Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
PROVO — Most people hike the Y Mountain Trail in Provo for the view at the top. Henry Miles hikes it because, for him, the view has always been the journey.
"This is a nice hike," said Miles with a smile. "I have done it 35 times this year."
However, as he arrived at the trailhead Thursday morning, he was met with something unusual. A birthday surprise.
Friends, family members and even fellow hikers gathered near the trailhead to celebrate Miles turning 90 years old.
They brought signs, balloons and cheers for the man who has quietly become a legend on the mountain.
"I see it as an hour of meditation," said Miles, who still hikes the steep 2.5-mile trail several times a week. "It keeps me moving. I love the peace and the views."
Miles isn't exaggerating about how often he hikes. He keeps a detailed log of every trek in a little notebook in his shirt pocket. Miles has recorded more than 4,000 hikes on the Y Mountain Trail alone. It is a number even seasoned hikers appreciate.
"He's awesome. He's my inspiration," said one hiker who regularly sees him on the trail.
"He is totally amazing," said another. "I even remember when he broke his hip."
That fall happened in the summer of 2023. Miles slipped in the trailhead parking lot and fractured his hip.
Most people would take months to recover. Miles was back on the trail in just 30 days.
"He was only 88 at the time," laughed his daughter, Terese Hickey. "Only."
She helped organize the birthday surprise, which included posters lining the trail, photos of his many hikes, and even a mini celebration at the base.
Many of the people who wanted to surprise Miles showed up early to put some of those birthday signs at every turn during the trail up.
Miles, humble as ever, chuckled at all the attention. But he kept moving, slowly and steadily, up the trail.
"Younger ones are running up there, and they probably wonder, why is he going so slow," he said with a grin.
For Miles, he has learned something those younger hikers haven't yet. Sometimes, the slower you go, the more you see and feel. And maybe the longer you last.
"Get out and hike," he said, laughing.
