Home»All Photographs»2021 Hikes»Table Mountain 08-22-21

Table Mountain was a landmark summit for me - it was my 300th unique summit in the mountains. I have been keeping a list of my summits at home, and for a few months, I was quite looking forward to reaching number 300. It took me fifteen summers of scrambling to amass this number.
Table Mountain itself was a really enjoyable ascent, with much variation along the way. David and I first reached the dramatic precipice along the summit ridge, then continued along the scenic route to the true summit. After some celebratory photos, we retreated out of the wind into a larch thicket for lunch.
We had initially planned a long traverse over to Whistler Mountain, but the weather was deteriorating (see video) and we decided to descend the way we came instead. It turned out to be a blessing.
On the way down, I thought I recognized some hikers coming up - sure enough it was Bob Spirko with his partner Dinah and their friends! To avid hikers and scramblers in Alberta, Bob Spirko is an icon. Countless ascents of peaks and hiking routes in the local area are organized on his well-known website. I have been using this resource for years to pick my own objectives, and the information has been very useful. I was really quite elated to meet Bob, shake his hand, and thank him for the inspiration that has led me to so many enjoyable outings of my own.
Back at camp, David and I relaxed and enjoyed a nice lamb BBQ for supper.
Once home in Calgary, Megan and I celebrated my 300th summit with a $300 bottle of wine, a tradition that has marked every 100 summits with a bottle of corresponding value - a fine excuse to try wines I would normally never justify!