Emerald Lake (Mount Timpanogos Wilderness) Explained

Emerald Lake
Coordinates:40.3931°N -111.6397°W
Type:proglacial lake
Inflow:snowmelt and glacial runoff
Outflow:unnamed stream (a tributary of North Fork Provo River)
Basin Countries:United States
Elevation:10397feet
Pushpin Map:Utah#USA
Pushpin Map Alt:Location of Emerald Lake in Utah, USA.

Emerald Lake is a small proglacial lake near the summit of Mount Timpanogos in the middle of the Mount Timpanogos Wilderness in the Wasatch Range in northeastern Utah County, Utah, United States.[1]

Description

The lake is northeast of the summit of Mount Timpanogos, at the base of the almost vertical northeast face of the mountain, with an elevation of 10397feet.[2] The now mostly vanished and completely buried Timpanogos Glacier left behind a terminal moraine which now impounds the lake. The runoff from the rock glacier feeds the lake and colors it blue.[3] The lake is accessible by hiking, the Mount Timpanogos Trail (also known as the Aspen Grove Trail) from Aspen Grove being the fastest way to reach it. The lake is 6.9miles from the trailhead,[4] or about two-thirds of the way up to the summit.

During summer weekends the Timpanogos Emergency Response Team (TERT) of the county sheriff's office stations volunteers at a camp near Emerald Lake to assist with emergency incidents that frequently occur on the mountain.[5]

According to some versions of The Legend of Timpanogos, Emerald Lake is the immortalization of Red Eagle, after he fell to his death from the peak of Mount Timpanogos.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. MyTopo Maps - Emerald Lake, Utah, USA . mytopo.com . . 22 Dec 2019.
  2. Web site: Intermountain Region Viewing Area: Intermountain Region Viewing Area. fs.fed.us. United States Forest Service. 22 Dec 2019.
  3. Web site: 100 Years on the Timpanogos Glacier . Scott . summitpost.org . 22 Dec 2019.
  4. News: Timpanogos Peak: 'The Best Hike in Utah' . Arave . Lynn . . . Salt Lake City . 8 Aug 1991 . 22 Dec 2019.
  5. Web site: Timpanogos Emergency Response Team (TERT) . utahcounty.gov . . Spanish Fork, Utah . 22 Dec 2019.
  6. Web site: The Legend of Timpanogos . nps.gov . . 24 Feb 2015 . 22 Dec 2019.