Named by the indigenous people to this area, the word Timpanogos roughly translates to "water on rock". This terminology likely pertains to the numerous cascades of tumbling water which flow from high alpine cirques such as this one located just below the east side of the summit ridge. These cirques and basins were gouged into the flanks of this 11,749-foot high mountain by an abundance of glacial ice during the height of the last glacier advance around 20,000 years ago. By 12,000 years ago, most of this ice had melted to reveal the rugged profile we see today. The melting ice from this and other mountains in the area filled ancient Lake Bonneville to a depth of 1,000 feet a few miles west of here. These high basins shelter some of the best wildflower displays found in the West and usually reach their most magnificent during late July and August. All photos in these galleries may be ordered as fine art framed prints or for stock photography usage.