4th Aug
Well what a night I just couldn’t sleep as it was like Piccadilly circus outside my tent with deer. Not sure if it was the same two going round and round or a deer party. But I counted down the hours ill be getting up soon grrrrr
Bing bing bing it was 5 am right im getting up ..I put on my stove and made tea as I packed up and I was on the trail by six.yeah come on snailtrainer lets do some miles.i bounded off down the trail as I knew I would have a fair bit of climbing to do
The sun was trying to rise but due to all the smoke from the forest fires it was a eerie light.. I made my way through a burn area,the next climb was awful because the rain had washed away the trail due to the burn killing the vegetation that holds the trail together. The tread was awful, littered with rubbish, stones, bark, sticks and with many fallen trees progress was slow and torturous.
Bloody hell I kept saying as I stumbled time and time again. It was so frustrating aaaaaahhhh.
Soon I was high enough to see across the valleys, still smoky and hazy but you could at least see the mountains which were amazing .
I marched on until i reached a lake and filled up with water there was one tent at the other end of the lake but I couldn’t recognise the owner
After breakfast I tried to speed up as I had lost so much time on the climbs.
But the trail was still heading up but at least I had a nice gentle breeze I passed several weekend hikers and then I came to the trail closures but they were not very clear well lit would be nice to have you are here . as its quite difficult trying to match my map with theirs. But I was sure I had it right so set off. several hours later I saw a familiar face just about ready to hit the trail.It was Foxxy he doesn’t normally rise till lunch time but then hikes into the night.we hiked together for several hours before I stopped for lunch.
May see you at Timber Line Lodge I called
After lunch I pushed on but the miles were just not falling today bugger.
I then came to a raging creek It was bloody scary.i walked up and down for several minutes trying to find a safe place to cross. This is glacier water and is milky white so you can’t see the bottom so you don’t know how deep.okay snail I took out my phone and put it in its water proof bag .Then off with my shoes and socks.
Right i am ready I gingerly stepped into the raging water it was bloody freezing and fast the force almost taking my feet away. I really don’t like this I slowly moved one foot along testing the depth with my poles .At last I was across. I sat on rocks letting the sun dry my feet and letting mmy heart slow down lol.
Tip
When crossing ranging rivers streams , always cross below rocks and boulders, This way you cant get pinned against the Rocks
Right lets go as there was still a lot of UP to go and now the mossies appeared but In force .I had deet on but then I had just waded through a river so its probably washed off.
I had to stop and reapply before I was eaten ..After that I took more photos of these fantastic mountains. But it was now 6.i hadn’t done the mileage I wanted ill go to seven pm but after another hour of climbing I called it a day. Bloody hell as I tried to put up.my tent I was mobbed by mossies. Bug net on .looks like im cooking in.my tent.Not very safe but the only way
Tea made now hot chocolate then zzzzz
snailtrainers Adventures 