Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Climbing Table Mountain

A mound of snow at Artist Point
Even though the weather has been really warm for us for a while now, this pile of snow is still in the process of melting out at Artist Point, at the end of the Mt. Baker Highway. That's Mt. Shuksan over to the left, and the sheen on the pavement is caused by the rivulets of water from the melting snow.

Four of us met yesterday afternoon to take a trip up to the top of Table Mountain, which begins right at the parking lot. It's not long and not hard, but there is a bit of exposure going to the top, which is why neither I nor Al had ever climbed it before. It's a mere three-mile round trip, so it's not  really an appropriate Thursday hike. Not to mention the exposure one experiences on the way up is not for everybody.
Shuksan from the trail
The sheer drop-off from a moderately wide trail, as you can see here, took my breath away once or twice. Now some people think that just because I jump out of perfectly good airplanes, I shouldn't have any fear of heights. Not so: I have an exquisitely well-attuned respect for edges and high places. Plus I didn't have my parachute with me!
Shuksan towering over the parking lot
We quickly climbed upwards. If you enlarge the picture, you can see our starting point, the Artist Point parking lot, right in the middle of the picture. And the snow that still graces our High Country is dotted here and there. In another month it will mostly be gone, but that is just before the snows will begin to fall again. Artist Point is usually open in early July and will close again in late September because of the snow.
Mt. Baker behind Mary, Bob, and Al
We had to cross several snow fields, but none of them were in the scary places. I was really surprised by how many trees there are on the way up to the broad expanse at the top. I thought it would be barren, but between babbling brooks from the snowmelt and tempting little shady grottos, it was very pleasant and quite lovely most of the way to the top.
Got anything to eat?
We wandered around the top of the mountain for awhile, and I saw these ravens who watched us carefully, wondering (I surmised) whether we would be leaving anything behind. This trail gets lots of traffic and is traversed by plenty of people whose leavings are probably quickly consumed by fellows like these.
Heather and rock
There was heather everywhere, and I managed to capture this picture to show how pretty it is right now. I enjoyed the day very much, and the four of us stopped at the Beer Shrine in Deming to quaff a beer and enjoy pizza at the end of the day. If you visit that link, you'll see why it's such a popular place to visit after a day playing in Washington State's beautiful wilderness.
:-)

21 comments:

  1. How beautiful. How majestic.
    Simply sublime.
    Thank you. I do love to trek with you - particularly with my butt firmly planted - and see the magic you bring us.

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  2. Your walks are always in the most scenic of places. Just surrounded by so much beauty must be breathtaking.

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  3. 'beer shrine' - i like that name. :) loved the views you had! and snow, right from the start just seems so foreign to me!

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  4. Beautiful views! That pub sounded great I read all about their pizza:)

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  5. What a great name...my kids would love the Beer Shrine. Do they serve wines? In any case, the heather and rock picture is really outstanding, as are the mountains. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. wow i think it might take my breath away...i have a respect of heights...ha...and a beer might be a good treat after that trek...

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  7. Boy, I envy you your mountain adventures!

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  8. Amazing. But I caught a chill and developed vertigo all at the same time!

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  9. Gorgeous views DJan. I'm with you on the respect for edges and cliffs. The Beer Shrine sounds like a great place to wrap up a day.

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  10. Gorgeous scenes. And pizza and beer at the end of the trail hike. Sounds like a perfect day to me.

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  11. That heather is really pretty. I have never seen them in real life.

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  12. Just gorgeous! I can see why you have a healthy respect for edges and ledges!

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  13. A three mile round trip I could probably handle and oh what beautiful views. Of course I'm not so sure about those edges.

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  14. "An exquisitely well-attuned respect for edges and high places."
    This is the best description, DJan!
    I share that respect with you.
    But oh - the views are worth it once navigating those sometimes uncomfortable places!
    These are beautiful.

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  15. I spent the last two weeks near your neck of the woods. Seattle, Whidbey Island, and Olympic National Park. Didn't get up into the Cascades in Washington, but certainly could see how you must love the area. Beautiful.

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  16. p.s. my first time up there so was quite impressed.

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  17. I think sometimes navigating to an area is worth the sheer drops on the other side of the path. I think you did say the path was wide, but still the vertical view would be kinda scary. What another yet stunning area you have given us site upon. I love the heather and love the smell of heather. Lovely day for you, lovely virtual trip for us. Thanks a bunch, eh :)

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  18. Sounds like a challenging walk. And snow at this time of year. Fascinating. It looks like a pretty walk, though.

    And when I saw the "Beer Shrine," I actually misread it. I thought it was "Bear Shrine." An understandable error on my part, but also totally logical.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!

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  19. I am afraid of heights. That's why I love being able to travel with you up mountainsides and out of airplanes from the safety of my comfortable chair here in Fargo. Wonderful pictures, as usual, and love the heather. :)

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  20. What a great extra hike this week. Three miles is about my speed.

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  21. Sigh....
    It's all so very beautiful. It's hot and muggy over here and I could almost imagine the coolness of the snow... even though it's melting.

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