Today was a wonderful day for a hike so I decided to hike Table Mt. The east wind was starting to really blow as I entered the gorge about 10 and the temperature was already up to the low sixties. With the ominous "No Trespassing' signs recently posted at the Greenleaf Slough THs I could only start my hike at the Bonneville TH just across the Hwy from the new powerhouse at Bonneville Dam.
Table really looked great as I looked out at it from Hwy 84 as I drove east:
The Bonneville TH is the shortest "legal" way to do Table now and it really adds some serious distance and considerable elevation gain to the round trip. The good news is that one need not worry about possible repercussions concerning trespassing - the bad news is that it takes an 8.8 mile RT hike up to nearly 16 miles RT. Oh well, I haven't done this route in over eight years so I guess it was time to do it.
Bad news: A huge amount of re-climb due to the many ups and down on this route. Good news: Very interesting terrain due to the fact you are hiking along the top of the great Bonneville landslide. Also, very interesting lakes along this route, one in particular, Gillette Lake, has a very unusual color:
After going up and down and up and down for nearly two hours I finally reached the east ridge and started the serious climbing. The east wind was really blowing and I had to keep particularly mindful of branches and even trees that might fall:
Sorry about the un-edited video - I don't know how to do such things. Turn the sound down - the wind was really noisy!
https://youtu.be/oXgUD_mfipo
Anyway, nothing fell on me so I continued up and after braving the Heartbreak Ridge steepness broke out at the saddle to enjoy the views of the main cliffs:
Following the trail, now to the west, brought me to the infamous talus climb:
Even somewhat sheltered from the wind this thing is a total pain. Lots of somewhat loose and potentially dangerous rocks to climb and not wanting to do a Aaron Ralston type of fail I was Very careful!
Anyway, I made the summit in a little over three and a half hours and then headed over to the east side viewpoints.
A few pics from along the route:
I took another video as I was leaving the east side cliffs:
https://youtu.be/tNqyInJBz_U
After that, I crossed the summit plateau and took a look at the other side. The big mountains were out in all their glory:
Looks like Silver Star is still cloaked in winter:
I decided to head down the Westway Trail rather than navigating the egregious talus slope. Not sure which is worse!
That thing isn't getting better as the years go by and I'm not getting any better either!!
Here's a video of some of it. With no hiking poles, lots of wind and trying to hold the camera this didn't go as well as I hoped. Oh well, bruises eventually heal.
https://youtu.be/1uKfOXvfHNA
A very hard day on the trail but, hey, got to get rid of some of that winter fat!
(The GPS gliched out once and wandered. The total was acually 16.2 miles RT but the EG total is accurate.
DN
Table Mountain, 042318
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4377
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Table Mountain, 042318
Last edited by Don Nelsen on April 24th, 2018, 7:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
Re: Table Mountain, 042318
Thanks for the Silver Star update Don. Now here's something odd. Of your three video links, the first two link to MY personal Youtube videos! The third one links to your hike.
What's going on? Is my browser messed up? Anyone else have a similar result?
What's going on? Is my browser messed up? Anyone else have a similar result?
Re: Table Mountain, 042318
I've been debating doing this myself.
I can't get past the 16 miles for a Table Mountain hike though.
Just doesn't seem "right".
That western descent is definitely a slick one, moreso on a dry trail I think.
But yes Mr. Nelson ... it definitely was graceful.
I can't get past the 16 miles for a Table Mountain hike though.
Just doesn't seem "right".
That western descent is definitely a slick one, moreso on a dry trail I think.
But yes Mr. Nelson ... it definitely was graceful.
Re: Table Mountain, 042318
The first link goes to the sign-in page. If you're signed in it will go to your own page.
If not, it asks you to sign in.
The url Don posted is a little funky.
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4377
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Table Mountain, 042318
My bad! The links are fixed now.
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
Re: Table Mountain, 042318
Thanks for trip report DN! You photos sure do a good job of describing the pluses and minuses of that hike. I need to get up there soon!
Re: Table Mountain, 042318
Oh, so that's what the top looks like without snow!
Speaking of, it looks like it might be time for my Birkenfeld trip. Wonder if I could drive to the cg2020 5-way junction.
I've only had to deal with that HB talus field once, coming down. What a pain. I'd rather do westway.
Don't recall the Gillette color. When did they add that feature?
Had to google your Ralston reference. Was thinking it might have been the hiker who fell/died on Table a few years back.
Speaking of, it looks like it might be time for my Birkenfeld trip. Wonder if I could drive to the cg2020 5-way junction.
I've only had to deal with that HB talus field once, coming down. What a pain. I'd rather do westway.
Don't recall the Gillette color. When did they add that feature?
Had to google your Ralston reference. Was thinking it might have been the hiker who fell/died on Table a few years back.
- Born2BBrad
- Posts: 1086
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 7:26 pm
- Location: The Dalles
Re: Table Mountain, 042318
So people can't park at Greenleaf Slough anymore? That sucks. Now Table Mountain is Loony hike every time now.
Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.
- Jean Luc Picard
Link to GPX tracks
Link to Trip Reports
- Jean Luc Picard
Link to GPX tracks
Link to Trip Reports
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4377
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Table Mountain, 042318
I suppose you could park there but there is new signage that cites a trespassing ordinance and new barriers to entrance. One could chance it but it could be risky.Born2BBrad wrote: ↑April 24th, 2018, 9:43 amSo people can't park at Greenleaf Slough anymore? That sucks. Now Table Mountain is Loony hike every time now.
BTW, the property owner Pirfil "Pete" Cam has the property listed for sale, 165 acres for $5.5M. I guess he's trying to unload it to a developer for housing but I sure wouldn't want to live so close to all those power lines.
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
Re: Table Mountain, 042318
This discussion of parking reminds me of Don's previous signature line. I don't recall exactly, something along the lines of "nothing is impossible, there are only varying degrees of difficulty".
Don, I forgot to ask earlier, did you pass by the Table Mt table? How's it looking? Last visit there I had to dig in the snow to find pieces. I imagine it's pretty much obliterated now.
Don, I forgot to ask earlier, did you pass by the Table Mt table? How's it looking? Last visit there I had to dig in the snow to find pieces. I imagine it's pretty much obliterated now.