10-06-2014 TABLE ROCK TRAIL 7.2 MILES What a difference two months has made. Actually the drop from 95 degree heat with a 80% humidity index is what made the difference. As I said when Pam Pettigrew, Pat Gehring and I went at the end of July, its not that we couldnt make it but why torture ourselves in the overbearing heat? We said that day, lets do this when its cooler out and today we did it. Today was my seventh trip up so obviously if I can do it anyone can...lol! Pam had just gotten back from a month with her family in Iceland and wasnt able to join us but Pat was rearing to go again. Cindi Hansen and Pam Hembree joined us making it a girls outing. Tony had misread his e-mail and missed out by being late to our meeting place. Besides completing the hike we actually knocked a good chunk off my previous hiking times completing the hike in 4 3/4 hours which included a very long lunch break. We still arent bragging though as we were passed three times by one fellow who we first encountered as he was headed down.....for his first trip of the day! He then came back up and back down before our one trip...lol! He said he has done it four times in one day before. WHY? Crazy man! Our trip was a more leisurely pace. Climbing, climbing, climbing the hundreds of steps, boulders and ect. that lead us to the summit and then down to the rock bald face of Table Rock. Along the way we passed the shelter at 1.8 miles and Governors Rock at little over 2.5 miles. The trail has milage markers every half mile to help people gauge a turning around point on this somewhat difficult hike. I would say the most diffucult part of the climb is between 2.5 and 3.0 miles. Much steeper with rock scrambling and tricky footing. Well worth all the effort though as you reach your destination with spectacular views. As we sat eating our well deserved lunch I was looking over to the right at the shorter, smaller pluton beside us thats called the Stool. At the top of the rock face there is a small clearing and then trees cover the top. In the clearing I noticed a dark black spot and then I saw another. From where we were it was very small but after watching noticed that they were moving and realized that they had to be bears. The girls were amazed that I had seen them and knew what they were. I must say I was kind of amazed myself...lol! After wed feasted our eyes and bellies we headed first up the short section to the summit and then the remainder down to our point of origin. Sometimes I find descending a welcome relief but here manuevering those tricky spots is just as time consuming and trecherous as the climb is. I always say this trail is not like a hike per se but more like a srairmaster on steroids. It is quite the workout as our poor bodies attested to the fact. We had accomplished our goal and had a blast doing it. We were laughing so much that had to make ourselves quit before somebody fooled around and lost their footing. It was a great day with a great group of gals!
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 17:47:10 +0000
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