Mountain height

Table Mountain - September 18, 2005

Mountain height: 2,225 m (7,298 ft)
Elevation gain:       742 m
Ascent time:          3:05
Descent time:        ?

Scrambling with Linda.

What diminutive Table Mountain lacks in height, it more than makes up for in fantastic and colourful scenery. The short approach and minimal elevation gain certainly made this peak a logical choice for me, as I was still fairly burnt-out from the previous day’s 10-hour assault of Mount McPhail.

After hiking the Table Mountain trail to the second clearing, and a great view of two subsidiary peaks of the mountain’s west side, we decided to leave the trail and head straight up towards a weakness between the peaks. I didn’t take us long to figure out that many others had the same idea, as faint trails began to appear. We split up here – I went to the base of the towering left peak (a band of red argillite grabbed my attention), and Linda curved around the right side, towards a gully between the two peaks. After a little exploring, we met up on a well-worn trail, just left of the gully, where a weakness in a rockband led easily to the start of the upper slopes and more fantastic scenery.

Again, we took different routes – I traversed over to the west edge of the mountain and Linda went straight up the gully. Terrific rock, dead trees, and precipitous views over the west face, made this a wonderful diversion.

Eventually, Linda made her way over to the west edge and we continued up interesting, steppy rock to a false summit, seemingly guarded by a striking and vertical band of red argillite. The delightful band consisted of a stunning array of different coloured layers and was one of the highlights of the trip for me. An easy gully split the rockband and soon we were atop the western plateau, looking to the true summit, some distance, but an easy hike away. Actually, the hike was much shorter than I thought it would be and was very pleasantly interrupted by a thin forest of beautiful, yellowing larches – another highlight of the day. The summit followed shortly after, with terrific views of Victoria Peak, Gladstone, Windsor, Castle Peak, and a splendid look back at the western plateau and the ascent route.

Unfortunately, throughout the ascent, I had been battling a headache that was rapidly becoming a migraine and I wanted nothing more than to get back to the car as soon as possible. Thankfully, the descent was remarkably short, fast, and easy, and we arrived back at the parking lot in no time, just as heavy clouds rolled in and it started to rain.

Besides the migraine, a most enjoyable day on a terrific, little mountain.