I was aiming for Table's NW Ridge, so I stayed on the PCT heading north. Coming around the corner of Table's West Ridge, S Birkenfeld (Pt 3553) came into view, so it got added to the hike.
The PCT was snowfree until just before and after its crossing under the power lines - here there were stretches of firm, walkable snow.
I stayed on the PCT as it climbed up and around the lower slopes of S Birkenfeld, for a good view of Adams,
and of a bald eagle circling overhead.
At this point, instead of heading up the ridge (largely snowfree), I decided to continue on the PCT. This was a poor choice as far as speedy travel was concerned, as the PCT here is still covered by several feet of steeply angled, alternately soft and slippery snow. It was slow going.
After reaching the saddle between S Birkenfeld and Birkenfeld (Pt 3763), I thought about going over to Birkenfeld (to the left, with Rainier in the distance).
But that route was all on snow, which had now softened considerably - making it a slow slog without snow shoes. So I headed back across the top of S Birkenfeld (largely snow-free and much easier travel compared to the PCT on the slopes below) to a lunch spot with a view of Table and Hood.
From there, my plan was to climb Table via its NW ridge, but I wasn't relishing post-holing through the snow and brush on the old road to the E of the ridge. But from my lunch perch, it looked like there might be a route up the ridge itself, by-passing the road and much of the snow. From where the power line service road crosses the saddle, the "classic" route up Table's NW ridge goes E on the old road. But there's a more obscure, much more faded "road" that goes to the right. I followed this and soon encountered a use trail that took me along the top of the ridge. There were a few brushy spots but not many and progress was rapid. From a distance, it looks like you might encounter a wildly exposed traverse just W of Pt 3210, but you don't. I soon reached the point on the ridge just before where the old road and the use trail to the summit converge. Finding this route going down the ridge could be trickier but certainly doable.
There were patches of snow on the ridge from here to the summit but nothing serious. From the ridge, I had a view of a contrail sweeping past Table Mtn.
One person passed me right after Carpenters Lake and I passed another person on the ridge. There were two people on the summit as I was climbing the ridge but they were gone when I finally topped out. It seemed odd to have the summit of Table to myself on such a nice day. But then marmots aren't particularly sociable... Views all around, of course. Silver Star (S) and Three Corner Rock (T),
then Three Corner Rock (T), S Birkenfeld (SB), Birkenfeld (B), and St. Helens (H).
I passed 6 people while descending Heartbreak Ridge (... that boulder field
) and saw a group across on the West Ridge. My favorite view on this route is the towering E face of Table.
Six more people on the road toward Aldrich Butte TH and that was the "crowd" for the day. Should probably have pushed on to Birkenfeld but finding that way around the road on the ridge made up for not doing so. Not a particularly long day (12.4 mi, 4100' EG) but extra aerobic thanks to the snow, route finding, and twists and turns along the ridge.
I will check out the variation on the Table north ridge. As always you take great pictures, I love your bald eagle.
Definitely prefer the ascent up "heart-break" ridge. After all the full sun exposure, I appreciated returning to the shade of the forest (and Walking Man Brewery). Nice to see so many reports on this hike!
