Table (NW Ridge) / Cedar Loop 02-Jan-2014
Posted: January 3rd, 2014, 7:25 am
I thought New Years Day was a holiday for most folks but no, not for some of my clients, so part of that day was spent reading reports (oh joy! ). Broke free yesterday for a quick trip up Table on what proved to be a mostly sunny day with interesting clouds. Started from Bonneville Hot Springs because it offers a secure place to park.
Went up Heartbreak Ridge (which isn't getting any less steep with the passing years) for a view E into a fog-shrouded Gorge,
and of my favorite headwall.
Judging from the lenticular forming on Hood (and later on Adams), something was coming.
Rather than cut over on the established trail, I stayed E, hugging the very edge of Table's S face (to avoid the brush), and went straight up.
I'd started early but there was a runner waiting for me on the summit! I guess I stopped feeling spry at that point. But I kept on, traversing the top of Table to the NW, where I had a view E to Augspurger (1), Dog (2), Wind (3), and Defiance (4),
and W to Pyramid Rock (1), Indian Pits (2), Silver Star (3), and Three Corner Rock (4).
My plan was to descend Table's NW ridge - either along the road or via the direct variant - and had brought along my saw in anticipation of brush. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the old road portion of the NW ridge trail had been completely brushed-out and was now wide open! I did a little token sawing but mostly just for show. In no time at all, I was on the PCT heading back.
I'd saved so much time not having to thrash down the NW ridge that I decided to return via Cedar Mtn. Ran into about a dozen people on the Dick Thomas trail on the way back - sounded like they were staying at the lodge, wanted to go for a hike, but were a little fuzzy about where they expected the trail to take them. Ah, adventure. A classic but good hike (11.8 mi RT, 3800' EG) but now back to those reports.
Went up Heartbreak Ridge (which isn't getting any less steep with the passing years) for a view E into a fog-shrouded Gorge,
and of my favorite headwall.
Judging from the lenticular forming on Hood (and later on Adams), something was coming.
Rather than cut over on the established trail, I stayed E, hugging the very edge of Table's S face (to avoid the brush), and went straight up.
I'd started early but there was a runner waiting for me on the summit! I guess I stopped feeling spry at that point. But I kept on, traversing the top of Table to the NW, where I had a view E to Augspurger (1), Dog (2), Wind (3), and Defiance (4),
and W to Pyramid Rock (1), Indian Pits (2), Silver Star (3), and Three Corner Rock (4).
My plan was to descend Table's NW ridge - either along the road or via the direct variant - and had brought along my saw in anticipation of brush. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the old road portion of the NW ridge trail had been completely brushed-out and was now wide open! I did a little token sawing but mostly just for show. In no time at all, I was on the PCT heading back.
I'd saved so much time not having to thrash down the NW ridge that I decided to return via Cedar Mtn. Ran into about a dozen people on the Dick Thomas trail on the way back - sounded like they were staying at the lodge, wanted to go for a hike, but were a little fuzzy about where they expected the trail to take them. Ah, adventure. A classic but good hike (11.8 mi RT, 3800' EG) but now back to those reports.