3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Birkenfeld 4-22-2012

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Jack
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3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Birkenfeld 4-22-2012

Post by Jack » April 24th, 2012, 3:46 pm

With a summerlike forecast, we jumped at the chance to soak up some rays on an extended hike. Knowing the snow would still be bordering down to 3,000’, through the many helpful PH trip reports on conditions, we chose to remain below 3600’ without snowshoes.

We started at Bonneville Hot Springs and made our way up Heartbreak Ridge.
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Nanae, Spitfire, and Clark scooted up to the 2500’ traverse from the kiosk in 13 min. I was just happy to arrive! The Table summit viewpoint is up through the trees.
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We headed across the ridge and up the talus slope.
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We went up to the jct. and went left to go up the west ridge to the north summit viewpoint.
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Looking up at the summit overlook from down on the north ridge trail that dives off of it.
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We came to another viewpoint, which were abundant all day.
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From here the plan is to go up and over the S. Birkenfeld ridge , jump on the PCT and get over to the dark speck sticking up to the left of it - 3 Corner Rock.
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Continuing on down the north ridge.
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And tying into the drifted over and overgrown road running along the east side.
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Attachments
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Last edited by Jack on April 28th, 2012, 3:38 pm, edited 6 times in total.

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Jack
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Re: 3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Belkenfeld

Post by Jack » April 24th, 2012, 4:02 pm

With Table in our rearview mirror…
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…we made our way up S. Birkenfeld.
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To the top and over.
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The PCT is directly across on the southwest flank of Birkenfeld 1 with remnants of snow going straight across. 3CR is barely visible in the distance.
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Mt. Adams from the saddle between the Birkenfelds.
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A spring just above the PCT, which became essential, later on.
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Once under tree cover, we were on a nearly continuous snow drift.
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We got off-trail a little and bumped into a road paralleling and stopped for a bite, when we heard these machines headed towards us. Chad, Les, and Scott had lit out from Stevenson and were making a day out of it on these cool quads. First time I’ve ever seen machines like these. They were quite knowledgeable about the area and mentioned the snowshoe tracks they traced from Birkenfeld 1 to Greenleaf Mt. and off the Red Bluffs to Greenleaf Basin that was most likely the off-trail trip report Pablo posted last week. http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/vie ... 10&t=11318 Thanks for stopping, guys. Fun chatting with you!
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And their tracks helped considerably in breaking trail for us much of the way. 3CR is getting closer as it’s sticking up left of center with the antenna just left of it.
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We made the turn and it was nearly direct from here to the top. Hurray! Unfortunately, for me, this was about where I felt the affects of dehydration and nearly tanked. I had taken my electrolyte NUUN tablets out of my pack the week before, and paid for the oversight. That night my scales told me I had sweated off 12 lbs. during the hike. Argh!
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Slowing to a snails pace, which isn’t much slower than my regular pace, the others continued on and were nestled in the rocks near the top of 3 Corner.
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Last edited by Jack on April 24th, 2012, 6:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Jack
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Re: 3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Belkenfeld

Post by Jack » April 24th, 2012, 4:22 pm

Crawled to the top, snapped a few pics…
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…and we were outa there with the Birkenfelds, Table, and Mt. Hood in the foreview.
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Never recuperating from my hydration problem, when we dropped down to 3000’ and went back up the PCT to 3400’ through the snow drifts, it was a challenge. Now, all that was left was getting back over S. Belkenfeld on the left, hop back on the PCT and head for home.
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My patient hikemates filled some water bottles at the spring, Thank you!
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And we were back over the ridge.
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It was a spectacular day, and although I miscalculated my fluid/electrolyte intake to warmer temperature requirements, we covered some ground (20 miles/6000’ EG) and my hike partners were saints in handling the situation. Hike on!
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Last edited by Jack on April 24th, 2012, 6:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Don Nelsen
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Re: 3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Belkenfeld 4-22-2012

Post by Don Nelsen » April 24th, 2012, 5:32 pm

Jack and company: Wow! You get a Loony point for that one! Excellent report and pics, too. I think it's called Birkenfeld, though, after Wilhelm Birkenfeld who owned the mill at Carson early in the last century.

You said the other hikers "scooted up to the 2500’ traverse in 13 min" - do you mean they got from the PCT up the Heartbreak Ridge section in just 13 minutes? If so, wow, that is some serious climbing!

Don
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

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Guy
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Re: 3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Birkenfeld 4-22-2012

Post by Guy » April 24th, 2012, 7:00 pm

Great Report Jack & congratulations to you & the rest of Jack's gang! That was a marathon day!
hiking log & photos.
Ad monte summa aut mors

pablo
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Re: 3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Birkenfeld 4-22-2012

Post by pablo » April 24th, 2012, 7:11 pm

Jack,

A most impressive undertaking and what a route to 3-corner Rock, and nice photos to go along with the story.

Thx a heap,

--Paul
The future's uncertain and the end is always near.

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Jack
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Re: 3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Belkenfeld 4-22-2012

Post by Jack » April 24th, 2012, 7:30 pm

Don Nelsen wrote:Jack and company: Wow! You get a Loony point for that one! Excellent report and pics, too. I think it's called Birkenfeld, though, after Wilhelm Birkenfeld who owned the mill at Carson early in the last century.

You said the other hikers "scooted up to the 2500’ traverse in 13 min" - do you mean they got from the PCT up the Heartbreak Ridge section in just 13 minutes? If so, wow, that is some serious climbing!
Thanks for the correction, Don. Don’t know where that spelling of mine evolved from. Spelling used to be my strong suit. Now it’s editing! Haha! For those reading this after the fact, I spelled it Belkenfeld.

Spitfire, Clark, and Nanae always froth at the mouth to sprint up Heartbreak from the PCT kiosk to where it levels off and heads for the saddle. Great training hill!

Thanks, too, for touching on some Gorge history. I hope you don’t mind my including a piece by you, I just found, going into a little more detail on the Birkenfelds. http://www.summitpost.org/birkenfeld-mountain/417200

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Jack
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Re: 3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Birkenfeld 4-22-2012

Post by Jack » April 24th, 2012, 7:34 pm

Thanks Guy and Pablo. Hope to run into you guys out there this summer!

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VanMarmot
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Re: 3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Birkenfeld 4-22-2012

Post by VanMarmot » April 24th, 2012, 7:36 pm

Jack - Great effort & great trip. It's on my every growing bucket list - but I'll wait until the snow melts! It was definitely a 4 quart hiking day.

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Eric Peterson
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Re: 3 Corner Rock via Table Mt. - S. Birkenfeld 4-22-2012

Post by Eric Peterson » April 24th, 2012, 7:49 pm

Wow guys!

When is the big Jack Loony and Don Loony hike going to be!! :D

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