29th May Thursday
Well I was serenaded to sleep by the. Bull frogs. So slept well . I normally just sleep in my pants but put on a thermal top as it was cold. I woke in the night and could of done with another layer. .Woke at the normal time and peered through my tent . John had packed and was ready to leave.and Tentstick was up and packing. I made tea then ran out of gas…not good!!!!!

..I left at 7 am my normal time i said a loud goodbye to Spidy as he was still in his tent. Brrr it was cold my tent even had ice on it….Off I marched feet felt okay, sore but okay.i hadn’t gone more than a mile when it was shoes off..for my first river crossing. Bloody freezing that certainly wakes you up.i dried of my feet then set off I was very apprehensive of the task in front of me SNOW!!.The trail wound on in its usual way more marmots scrambled about in front of me.some just stood and stared..I was zipping along quite quickly staring at the snow covered mountain that was looming before me  I can see snow a lot of snow.then my first crossing . The idea is to cross early in the morning as the top sets like cement. So you can walk on it otherwise you posthole. .I was a little nervous but it all seemed good . gradually I got more confident and better speed. It’s funny in the desert there were 20 mile stretches with out water here there is water everywhere. Streams flowing from the snow melt that meet other streams. .The snow has finished for a moment  and instead run more streams..

I’m fascinated by a waterfall so walk nearer for  a closer look.just so pretty. But I need to press on and more snow to cross. As I am crossing a huge snow belt you can hear the water rushing beneath your feet it makes me a little anxious. But I press on, to my left and right are huge lakes bit cold  for a dip. I stop and look back omg the views are stunning, amazing wow.i stare for a few minutes but I need to walk.The mountain face is looming larger .Another OMG moment. I have to climb that! !! I noticed another hiker high up I wave  .

I am now at the. Bottom I can see a path halfway up but I can’t see now you get to it so I decide to go straight up but it’s not easy.crossing level snow was quite straightforward. I don’t have crampons or my axe. I kick my boots into the snow and slowly climb I’m on rocks that’s better. I scramble up to the next snow challenge. This is quite scary actually very scary. I inch my way up looking at the other footprints around me to see what they did. Okay I kick in and climb again then follow in someone’s footprints this mountain is over a 1000 feet and I feel it …At last the path..I begin to gingerly crawl up it It’s fine for most of the trail But now and then the snow has crossed it so you need to cross the snow and it’s high very high .You make sure every foot you plant holds before moving the other foot. Higher and higher I now climb.Then my mind wanders  and i think about the amazing people who have made this path as it’s no easy feat..Okay I’m almost at the top Very big Omg moment the views from up here.i can’t help but stare..!!!!!!!

The next corner scares me I need to climb that!.The wind has blown the snow over the ledge that I need to cross it’s looks treacherous. But others before me have made it.I am very nervous as I inch my way across 1 foot at a time. Phew but then on the next corner I have to climb up  a wall of snow. Again others have gone before me I can do this.I am up yeah yeah made it . Everyone the views are breathtaking and 360°  I sit for a while get my breath back and enjoy the moment. Now down. ..but it’s just a sea of snow. You definitely need your sunglasses. In the distance I see another hiker. I thought it may be Tentstick. I thought I could easily walk across this snow. ….Wrong! ! As it’s the other side of the mountain the sun has melted it so it’s not hard .I tried walking in others footsteps but it was difficult I had to walk slowly or I may slide off of the mountain.It was a very long traverse i tried to speed up and then almost slid off the mountain twice by walking to fast.this scared me and slowed me down. .

This whole bit was treacherous. Now I understand why you need to cross early in the morning. I was moving okay and was gaining on the other hiker eventually I caught up and it was Robin She was experiencing altitude sickness poor girl but was feeling better as we slowly descended. The snow seemed much firmer now so I speed up leaving Robin to slowly make it down at her own pace.I was making good progress when suddenly i postholed and was stuck I couldn’t free my leg and I had sunk up to my pack. I began to panic a bit this was really scary. I pulled and pulled it was solid. I managed to shake my pack off then began to dig with my hiking pole .I was getting a little frantic. Calm down I said to myself then it moved I dug a little more at last my leg was free. This really scared me so now I continued on a little more cautiously. Then the trail reappeared and so did my confidence and I was away at a fairly good pace I was heading for Kearssrge Pass.

That was my goal but I doubt if. I will make it.
The trail spiralled down and into more snow. This bit again was fairly scary. I gingerly made my way down the slope
After this it was more fields of snow but with lots of potholing. I followed other tracks but decided to  run so that I didn’t sink. .then there was that scary sound of watery gushing beneath your feet. I eventually  came to some almost vertical drops. I noticed a groove in the snow and guessed others has glisaded down .I tried omg it’s fantastic. Sliding down a snowy mountain on the back of your pack .Once at the bottom I seemed to of lost my way.but we were in a valley the trail has to go that way I walked on well stumbling through the snow falling over and post-holing often. I eventually found the trail and set off most was still in snow and large melt streams so my feet were soaked. The sun was hot and so at s dry spot I took of my pack and rested. I took off my soggy boots and rinsed our the water then washed my socks. The sun was lovely. I then tried to squeeze as much water from my boots.i put on dry socks put on my boots and marched on. Soon I heard voices behind me it was Twig and Leaddog. I let them pass then followed on. We were soon in a nice warm forest. They stopped for a break and I joined them it was so lovely just sitting in the sun. But I needed to do more miles so off I went   just past the forest all the ice melts had joined into a crystal clear river. The river followed the trail and soon it turned into a raging monster. We followed each other occasionally I would stop and watch it.i find it quite hypnotic and soothing .but so powerful.i walked on admiring the scenery it just continuously changes.
It was 2 pm past lunch and my tummy needed food so I found a huge rock to sit on.changed my socks over again and eat lunch in the sun.Time go walk , the trail meandered through more forest where  another hiker appeared we walked together for a while then the trail headed up. See you up the trail I shouted. God this bit is steep was steep it was a series of switchbacks. I looked up surely I’m not going up there! !.Oh yes I am I’m 3/4 up when. I hear Twig shout abuse at me 🙂
It wasn’t long before Twig and  Leaddog caught me we walked together. But we were all beat Forester had exhausted l of us.They made camp but I needed more miles . as I was heading to Kersarge Pass. .Off I went then came to beautiful lake called Bull frog  lake I walked on I need  campsite. I did another hr then spotted John & Karmia. Can I join you?
I quickly put up my tent. Then Yogied gas off of them to make hot chocolate and cook .I was exhausted so said polite good nights and got straight into my tent I guessed being by the lake it was going to be cold