DAY 53 Heading to Lake city (The knife edge)

5thJune

The alarm went off I silenced it as I am not getting up yet. I think there were 4 other hikers at the lake last night. I hadn’t 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 on a brew ,the people who sent me a resupply / care package. Included some tea and 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 is getting on, miles to crush as it seemed fairly warm I packed my puffy .
First I need to get back in the trail and its a scramble up the side of a waterfall to rejoin .
Okay lets go, as I climbed higher I said goodbye to the pond and my sleeping spot.

The first part was nice , undulating so no real stress yet!! As I continued a small heard of elk ran in front of me. Sorry still no footage….
Okay now its time to climb and it wasn’t long until 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 began and put out a foot, all the rocks were loose and a huge boulder gave way and went hurtling into the valley below.
I’m really Not sure, In fact I was bricking it.
I tried again and another loose rock rolled down.
Nope, I really do not like this so walked back to where the trout lake alternate route starts .This trail wasn’t exactly fantastic either, in fact it looked as sketchy as F*ck
I walked back over to the knife and looked again. Nope dam too scary for me.
I sat down on a rock and began to ponder or rather procrastinate for a very long time.
I put on my spikes, removed my ice axe from my pack and stowed one of poles, I collapsed the other to what i thought was a useful length .
Okay Snailtrainer just do not die !!, I hoisted up my pack then wound the ice axe lease tightly around my wrist. Okay snail 🐌
I walked back up to the knifes edge, I am sure that you could hear the sound of my heartbeat echoing around the valley.
I approached the Knife edge again but stepped lower onto the ice .
I was as scared as F*ck I jammed my axe into the ice and then reached out with a foot. My pole was a nuisance but I can not sort yet.
I kicked in with 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 before swinging my axe to make another hand hold… Gripped it then kicked in with my other foot.
I was soon across the first ice chute, my heart was racing and sweat was pouring down my face one down.
I stood on a small part of trail to enable me to get my breath back before moving onto number TWO.
To be fair it wasn’t as bad as the first ..Thank god and so I was able to cross this one more quickly.
Phew two down ..Onto the next and the next.
I have too say that the mud is far more slippery than the snow.
Once across the trail was littered with those scratchy shrubs, that rip at your legs and I hike in shorts .arrrrrhhhh.
I looked ahead, there were about 6 more of these ice chutes to cross then I’m done .
Whoop whoop and relax , I am done and exhausted , think it was just a big adrenalin RUSH !!
Now where is that bloody trail?
Got-yer. I crossed a 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 before noticing 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 mean sped off.
He was one of the hikers at the Lake last night
Oh there one other behind me Snail he said as he hiked on.
Once I was at the top I could see which way he went and the other hiker heading towards me.
I sat here for a few minutes taking in the view before beginning my descent.
It wasn’t long until the other hiker caught and passed me, But a little way up he called to advise me of a turn that he had missed.
I continued climbing ,once up it was town but the trail meandered in a lazy way.
I heard voices behind, it was the other two hikers who had stayed at the lake.
We chatted for a few minutes 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 so chugged on and up until i found a suitable spot and dropped my pack. I took off my shoes and socks before covering my left foot in ice as it was feeling tender today. I then ate a few snacks and relaxed for 15 minutes.
Okay more to climb and they were steep. Once up I could see the trail snake up the next mountain and disappear into a snow overhang. Mmm that also looks scary..

I set off up the path and eventually reached the snow overhang I could see footprints climbing up and through the snow so followed on up , once up I could see several cairns directing me.
The trail then disappeared over the edge and so I set off after it.
OMG it was down a very long way down the trail snaking down and through so may of the scratchy shrubs. BASTARD things! I think I was travelling down for 40 mins before I headed into a forest, there were a few tree jumps but nothing scary.
As I marched on I began to hear the sound of water rushing, but couldn’t see it until i emerged out of the forest .I began to follow it down the hillside, until the trail crossed it . Once across I decided to take a break and grab water . I was so warm resting that I needed to put up my umbrella.
I used my magic pen, guzzled down a litre before flavouring the other bottle and pouring into my bladder. I checked my mileage . Omg that’s crap….Oh well.
I needed some inspiration and motivation so stuck in my earbuds .Okay snail , I cranked up the music, grabbed my poles , I really wanted 6 more miles but would settle for 4 .
I stomped down the trail, jumping logs and crossing muddy bogs I was on a mission I pushed and pushed but to be honest there wasn’t much more in the tank.
I did as much as I could but at 4pm I was done so when i spotted a suitable spot i threw up my tent.
I went to the pond and grabbed water, On the way back Kid arrived, We chatted a while he bailed from he knife edge as too dam scary but hopes to be in town Thursday .
The Aussies and his girly are behind and I think are struggling.
I got my kitchen together and fired up my stove. Tea first then couscous with bacon bits and a cheese wedge