"Is there a table on Tabletop?"
Kailee pondered this question for a number of months... It was time to find the answer on what would be Kailee's Birthday hike! (Her birthday was the following day).
Looking at the stats from our Phelps hike, I figured that we could probably sleep in a little before this adventure. We've been getting up really early for our last few treks in the High Peaks. So this was a nice change.
We arrived at South Meadow, signed in at the register and hit the Marcy Truck Trail at 10AM.
I like the truck trail because it's pretty soft on the feet and one can cover the 2.8 miles to Marcy Dam pretty quick. We stopped at Pelkey Brook for a minute. The last time we were here, the brook was roaring... This time it was just a dribble.
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| Marcy Dam. |
We arrived at Marcy Dam at 11:15 AM and took a 20 minute break. We chatted with a Dad and his two boys from Syracuse for a bit. They were headed to Phelps... So was everyone else as it seemed. The trail registers were loaded with groups of people heading to that destination. I was glad that we were heading to a place that was in "less demand."
I felt like we really dawdled after resuming our hike on the Van Hoevenberg trail. Our pace wasn't excruciatingly slow but it just seemed like we were taking it extremely easy... Not a bad thing!
At the turnoff for Phelps, a sign reminded me that we would be heading towards Indian Falls as well as Tabletop. I had noticed that the waterfall was only a little further past the turnoff for Tabletop while researching our hike and totally forgotten about it until this moment.
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| Sticking to the right! |
I suggested to Kailee that Indian Falls might be a worthwhile visit before climbing Tabletop and assured her that the side-jaunt would only be a difference of a few hundred feet. She agreed.
At this point, the Van Hoevenberg trail led us up the shoulder of TR mountain. It wasn't a strenuous stretch by any means. We ran into a number of people including a chatty Canadian woman who was "crazy" about her "trekking poles!"
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| Phelps from the Van Hoevenberg trail on the shoulder of TR Mountain. |
We arrived at the junction for Tabletop at 1:35 PM. A resting hiker told Kailee that she was "the youngest kid that I've seen all day!"
A number of people asked Kailee "How old are you?" throughout the afternoon.
"Seven," Kailee would reply, "But, I turn Eight tomorrow!"
Which would be met with a chorus of "Happy Birthday!"
Ten minutes past the Tabletop junction, we arrived at Indian Falls! The waterfall was down to a trickle. But, the vista from atop the falls was spectacular! An amazing view of the MacIntyre's!
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| The Macs from atop Indian Falls! |
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| Enjoying a snack at Indian Falls! |
We rested and had a snack while absorbing the scenery before heading back to the Tabletop trail.
Tabletop's trail is unmarked. But, it's hard to lose it. It's the long strip of mud heading upwards in a gnarly second growth forest that is ready to slice and cut you up if you step off the trail. This may be the muddiest trail that we've ever been on. Don't dress to impress if you're going to hike this mountain.
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As we gained elevation a lovely breeze rolled in and cooled us down a little.
The forest gave way to stunted pines and flag trees as we neared the top. Turning around offered us another view of the MacIntyre's (which we would also enjoy on our descent later).
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| Field mouse. |
We hit the summit at 2:54 PM and had the place to ourselves for about 45 seconds... A couple arrived just after us and another group of hikers followed them shortly after.
Tabletop is mostly tree-d in and it's overlook is very small.
Kailee looked around and confirmed there was "No table on Tabletop." Aw shucks!
While it's not the widest view out there, it did afford us the closest view of Basin, Haystack & Marcy that we've had to date. From the many angles that I've previously viewed Basin, it resembled the spikes at the end of a stegosaurus tail. It was neat looking at it "head on" from Tabletop.
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| Marcy. |
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| Haystack. |
We found a bench-like rock and sat down for lunch. We eat tuna sandwiches that I prepare on the spot for most our hikes. But, this time we tried something a little different: Luncheon Loaf (aka Fake Spam) sandwiches with mayo! A decent and filling change of edibles!
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| Luncheon Loaf! |
As we finished up our lunch, all of the other hikers left. We finally had the place to ourselves. We took pictures and enjoyed the sounds of nature.
We began our descent down the muddy trail at 3:40 PM.
"If I'm gonna come back here" Kailee stated in reference to the mud, "I think I'd wanna do it in Winter."
A fair assessment.
We got our muddy feet off Tabletop at 4:25 PM and proceeded back towards Marcy Dam.
We continued to run into a lot of people on the Van Hoevenberg trail including a Jewish family consisting of a father and his three boys who had just ascended Mount Marcy in long sleeved white shirts and black dress pants. That wouldn't be my choice of apparel for a 14 mile hike on a hot day... Power to them!
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| A cascade of water flowing off a log near the Van Hoevenberg trail. This photo was taken by Kailee. |
We arrived back at Marcy Dam at 6PM and took another break. It was dinner time and dozens of campers were enjoying their meals around the stream. We took everything in one last time before departing for the car.
Kailee's leg cramped up on the truck trail (first time this has happened on our hikes). She powered through the pain and drank water in hopes of it going away. She was relieved to get back to the car at 7:15 PM and be able to sit and rest her leg. She was also very happy to have completed her 15th High Peak on the eve of her birthday.
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| 15 High Peaks down and relieved to sit in the car! Selfie by Kailee. |
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| Birthday fun on Top of the Table! |
Tabletop hike Stats:
12.5 Miles
2707' Total Elevation Gain
9:21 Total Time
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