Table Rock with Friends

Whenever I was with friends and the subject of my trail running would come up, a handful of people would always say they wanted to hike Table Rock.  I had already done it with Ryan on June 30^th (at which point Ryan had said he would only want to do it every few years because going down that steep face is a bit miserable).  But I didn’t really get to see the view that time.  And there was a lot of snow too making it harder.  Plus, I like doing active things with my friends.  So I decided to set a date and make it happen.  I got the schedules of a few of my friends figured out and we decided on Tuesday, August 14^th.  We decided on a Tuesday because we don’t want to use a Saturday that we could be spending with family.  Everyone that needed a babysitter got one and we planned to go.  Brooke Coon couldn’t go because it was her son’s birthday.  Bummer!  Sherri dropped out because her shoes caused some major problems in her ankles and lower legs and she needed to give them time to heal before the Mesa Falls Marathon we were doing.  Jen really wanted to go but her daughter Averi was trying out for volleyball and we could not find anyone that could take her to tryouts and bring her home.  So Jen stayed behind to be a good mom.  When I set that date I didn’t realize that ALL the school stuff was starting up that week.  Tryouts and practices for all the sports, school registration for middle school and high school, etc, etc.  So there were a few others that chose not to go because they felt like there was too much to do.  But we had a group of 8 of us that were ready!

Sarah Hill, Gina Pawleczyk, Shayla Andersen, me, Erin Elzinga, Kehau Molifua, Tiffany Stoddard, Kariesa Lamph

 After only a few minutes of hiking, Tiffany and Shayla started hanging back and taking more breaks.  Gina stayed with them.  And the other five of us got ahead of them.  We took some breaks to take pictures and enjoy the scenery.  I hoped they would catch up then but they didn't.  When we got to the fork, splitting huckelberry and face trail, we called them to see where they were at.  Tiffany was struggling, thinking of turning back.  We encouraged them and told them we would wait for a bit at the top, but it's really cold up there!  Not to mention we had families back home that wanted us back before dinner time.  That was my biggest concern.  Ryan and Kylee were holding down the fort and I didn't want to be gone much longer than I had planned.

We made it to the top, first group of the morning.  The view was much different than the first time I went!!  It was awesome!!  We had some snacks, then tried to stay warm while we waited a little while.  There were a few people we could see on their way up.  So as soon as another couple came up, we asked them to snap a few pictures for us.  And of course we took plenty of us by ourselves too.

These pictures give you a little glimpse of why my day was so fun.  As we started heading back down, Sarah called Gina again.  Gina had left Shayla and Tiffany together and was really close to the top.  Sarah decided to wait with her and climb to the top again with her.  Later we found out they had talked to Tiffany and Shayla and decided to leave them so they could make it to the top and they had talked to their husband's who were going to drive up to pick them up.  Those girls are tough!  That's a long day!  And what supportive husbands.  These other three goofballs and I headed back down huckleberry.

 Huckelberry was beautiful!  But it was LONG!  I decided I preferred the faster, steeper Face, even if it's hard on the knees and the quads.  This hike took us 5-6 hours, which is much longer than I'm used to spending on hikes.  I usually run some of it or most of it, and I would have ran down more but Kehau hadn't really prepared for a run.  She was carrying a much bigger pack, and she just doesn't love running (she's darn athletic in everything else, and she CAN run, she just doesn't love it.)  So we walked and we laughed until my cheeks hurt.  Then my feet started to hurt.  Then I started feeling the low blood sugar and I thought I should've packed more than just a granola bar and 20 oz of water...  But I had packed a fruit strip so that got me through to the end and I eagerly took off my shoes and dipped my feet in this ice cold stream.

Shayla and Tiffany did make it to the top.  And the Tetons were more clear when they were there.  And they made it back down eventually too.  It was a really fun trip!  I hope to repeat it next year.