10 miles of hiking • 3500' elevation gain •
After spending the past 7 blue sky days at work, I decided to attempt Table Mountain today. This would be the third time. The first time, I got side tracked exploring a different trail after taking a wrong turn. The second ended in a complete whiteout in the rocks near the summit following the west side trail. Today, I decided if the weather appeared too bad, I would take the PCT up to the power lines past TM for a longer in-out hike. The lure of the Heartbreak Ridge trail was too much however despite my better judgement. Near the top, however, the ice and freezing rain stopped me, again, just short of the summit. I REALLY did not want to go back down via the Heartbreak Ridge trail but I had little choice. Microspikes and trekking poles saved the day -- and my knees. I'm starting to feel like Moses and the promised land. All was not lost however, I ended up bumping into a large herd of elk which always brightens up a rainy day.
Karl
February 15, 2015
Amazing to see all those elk there! You must've been the only one on the mountain that day.