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posted: August 1st, 2017 |
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On this page we take you with us on a climb of Table Top Mountain, in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, Nome Creek Valley, on July 8th. This page ends with the end of that climb, but July 8th continues on Page 3 as we go to the Ophir Creek campground and "camp" out in our pickup canopy. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
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| Begin July 8th |
Our next adventure was on July 8th and 9th. We drove out the Steese Highway and the first thing we saw was at an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nesting platform which has been constructed. The first two shots in this row show an immature Osprey patiently waiting for its parent to return with something for breakfast. We sat there for quite a while, but we did not see the adult return. We turned off the Steese Highway at Milepost 57.4 on the US Creek Road to go to the Table Top Mountain Trailhead. The third shot in this row shows Table Top Mountain from about mile 6 or so, of the US Creek Road. The outlined area shows the next photo.
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 Jul8_004_Osprey_ ElliottHwyRC |
 Jul8_005_Osprey_ ElliottHwyRC |
 Jul8_011_Approaching TableTopMtnRC |
Here is the outlined area of the previous photo. That is Table Top Mountain - the one we're going to climb. The center shot is zoomed-in more to Table Top Mountain. The third shot is a nice one of Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium).
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 Jul8_012_Approaching TableTopMtnRC |
 Jul8_013_Approaching TableTopMtnRC |
 Jul8_018_Approaching TableTopMtnRC |
The first shot in this row is a map of Table Top Mountain and the trail. The dotted line is what is shown on the map here. I added the dashed line and the arrows showing what we did. Note that we did NOT do the loop trail, we turned around at the top of Upper Table Top Mountain and returned the same way that we climbed. The reason we did this is because the descent portion of the loop trail is not so very interesting. We hiked the entire loop last summer and learned this fact. The second and third shots show immature Northern Hawk Owls (Surnia ulula). We saw two of them on this trail last summer, but this year we saw four young ones.
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 Jul8_021_Approaching TableTopMtnRC |
 Jul8_026_ClimbingTable TopMtn_NHawkOwlRC |
 Jul8_033_ClimbingTable TopMtn_NHawkOwlRC |
In this row are three additional shots of immature Northern Hawk Owls (Surnia ulula). Pretty amazing. They enjoyed looking at us and playing staring games. We wondered if part of their training includes "teasing the humans" which hike the trail.
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 Jul8_051_ClimbingTable TopMtn_NHawkOwlRC |
 Jul8_054_ClimbingTable TopMtn_NHawkOwlRC |
 July8th_111_TableTop Mountain_SurniaUlulaRC |
As we climbed upwards through this burned over forest we found an abundance of flowers. Here are two shots in which you can see a more or less albino Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). The third shot shows me on the trail.
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 Jul8_066_ClimbingTable TopMtn_AlbinoFireweedRC |
 July8th_120_TableTopMountain _EpilobiumAngustifoliumRC |
 July8th_123_TableTopMountain _EpilobiumAngustifoliumRC |
Here are three shots of the more or less albino Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). In the second and third photos you can also easily see the normal Fireweed for comparison.
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 Jul8_067_ClimbingTable TopMtn_AlbinoFireweedRC |
 Jul8_071_ClimbingTable TopMtn_AlbinoFireweedRC |
 July8th_134_TableTopMountain _EpilobiumAngustifoliumRC |
In first position in this row is a 2-shot collage of Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris). The second and third shots show two very differently colored Rumex arcticus plants - yellow and red varieties. This is a strange area - the only place we've ever seen near albino fireweed and also the weird colored Rumex arcticus.
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 Jul8_073_074_Climbing TableTopMtn_GrassParnassusRC |
 July8th_140_TableTop Mountain_RumexArcticusRC |
 Jul8_075_ClimbingTable TopMtn_RumexRC |
Here is a final shot of the Rumex arcticus yellow and red varieties in first position. In the second photo we are at the summit of Lower Table Top Mountain (3,074 feet = 937 m) and looking more or les to the west. Please note the rock on the ridge just to the right of center. We're going to get much closer to this rock this evening. The third shot is a nice distant scenery shot.
