PCT north of Table Mt. 6.1-2.13

[turtle]

I wanted to do this hike again after my trip last year and my friend Bill wanted to do his first overnight backpack so this seemed like a good plan. He's done a fair amount of climbing and day-hikes but no overnights 'til now. We're planning a St. Helens climb on Friday so we got some miles on the legs and mountain air in the lungs. I also managed to hike two days without the knee brace for the first time in several months; yeah knees.

We started from the Hot Springs parking area about 7 am on Saturday. We took the Dick Thomas trail all the way to the PCT junction on the way up. On Sunday we took the standard "road" route back to Carpenter Lake, then the Dick Thomas trail back to the car. Of the two I think I prefer the longer, prettier, less crowded Dick Thomas trail. YHMV.

After Table Mountain we had the trail to ourselves for both days. We camped in a small, sheltered site on a saddle about 3-4 miles north of Table on the PCT. There are two good seasonal water sources in this area of the trail; the second one is about 150 yds. north of the first and the better of the two. Our spirits wanted to go further but our posteriors were dragging. It isn't a Mt. Defiance class trail but it is a steady slog. There were good views in two directions right out of camp so we called it good. Great trip with a good friend, week-end well used.

Nice overview.

He really did have a good time, he's just happy on the inside.