Table Mt via east ridges from Greenleaf Falls
Posted: November 29th, 2017, 10:09 pm
I set out to follow the edge of the eastern cliffs on Table Mt today. As often happens, what looks easy on maps/photos appears totally different when you're on the ground. Terrain was more complex than expected, and visibility was terrible. I settled for following a couple ridges up from the top of Greenleaf Falls.
Started at Greenleaf Peak in the rain, followed an abandoned road (extension of CG2020) into Greenleaf Basin to Greenleaf Creek, crossed to the west side of the creek and followed it downstream. Ended up at a prominent ridge overlooking an acute bend in the creek. Very distinctive, easy to spot on map.
Dropped to the top of Greenleaf Falls, where I discovered I could follow a trail down the west side of the falls. Didn't expect that. Instead, I ascended to the west, while staying as far south as possible, intending to hit the Table cliffs. Ran into a crisp ridge, but can't spot it on the map, so presumably it doesn't drop far towards Greenleaf Creek. Ascended through easy open terrain, until I stumbled into a lovely rock garden just as the sun was finally trying to peek out a little (it was raining all the way from my car to the top of the falls).
There were cliffs above, so I had to go left or right. I went right (north), too far really, until I hit a minor ridge and turned left/west (probably the same ridge I had crossed on my way to Greenleaf Falls, the ridge that overlooks the creek at the acute bend). My route description is an extreme simplification; the terrain was pretty jumbled (fun/interesting).
My ridge faded, but I continued west through mossy cliff bands until I encountered a prominent ridge rising from Greenleaf Basin. I was grateful for that, as I was starting to wonder where I was. The ridge offered security. By this time, I had realized I wasn't going to get over to the cliff-edge route I had planned, but I knew there would be no views over there anyway, so I was satisfied with how things turned out.
Ascending the ridge, the rain started up again...or so I thought. Got pelted with a blob of slush, and realized it wasn't rain, it was snow melting out of the trees (snow on the ground was very light, and had started just a little lower).
I'd been getting anxious about time/route, but as I ascended the ridge, my confidence returned. I knew it couldn't be much farther. Sure enough, I soon popped out (rather abruptly, sooner than expected) precisely at the extreme eastern Table Mt viewpoint accessible by trail. Out of the trees, it was dry again. Nice. Completely socked in by clouds, but calm, and not terribly cold. Clouds started parting, and there were limited views to be had for maybe 30 minutes, and then back to nothing but grey, so I moved on to the summit via trail.
The Table Mt table was in much worse shape than 4 days ago. Vandalism, apparently (and not the first time). I poked around the summit plateau, sometimes in the clouds and sometimes in the sun.
Took the north ridge trail down to the powerline/PCT saddle, and followed the powerlines back east to Greenleaf Peak and my car. The north ridge was fun. It was essentially bare, so quite a dramatic change from my snow trudge a couple weeks ago.
Saw/heard no humans all day.
Started at Greenleaf Peak in the rain, followed an abandoned road (extension of CG2020) into Greenleaf Basin to Greenleaf Creek, crossed to the west side of the creek and followed it downstream. Ended up at a prominent ridge overlooking an acute bend in the creek. Very distinctive, easy to spot on map.
Dropped to the top of Greenleaf Falls, where I discovered I could follow a trail down the west side of the falls. Didn't expect that. Instead, I ascended to the west, while staying as far south as possible, intending to hit the Table cliffs. Ran into a crisp ridge, but can't spot it on the map, so presumably it doesn't drop far towards Greenleaf Creek. Ascended through easy open terrain, until I stumbled into a lovely rock garden just as the sun was finally trying to peek out a little (it was raining all the way from my car to the top of the falls).
There were cliffs above, so I had to go left or right. I went right (north), too far really, until I hit a minor ridge and turned left/west (probably the same ridge I had crossed on my way to Greenleaf Falls, the ridge that overlooks the creek at the acute bend). My route description is an extreme simplification; the terrain was pretty jumbled (fun/interesting).
My ridge faded, but I continued west through mossy cliff bands until I encountered a prominent ridge rising from Greenleaf Basin. I was grateful for that, as I was starting to wonder where I was. The ridge offered security. By this time, I had realized I wasn't going to get over to the cliff-edge route I had planned, but I knew there would be no views over there anyway, so I was satisfied with how things turned out.
Ascending the ridge, the rain started up again...or so I thought. Got pelted with a blob of slush, and realized it wasn't rain, it was snow melting out of the trees (snow on the ground was very light, and had started just a little lower).
I'd been getting anxious about time/route, but as I ascended the ridge, my confidence returned. I knew it couldn't be much farther. Sure enough, I soon popped out (rather abruptly, sooner than expected) precisely at the extreme eastern Table Mt viewpoint accessible by trail. Out of the trees, it was dry again. Nice. Completely socked in by clouds, but calm, and not terribly cold. Clouds started parting, and there were limited views to be had for maybe 30 minutes, and then back to nothing but grey, so I moved on to the summit via trail.
The Table Mt table was in much worse shape than 4 days ago. Vandalism, apparently (and not the first time). I poked around the summit plateau, sometimes in the clouds and sometimes in the sun.
Took the north ridge trail down to the powerline/PCT saddle, and followed the powerlines back east to Greenleaf Peak and my car. The north ridge was fun. It was essentially bare, so quite a dramatic change from my snow trudge a couple weeks ago.
Saw/heard no humans all day.