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 Jul8_076_ClimbingTable TopMtn_RumexRC |
 Jul8_085_Climbing TableTopMtn_LowerTTRC |
 July8th_145_Table TopMountainRC |
All three shots in this row were taken as we hiked across the more or less flat plateau between Lower Table Top and Upper Table Top. The first and third shots, showing Arnica griscomii ssp. frigida, were taken to place the flower so that Upper Table Top Mountain is in the background of the photo.
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 Jul8_092_Climbing TableTopMtn_LowerTTRC |
 Jul8_094_Climbing TableTopMtn_LowerTTRC |
 July8th_166_TableTopMountain _ArnicaGriscomiiSspFrigidaRC |
In first position in this row is a shot of Bistorta plumosa (Pink Plumes) - placed so that Upper Table Top Mountain is in the background. The second shot was taken specifically to show that it was a virtual forest of Bistorta plumosa (Pink Plumes) right here. The third image is composed of three, exposure-bracketed shots which were processed with Photomatix 3.2 software, using the Details-Enhancer option. It shows, of course, Upper Table Top Mountain (3,130 ft = 954m), which we will soon be on the summit of.
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 Jul8_099_Climbing TableTopMtn_LowerTTRC |
 Jul8_103_Climbing TableTopMtn_LowerTTRC |
 Jul8_105_106_107_TMDE_ ClimbingTableTopMtn_LowerTTRC |
Okay, now we are at the summit of Upper Table Top Mountain (3,130 ft = 954 m). The first shot here was taken while looking more or less to the northeast into Nome Creek Valley and beyond. The outlined area shows the second photo. Our rig is the first one in the line of vehicles, we were the first ones to start climbing this morning. The third shot shows Lower Table Top Mountain from Upper Table Top Mountain.
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 Jul8_111_Climbing TableTopMtn_UpperTTRC |
 Jul8_112_Climbing TableTopMtn_UpperTTRC |
 Jul8_113_Climbing TableTopMtn_UpperTTRC |
Here is a shot of Kazuya as he walks around the summit of Upper Table Top while taking photos. It was a total coincidence, but we were here on this same weekend last summer. We did not realize that until I was filling out my database of mountains climbed and saw the date when we were here last year! The second shot in this row shows the summit as we begin our descent. The third shot is a scenery shot. I am not sure what direction it is looking towards.
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 Jul8_114_Climbing TableTopMtn_UpperTTRC |
 Jul8_135_Climbing TableTopMtn_UpperTTRC |
 July8th_217_Table TopMountainRC |
Here is a shot of me on the descent and that is followed by an amazing shot of an Aconitum delphiniifolium (Monkshood). The third shot shows a Strix nebulosa - a Great Grey Owl. WOW! Two different owls in one day.
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 July8th_218_Table TopMountainRC |
 July8th_246_TableTopMountain _AconitumDelphiniifoliumRC |
 July8th_264_TableTop Mountain_StrixNebulosaRC |
Here are two additional shots of the Strix nebulosa - a Great Grey Owl which graced us by letting us see it. So amazing! The third shot, taken from the trailhead, shows Lower Table Top Mountain on the left and Upper Table Top Mountain on the right.
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 Jul8_148_DescentTable TopMtn_GreatGrayOwlRC |
 Jul8_149_DescentTable TopMtn_GreatGrayOwlRC |
 Jul8_160_Base TableTopMtnRC |
The first photo, also taken from the trailhead, shows Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) and Burned Forest. The second shot shows our rig with the doors open so that it can cool off a bit before we get in and start driving. There were six vehicles here when we arrived and four of them were Toyotas, one was a Dodge RAM and one was a GMC Astra - that shows how popular Toyota vehicles are in Interior Alaska.
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 July8th_295_TableTopMountain _EpilobiumAngustifoliumRC |
 July8th_296_Table TopMountainRC |
The first shot here is zoomed in to Upper Table Top Mountain, from the trailhead and then there is a final shot of Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) taken from the trailhead.
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 Jul8_161_Base TableTopMtnRC |
 Jul8_163_Base TableTopMtnRC |
| End Page 2, but July 8th continues on Page 3 at 6:40 PM |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 3 for the continuation and conclusion of this adventure and then another adventure. |
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