Table Rock or Table Mountain, which ever you prefer to call it, certainly doesn’t make it any easier to climb.
Because of summer not starting on time, and due to the amount of snow and cool temperatures this spring, I haven’t been able to get all the hikes in this year. I usually hike Table Rock annually as a warm up and decided this was the year my kids should go with me. Because Justine is suffering from a sprained ankle (ya, right) I left her home to babysit Susan (who had surgery) and the two little kids.
They boys were eager to go but I basically tricked/forced Kassidy into going. We left at the early morning time of 4:30am. No small task I tell you! I, myself, got up at 4am and got our gear ready. The kids slumbered their way into the car and went back to sleep immediately, barley knowing what was going on. They slept all the way until we reached the trailhead at 6am, just as it was getting light. 
A couple around my age started hiking before us. The wife was talkative, while he was more concerned with getting a good picture of his stop watch. My wheels began to spin and that’s when I schemed up my next goal – yep…. speed. How fast can I climb Table Rock? The wife said he was trying to beat his fastest time of 100 minutes. So, you know what my plans are for next summer…I have to beat his time, I can do it!!
Later on in the day, when we were 3/4th of the way to the top, the couple stopped and talked to us again as they were heading back down. This time he was very talkative. He made it in 97 minutes and she made it in just less than 2 hours. I quizzed him some and he only ran on the flatter parts of the mountain, but he did climb without any breaks. That’s a pretty good time!
Later on in the day, when we were 3/4th of the way to the top, the couple stopped and talked to us again as they were heading back down. This time he was very talkative. He made it in 97 minutes and she made it in just less than 2 hours. I quizzed him some and he only ran on the flatter parts of the mountain, but he did climb without any breaks. That’s a pretty good time!
That day we began our hike up the trail, happy and eager. Of course being the merciful father that I am, I decided to take the more direct trail – THE FACE. The Face is steep, and then a little steeper, and then it gets real steep. And that’s just the first 2 miles. It wasn’t soon before I looked back and saw their excitement had quickly diminished to tears, with a little “I don’t want to do this” and “Can we go back?”
Those tears ran until we got to the top of the ridge where one can see the final destination of the painful, miserable (for the unconditioned) climb to Table Rock.I consider myself a good motivational father… I had to throw rocks near them to scare them into thinking bears or moose where close by. When they asked if we could go back or stop, I ignored them or said “I can’t hear you”.
The weather was good. 40 degrees at 6am and by the time we got to the top at 10:30am it was in the upper 70’s. There were a few mosquitoes and horse flies but as long as you kept moving it wasn’t a problem.
Once we got to the ridge and could see Table Rock, we had a quick break with jerky and Gatorade. Then it was a good walk before the final ascent to the top which is very steep.Your legs burn with every step and you can only take about 20 steps before you have to stop and rest.
When we made it to the top, everyone was happy and tired.
We sat down and had a snack before the other crowds came. Then we took pictures and enjoyed the views of the surroundings. I pointed out other places I have climbed and future climbs I want to take with my kids.We started back down and played in the snow as we descended. 
We went back down the Face and moved at a faster pace than going up. This time there were no tears, only one blister, some sun burns, and some sore shoulders from the backpacks. The only tears this time was from seeing the car and knowing it’s all coming to an end.
Nothing like a square ice cream cone in Swan Valley and some sleeping kids to end a great day at Table Rock.
