One of the most popular times to climb the mountain is for the lighting of the Y, a Brigham Young University tradition that started in 1924. This year marks the 100-year anniversary of hiking and lighting the Y, with students planning to commemorate the event by broadcasting BYU’s boundless school spirit with the dazzling Y lighting during Homecoming Week, Oct. 8-12.

BYU Student Alumni organizes the Hike and Light the Y event, shuttling current students from the Wilkinson Student Center to the mountain for the epic moment when the Y is lit. Before the actual lighting, students enjoy the vigorous hike up the mountain together, making new friends and connections. They will be joined by current BYU President C. Shane Reese; his wife, Wendy; and BYU’s iconic mascot, Cosmo. Students will have the chance to chat with them as the sun sets over the western mountains.

BYU Student Alumni’s Vice President of Traditions Luke Morley described the actual moment of the lighting. “At the countdown, the Y lights up. At the same time, everyone turns on their flashlight and holds them in the air surrounding the Y — becoming part of the lighting of the Y.” The cheering students add their own glittering glow as the valley below basks in the glowing light of the Y.

Hiking and lighting the Y is all about connections. Morley described what he has seen happening to students who take part in the event. “(Hike and Light the Y) forms this bond between current students and this university. They belong here, they are part of the Y, they are here in Homecoming Week, and they are at the center of the celebration,” he said.

For many students, it is also a chance to connect to their past. Curtis Isaak, who has frequently worked with BYU Student Alumni to put on the event, loves the longevity of the tradition. “Many students have parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents who hiked the Y when they were students,” he said. “Not only can students connect to their BYU past, but they either keep the tradition going or create a new tradition for their future families.”

Organizing the Hike and Light the Y event is a major undertaking every year. Led by the BYU Student Alumni Board, this event and all others put on by BYU Student Alumni are organized through volunteer committees made up of current students. BYU Student Alumni works to connect students, alumni and the university through various events and activities. Their goal is to help BYU’s current students learn how to be active and engaged alumni now to better help the students of tomorrow.

Hike and Light the Y embodies a lot of those goals. “Hiking the Y helps the students really feel they are part of something bigger,” Isaak said. “They will only be students for a few years, but they will be alumni and connected to BYU for life.”

Of course, the relative ease of the electric system used today to light the Y wasn’t always in use. The Golden Y Boys Club, which later became the Gold Y Chapter of Intercollegiate Knights, a national service and honor society, were originally in charge of lighting and patrolling the Y.

The Y was lit with a special creation dubbed “gook” by participating students. Old mattress stuffing and vats of used motor oil were combined into a mixture that was formed into grapefruit-sized balls. After hauling the gook up the mountain, the group would work to space out the “gookballs” for the perfect fiery effect.

While the burning balls produced a brilliant sight, the Forest Service worried they would lead to a major fire. The sight of burning tennis shoes also made this gooey method concerning. BYU switched to electric lighting in 1985 for a safer approach to lighting the Y, and a 2016 upgrade outlined the Y in LED lights for maximum brilliance of the beacon shining above Provo.

Current students gratefully no longer need to carry heavy buckets up the mountain to show the school spirit that comes with Hike and Light the Y.

Julia Nebeker writes for Y Magazine.