Climbing North Table Mountain - Pretty, but not for the faint of heart - or lung!

Saturday started as a beautiful sunny day, with snow and wind threatened for later in the day.  So I took advantage of the morning to hike up North Table Mountain.  (http://jeffco.us/parks/parks-and-trails/north-table-mountain-park/)  I drove about a mile and a half to the parking lot at the bottom of the trail labeled “North Table Loop.”  I did not do the loop, but went out about a mile and then came back.

Both views are from the parking lot, across Route 93 to see what is called Dinosaur Ridge as that exposed section of rock apparently holds a lot of fossils.  First view is “normal.”  Second is “close-up.”  I have not yet investigated that trail.

This, however, is sort of where I am actually heading.  I’m not cropping the picture to give you an idea of scale.  People do climb those rock faces – but not me.  (Not yet, anyway.  Can’t answer for the future!)

Along the trail you can see snow on the shadier side of the path and no snow along the sunnier side.  We only got a few inches the week before and it is pretty much all gone now.

A pause to look across the valley – both distance and close-up.

Then there are the rocks.  This one looks like it has a face on it.  I could not get close enough to it to tell if the white is an inclusion or lichen.  Either is possible.

The trail takes a dog-leg up to the right.  The spots on the picture are from taking it into the sun.  I could have waited to take the picture on the way back, but the pause to take photos also allowed my breath to catch up to my body!

 All along the way there are rocks!

More rocks.

And more rocks.

Getting closer to the summit!

Almost there!

I could have walked to this finger of rock, but did not as the way to it was up some natural rock steps that were shaded therefore icy.  I’ll save that for another trip!

Pretty much level with the climbing rocks.

Looking back towards Dinosaur Ridge to see how far we’ve come!

Anyone for a climb?  Not me!

This is the Pinacle Area Crater Crag Climbing Access Trail.  (That’s what it says on the sign to the left of the steps.)  These are the icy steps mentioned earlier.

Might not be the Himalayas, but it’s the top of the world to me!

This tree marks the end of the line for me.  It was my goal because you can see this tree, sticking up above the top of the ridge line like a lollipop from the back of the house where I am staying.  You can also see the house from up next to the tree.

Unfortunately, by the time I got to the tree the winds had picked up fiercely.  I had to sit on a rock near the tree because I was afraid my hat (or even I) would get blown off!  Couldn’t hold the camera steady.  So no picture of the house.

Heading back!  View across to the next mountain group.

This is the mountain I can see from my bedroom.  The one with the big M on it for the Colorado School of Mines.  The M is whitewashed, so blends in totally with the snow.  But to get an idea, look at central mountain.  There is a line going up the mountain from left to right.  Above that is one continuing up the mountain from right to left.  Those lines are the road up past the M which is just above the upper line.

Aha!  I did take a better view!

Long story shortened – i.e., I left out a bunch of photos of cool rocks, distant peaks, path back down – I got back to my car and toddled on home with rosy cheeks from the sun and the wind.  The rest of the photos will have to wait for another post!