THE WORLD OUTDOORS

Acouple of days ago I didn’t plan to be telling you this story. We were newbie hikers facing one of the hardest climbs this state offers – Table Rock Mountain.

About a week ago my friend, Chloe Terry, her mother Suzanne Terry, and I decided to make a day trip to Table Rock State Park to hike to the top. This plan was doubly ambitious considering neither Chloe nor her mother have done much hiking. On the other hand I had hiked the mountain once.

Leading up to the hike we packed 2 ham sandwiches, 4 bottles of water, and plenty of snacks each.

It might have seemed like overkill at the time but we ate every last bit.

Early last Thursday morning, we made it to Table Rock State Park.

BEFORE WE BEGIN I had to take some pictures of the huge mountain looming 2,000 feet above us.

A couple minutes later we left the car and signed up in the trail check-in.

The trailhead also serves as the eastern terminus of the 77-mile Foothills Trail that spans South Carolina’s foothills to Oconee State Park.

The trail began paved and easy enough, following Carrick Creek and passing beside several beautiful waterfalls and cool swimming holes.

We crossed the creek and continued up the valley. The trail was no longer paved and steeper.

Over the next mile, the trail completely transforms from ascending lush, green and wet valleys to climbing switchbacks around big hardwoods and massive boulders.

Chloe and I managed to climb several of the boulders because we’re adventurous.

Soon we were high enough to see some of the surrounding mountains. After 2 hours, we reached the halfway shelter rebuilt last year after a tree crushed it during Hurricane Florence in 2017.

Exhausted, we sprawled on the benches for 15 minutes.

At the shelter, Suzanne decided she couldn’t finish the hike but didn’t want us to turn back.

Reluctantly, Chloe and I continued.

Hiking is hard work but much of it is mental. I have done many hikes, including a 15-day hike through northern Georgia. It helps to distract yourself.

ON OUR HIKE, Chloe and I listened to a lot of music, told stories, and even played memory games.

While it doesn’t necessarily make you any less tired physically, it can make you forget you’re exhausted.

After a while we made it to the ridgeline between Pinnacle and Table Rock Mountains, and the trail flattened out for about a half mile – the calm before the storm.

The next 30 minutes took us straight up the mountain climbing over rocks and trees, at one point even crawling up a rockface.

At the top, we finally made it to Governors Rock, a large outcropping on the west side of Table Rock Mountain with a fantastic view of the ridge-line.

We sat watching clouds shade the green valleys below us while taking more pictures.

On the last leg about 30 minutes later, we made it to the summit of the 6th tallest mountain in South Carolina, Table Rock Mountain, 3124 feet above sea level.

There wasn’t much of a view from the wooded summit but we took some pictures with the sign before making our way down to the overlook.

Although it took us 3 hours and 45 minutes to make it all the way to the top, we were happy we made it.

THE VIEW FROM the overlook was astonishing. The rock outcropping offered a panoramic view of the surrounding “Blue Wall” with Caesers Head, the Lower Piedmont, and even Greenville’s skyline all in the distance. The centerpiece was the vivid blue Table Rock Reservoir.

Exhausted, we laid down on the hard rock outcropping and rested before eating our last sandwiches.

We spent about an hour at the top resting, taking pictures and enjoying the view.

The 2 hour hike back seemed to fly by as we had fun telling stories.

After a 7 hour and 10 minute hike, we finally reached the bottom. We reunited with Chloe’s mom and talked about the hike.

Chloe said “The hike was a lot of work, yet very fun, and I would definitely do it again.”

Although Chloe’s mom, Suzanne, didn’t make it all the way to the top, she said she had lots of fun. She wants to build up endurance and come back in the fall to make it to the top.

Before we left, we stopped by the park store to get my state park book stamped and to get Chloe one. The bug had bitten her and she wants to see all 47 of our state parks.

Table Rock is not for the faint of heart, but its something almost anyone can do if you set you mind to it. That view is waiting on you.