TABLE MOUNTAIN: 7/19/17

TABLE MOUNTAIN: 7/19/17

I chose a hot, sunny day to re-visit one of the lesser-known peaks in the Whites with good views. Table Mountain has several open ledges with wide vistas south and southwest, and I rarely encounter other hikers there.

The Attitash Trail is well-maintained up to Table Mountain, and is wild, little-used and at times hard to follow the rest of the way over to and across Big Attitash Mountain. Recent heavy rains created deep ruts at the entrance to the trailhead parking area on Bear Notch Road - use caution!

 

At 0.6 mile there is a nice cascade on Louisville Brook. A steep bank limits access to the pool at the bottom, but a short easy path leads down to ledges at the top.

The first view ledge on the ascent of Table, looking towards Mt. Chocorua and Mt. Paugus.

A nasty section of ledge and slippery gravel between the first and second view ledges.

 
The second view ledge reveals more of the Sandwich Range.

Looking back at Bear Mountain.

Mt. Passaconaway and the Sleepers. It was from here in the spring of 2012 that I first spotted the big slide on West Sleeper unleashed by Tropical Storm Irene, visible as a tan stripe on the far right. I went in to visit the slide a couple of months later.

The biggest view ledge is just below the high point of the trail.

It's always fun to meet store customers on the trail!

Nice angle on Passaconaway-Sleepers-Tripyramids.

A ledge reached by a short side path has a restricted view of Mt. Carrigain and other peaks to the north.

On the way back I decided to bushwhack to the flat-topped knob between Table and Bear Mountains, seen here in front of Bear. I had spotted a potential view ledge on this knob from First Sister last winter.

From the Table-Bear col the whacking was through hardwoods for the first half, then thicker with spruce and some blowdown the rest of the way.

The ledge wasn't as open as I had hoped, but it was a nice secluded spot with a good view of Mt. Chocorua and its sprawling spur ridges.

 
Falls Pond and the Rocky Gorge parking area could be seen down in the Swift River valley.

A profile of Passaconaway.

On the way back I chanced upon what looked like a remnant of the old WMNF Bear Mountain Trail, which crossed this hump as it traversed Bear and Table Mountains. This section was abandoned around 1960.

From the col down, the Attitash Trail is very pleasant woods walking.