But I could see snow from Hwy 14! Fortunately, the first dusting of snow started right after the PCT crossed the road for the last time and had reached a depth of 6” by the time the PCT turned N just W of Table Mountain.
The snow kept getting deeper and I strapped on the shoes at about 2200’ [I won’t say you “need” snowshoes for this hike with this snow but it’s way easier with the shoes]. I was plowing through 18-24” of soft fluffy new snow by the time the PCT passed under the powerlines. It was less deep in the trees, but deep enough in the open to almost complete cover the old logging structure at around 2800’.
The road up to the saddle on Table’s NW ridge was covered with about 12” of new snow but since it was out in the open, the going was easy.
The same could not be said for the old road going out the ridge toward Table as it was an obstacle course of deep snow, deep hollows formed by snow roofing over bent vegetation, and trees holding snow soon to be heading down my collar. I definitely have to get back here in the summer with a saw. The whole ridge was covered with up to 24” of new snow and, although sidehilling and getting tangled in brush was a pain, I really needed the snowshoes to make progress along the ridge. Enroute I got a nice view E toward Dog (also with new snow),
and of Greenleaf (which shows how abrupt the snowline is in this part of the Gorge).
As I got closer to Table, there was less brush to thrash through and I got to experience the aerobic wonders of heaving snowshoes uphill through deep powdery snow.
I was worried that the last climb on the ridge before the top – the steep narrow part with the big drop off – would be a bit dicey given all the new snow but it wasn’t – just steep and extra aerobic.
Clouds pretty much killed any views of Adams or Hood, but I was nonetheless rewarded with a trackless view of Table. I guess I got out soon enough after the last storm to beat the crowds because rarely have I been on Table without seeing and/or following someone else’s tracks.
I headed down Table’s W ridge and took the snowshoes off just after the ridge breaks out of the trees. The snow was still deep but it was easier to descend without two boards strapped to my feet. The snow basically didn’t disappear until I entered the trees at the bottom of the ridge. After that, the trail was essentially snow-free all the way back to the TH. About 10.5 mi, 3400’ – lots of fun - but with the snowshoeing it was definitely more exercise than I get on a summer hike of Table.
