DAY 53 Heading to Lake city (The knife edge)

5thJune

The alarm went off I silenced it.as I am not getting up yet.

Think there were 4 other hikers at the lake last night

I hadnt heard them leave but I presumed they had.

At 6.30 I let the air out of my mattress and slowly got up.and began packing up.

I put ona brew.the people who sent me a resupply / care package. Included some tea.

It’s is oh so delicious its by

Bigelow and is called constant gourmet and its tea with orange and spices. So quenching and tasty.

Okay time us getting on miles to crush. It was fairly warm so I packed my puffy .

First to get back in the trail so a scramble up the side to rejoin.

Okay lets go. As I climbed higher I said goodbye to the pond and ny sleeping spot.

The first part was nice undulating so no real stress yet!!

As I continued a small heard of elk ran infront of me.sorry still no footage….

Okay now time to climb. And then I was facing the knifes edge.

I was going to bail on the alternate to Trout Lake if I wasn’t happy.

I walked the few yards to where it beg and put out a foot all the rocks were loose and a huge boulder gave way and went hurtling into the vally below.

Not sure . In fact I was bricking it.

I tried again and another loose rock rolled down.

Nope i do not like this. I walked back to where the trout lake.

The trail wasnt exactly fantastic either.

I went back over to the knife and looked again . Nope dam too scary for me.

I sat down on a rock and began to ponder.

Then i put on my spikes. And removed my ice axe .

I stowed 1 tracking pole but collapsed the other.

I then put on my pack,before winding my iceaxe lease tightly around my wrist.

Okay snail 🐌

I walked back up to the knifes edge.you could hear the sound of my heartbeat in the valley.

This time I stepped lower . Bloody scary I jammed my axe into the ice and then reached out with a foot. My other pole was a nuscience. But I couldn’t sort yet.

I kicked on either my other foot it seemed to hold . I then hacked a handhold in the ice . (Probably not the best way to cross) but it worked for me .I kicked in another foot hold. Swung my axe to make another hand hold. Gripped it.then another foot.

I was soon across the first ice Chute. My heart was racing and sweat was pouring down my face.i stood on the small part of trail,to enable me to get my breath back before moving onto number 2.

To be fair it wasn’t as bad..Thank god and do I was quickly across that then the next and the next.

I have too say thst the mud is far slippery than the snow.

Once across I was on trail but the trail was littered with those scratchy shrubs. That just scratch your legs abd I hike in shorts .arrrrrhhhh.

Oh about 6 more ice chutes then I’m done .

Now where is that bloody trail?

Gotyer. I crossed Meadow then began to climb .there was still snow and trying to spot the trail was taxing. So I headed straight up and there it was.

At the next big rock I took a break.then noticed another hiker far below. I signalled to him where the trail was but he kept on his course and amazingly

He intercepted the trail.

Now why can’t I do that

His name was kaleidoscope .spooky. and he was heading into Silverton. I told him I was going straight to Lake city

He sped off and I men sped off.

He was one of the hikers at the

Lake last night

Oh 1 other behind me Snail.

Once I was at the top. I could see which way he went and the other hiker on his way to me.

I sat here for a few minutes then began my descent.

I t wasn’t long until he caught me.

But a little way up he called to advise me of a turn that he had missed.

I continued climbing but again once ip it was a meandered down.

I then heard voices behind, it was the other two hikers who had stayed at the lake.

We chatted a while then they were gone.

I chugged on eventually catching one who had stooped to refuel

Good plan I said. I will take mine when I finish this climb

I chugged un several more layers

Until I dropped my pack. I took off my shoes and socks.then poured ice over my left foot as it was feeling tender today.

I ate a few snacks and relaxed for 15 minutes.

Okay more to climb .the climb was steep. But then thst avoided the snow banks.

Once up i could see the trail snake up the side of the mountain and disappear into a snow overhang. Mmm thst also looks scary..

I set offup the path and eventually reached the snow overhang. Here I could see footprints. Climbing up and through the snow.once up I could see several cairns direction me

The trail then disappeared over the edge. I set off after it.

And it was down a very long way down. The trail snaked down and trough so may of the scratchy shrubs. BASTARD things!

I think I was travelling down for 40 mins +

The trail thenvented the forest. A few tree jumps but nothing scary.

I could now hear he sound of water rushing down the hillside

When i imerged from the forest I could see it.

I followed it down the hillside,until the trail crossed. I decided to take a break.I dropped my pack and went and grabbed two litres

I was so warm sat there I put up my umbrella

I used my magic pen then guzzled down 1 litre before flavouring the other bottle and adding to my bladder.

I checked my milage . Omg that’s crap….Oh well.

I think we need some inspiration and motivation.

I got our my headphones. Okay snail .