeping between lumps and bumps in the ground, but we were just grateful to have our packs off and a chance to rest our legs! We may not have had the best sleep of our lives, but Jordy seemed pretty comfortable! He was so good for his first time in a tent!

And then- (almost too early)- the sun was UP! One of my favorite things about camping is waking up with the cool air on my face and listening to birds chirping-- but it VERY QUICKLY got pretty warm!

Jordy stayed asleep until after 7 in the morning- and he seemed a little hesitant to wake-up until he opened his eyes to see the bag of food and then he was awake! :) 

Jordy: The BIG man of the tent! :)

Look what we found!!! It's still running! :) I climbed in and filled up 2 of our water bottles. The water was nice and cold and very refreshing! :) 

Although we had originally thought about going up to the top of Y mountain, we unfortunately just didn't have the "oomph" to go up anymore! If we were going to have to put on the packs again, we needed to be going down! SO- we'll have to come back up another time (without the gear!) to do that part. (Sorry, dad-- still no time capsule!: ) 

What we had to walk through in the dark to get to the meadow!! It was very pretty- just not so nice to our bare legs! 

Welcome back to the city!

Another view of Pride Rock.  (It was about 10:30 in the morning-- it was amazing how much  easier it was coming back than going up, but it was already getting HOT!) 

We rearranged our packs just a little, but after a few of the switch-backs coming down - Jordy had to get out and he walked a little but then Tyler carried him (apparently carrying him in front felt a lot better than on his back!) 

What a trooper! This kid has conquered the Y for sure now! (This was a good "parting ways with Y Mountain" hike-- we aren't going to miss hiking it for a little while!) 

We unloaded our stuff and Tyler hiked down to the car and got the A/C going to come pick us up and all our stuff! Jordy was anxious to get a snack! 

We stopped by Sonic and got shakes on the way home, showered and then took a 3-hour long nap! We were then meeting Carly and Brad, Jess, and Ben and Carly at Seven Peaks, but it was a good thing others were there to hold Jordy-- both Tyler and I were pretty tired and sore (we can't lift our arms up very high and let's not talk about the walking-issue!)

All-in-all we agreed it was a fun trip and we're glad we did it, but we also don't have plans to do that again any time soon! (Or maybe ever again packing a kid and stuff just with us 2--we'll wait till Jordy can carry us! :)
We sure are going to miss the beautiful mountains of Utah! Maybe when we can walk again (by next summer) we'll be ready just to go up to the Y again! :)