Monday, February 16, 2015

Adventures on North Table Mountain

I have been spending a lot of time recently at North Table Mountain for a variety of reasons. First is the convenience. I can be there in about fifteen minutes (or less on weekend morning) which makes it a great place to got after work when I don't have a lot of time before sundown. Secondly is that after a steep fifteen minute hike to the top (about 6,500 feet), it is really great, rolling trail running terrain. See, North Table is not so much a mountain as a mesa. It is basically flat, at least by Colorado standards once you reach the summit.

A pic of North Table Mountain (left) and South Table Mountain (right). That is the Coors plant in Golden between the two


So I have been going there quite a bit recently to do some scrambling and hiking, but mostly trail running. In fact, I took Claire there for her very first trail run a couple of weekends ago. It turned out to be a memorable run (too bad I don't bring my phone on runs, those pics would have been great) because at one point in the trail to our left was a herd of mule deer. At the same time on the opposite side of the trail about 40 feet or so away were two coyotes having a grand time playing in the brush. It is strange that not only do the animals have little fear of people here, they are almost completely indifferent. The coyotes especially never even glanced our way as we watched them. They couldn't have cared less! I also found a nice scrambling spot during another run along the south cliffs. Of course, I haven't been able to find it since but I will again. On another occasion, while trying to squeeze in a run after work, I underestimated the mileage of my planned route and ended up being on top of the mountain a little too close to dark for my liking, since I had no light source of any kind. The coyotes weren't quite as fascinating when I could hear them howling and hoping I could get to the trail down before I couldn't see anymore!  Anyhow, below are some pics from and of North Table I have taken recently. Several are near sunset...