Twin Buttes and Table Mountain hike, Mojave National Preserve: Day 12
Time for a walk up Twin Buttes and Table Mountain, both of which I've looked at for years. I doubt I'll make it to the top, due to the steepness, but who knows... 99 degrees F at Cima today, yikes. 9.8 hiking miles and about 1800 feet of elevation gain.
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Date: May 31, 2012, 09h41
Size: 46 items
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Today's hike up into the rocky Twin Buttes area starts with a walk down Woods Wash Road
It was chilly enough overnight that I slept with my long underwear on, but as soon as the hot sun hit my tent this morning it was an emergency to open the screen and take off the long undies ASAP!
Date: May 31, 2012, 09h41
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I pass the remains of an old corral fence in front of the Woods Mountains made from unhewn wood
I drank three cups of coffee with breakfast in my tent, instead of the usual two, feeling that I need the boost to stay in shape today, with temperatures forecast in the 90s. I'm carrying 4.5 litres of water.
Date: May 31, 2012, 09h55
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I leave the road and cross the Wilderness boundary to begin walking toward flat-topped Table Mountain
I'm walking slowly, to warm up, though I'm warm enough from the hot sun already. I'm headed toward that slot between the Twin Buttes and flat-topped Table Mountain.
Date: May 31, 2012, 10h04
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Shade! A big boulder with a few pinon pines around it in the canyon between Twin Buttes and Table Mountain
I want some, I'm getting hot already!
Date: May 31, 2012, 11h13
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I take five minutes under the pinon pine and behind the rock, might be the last shade I get for a while!
Date: May 31, 2012, 11h20
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As I reach a saddle between Twin Buttes North and Table Mountain, it looks like Table Mountain isn't that far away
I guess I'll keep going and see how far I get.
Date: May 31, 2012, 11h41
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Nice view back down the canyon I just climbed up between Twin Buttes North and Table Mountain
Now that I'm warming up, this uphill part of the hike feels a bit easier than the flatter part down below where I started. Maybe that's because there's a bit of breeze up here.
Date: May 31, 2012, 11h55
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Wow, I can now see across Gold Valley to the Hole-in-the-Wall area where I hiked yesterday
I love these perspectives where I can build a visual map in my head of places that I've visited, and those that I haven't yet.
Date: May 31, 2012, 12h02
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Table Mountain is getting a bit closer now; I didn't expect to come this far up
The easy route, for a while at least, seems to be to head toward my upper right, so I continue.
Date: May 31, 2012, 12h03
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Boulders frame this view over to Hackberry Mountain from the south flank of Table Mountain
Date: May 31, 2012, 12h17
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Another view around boulders on the side of Table Mountain, this time down to Woods Wash
I hiked down there a couple of days ago on the way to Tortoise Shell Mountain...
Date: May 31, 2012, 12h18
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An interesting collage of rocks and ridgetops from the flank of Table Mountain
Twin Buttes in the middle, with a few trees on it, and the Woods Mountains beyond.
Date: May 31, 2012, 12h29
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Woods Wash Road is visible in this view from the side of Table Mountain
Date: May 31, 2012, 12h36
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The views across Gold Valley are even better now!
I can even see across to the jagged Providence Mountains now.
Date: May 31, 2012, 12h36
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Hmmm... it's getting a bit steep along here....
Do I feel vertigo setting in? Crap, I hate that.
Date: May 31, 2012, 12h48
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