DAY 51 Heading yo Lake city day 2 ( I love climbing)

June 3rd 2022

I slept really well and was up  by 5.30 and ready to go, just drinking my tea.
But then decided to track myself on my watch after many minutes I gave up and used my phone so all the faffing wasted almost an hour.
Once on trail it imeaditly began to climb so I was pleased that I stopped when I did.
I spent the whole morning climbing  with a few blow downs  just for fun,  eventually I was up and as usual, Wow what amazing views all around.
Then it was time to going down,  I exited by a great lake but was soon back to climbing ,at last it evened out and it was a nice trail again.
I came to another great lake, here were several signposts but they were so weathered you were  unable to read them. 

I checked my app I was on the correct path, as I walked around the lake  the trail became very badly over grown with these bushes that scratch you and I had to force my way through oh and i hike in shorts !
Once through the trail began to climb again, I think its going to be like this all day  haha.. Once  up the next climb i was greeted with more amazing  views. I began to head through several meadows  following the cairns before it dropped down and followed the contours of the mountains. I like this section of trail but the path was littered with rocks so I was unable to go too fast.

It was approaching lunch so as soon as a suitable spot appeared i stopped i sat in the and took of my shoes and socks and relaxed. I ate an apple that I had brought out from town. I checked my mileage  I had completed 8 miles that’s good I thought I should be able to do similar this afternoon maybe. ?
Lunch over I set off but this section of trail was littered with blowdowns, F*ck I said maybe I won’t be able to do another 8 miles !
Luckily the trail soon became clear as I exited into wide open  area with a faint line running off in the  distance. That’s my trail, there is another trail called the  Crede cut-off  I thought it would be better marked as I missed it completely, luckily I wasn’t taking  that route 

At the next melt stream I topped up my water as it was a fair way until the next.  Typically I was now climbing again and it was straight up and steep.  Phew, I was puffing and panting. Okay 4.5 miles to next water, that would give me approximately 13 miles today

Once at the top I set of following the trail 4.5 miles ,I can do that as its still so early, the trail meandered over  several small hills. Nothing scary nothing to worry me until. OMG NO NO .why !!
The trail then headed up a massive mountain, followed the trail as it switch backed left and right climbing higher and higher.  I can’t do that I said to myself, but I knew I had to. It looked high very high and snow topped it. I chugged on having to stop every 10 minutes to get my breath. But the top still looked out of reach. I kept climbing but the top appeared to stay where  it  was. The higher I got the more uncomfortable I got. Maybe I am too cautious but I do not really like this type of climb. The trail bed was fairly narrow and not that secure, at last I was getting there. High above me sat huge blocks of snow waiting for an avalanche. Don’t know why I’m thinking this. 
Two switch backs to go, I am up phew. I sat straight down on a rock leaving my pack on.
Wow such amazing views as I could see all around, especially the line of the trail far below me.. 
Okay down.  Thank god.
The gradient wasn’t too steep heading down although it was very narrow in places, so slow is safe and safe is slow. 
At last I was able to speed up a bit but then instead of descending I began to climb following more cairns . Okay I need water and I would like to camp  …maybe.!
I came to several signs, but again they were so weathered that I could not read them, I choose the  left option, walked a yard then rechecked my app. Whoop yes I am  on trail , okay next water I  see I will grab. I could see for miles below me hopefully I will shortly find a tent spot ,as i continued around the edge of the mountain I will grab water soon.
At last water ,I dropped my pack and took a bottle as the water appeared clean and Ice cold I chugged half a bottle before flavouring the rest
Omg my pack weighed a ton, I checked my app, and  looked at the comments..to weigh up my options. 

Okay 1 guy says excellent  water  and camping after the alternate . I headed  down the trail  lugging extra water,. Just in case..
I quickly found a spot and soon had my tent up. 

As i began to cook dinner , the wind arrived , hopefully it will die down !
I cooked a ‘Breakfast skillet’ for dinner a freeze dried meal, that was very tasty.
Okay teas brewing.
That’s it  NIGHT 

Mileage  14.9  almost  15

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