By Heather Cameron
Flip-flops are great for a day at the beach but for hiking a mountain?
Mount Timpanogos is a popular hiking spot in Utah County. More than 700 people hike Timpanogos each weekend throughout the summer. And on Labor Day weekend an average of 1,700 people will make the attempt. Concern has increased in recent years as na?ve hikers attempt to summit the nearly 12,000-foot mountain without proper preparation.
Graham Hawkins has been a volunteer for the Timpanogos Emergency Response Team for six years. TERT was organized in 1983 because every year one or more deaths occur on Mount Timpanogos.
?People think because this mountain is close to an urban area that it?s not a rugged wilderness,? Hawkins said. ?I?ve seen kids coming up the mountain wearing flip-flops or even people that have a 12-hour layover at the airport that want to hike to the summit.?
During the summer months, TERT has teams of emergency medical technicians, climbers and radio technicians that camp on the mountain to assist distressed climbers.
TERT Director, Glen Meyers said the majority of people that go up the mountain are inexperienced hikers. Without the expertise necessary to make the climb, amateur hikers get themselves into trouble with dehydration, lacerations and blisters.
?When you?re at home and you get a cut or dehydrated it?s not a big deal. But when you?re six miles from trail-head you could die,? Meyers said.
He said he worries people are just not prepared for all the experiences the mountain can throw at hikers.
So what does one need to do to prepare? Experts say before climbing Timpanogos, hikers should be in good physical condition.
Derek Christensen, 21, of Wilnette, IL, is a life-long hiker who is familiar with what it takes to complete a difficult climb.
?If you?re sitting on your behind all day watching soap operas or ESPN, you?re probably not the best candidate for hiking Mount Timpanogos,? said Christensen. ?It definitely shouldn?t be your first hike of the season.?
He also recommends hikers use proper equipment such as broken-in hiking boots, all-weather clothing and plenty of water.