DAY 54 Heading to Lake city Day 4

June 6th

The early alarm went off I silenced it as it was still too cold. 5 am got snoozed and snoozed again before I pulled the plug to my mattress. I emerged quickly stripped down. Woofed instant oats washed down with tea.
Okay snail let’s go , to be fair the first two miles of trail was very easy , maybe I should have gone on. But nah. I was happy where I was, I passed several lakes and crossed several snow banks. As i hiked a dozy partridge blocked my path so followed this bird for a few minutes trying not to step on him.
I heard another but struggled to see it, oh it was white and neatly camouflaged. This stupid bird just ran in front of me .
I pushed on after about an hour i dropped down to another lake and just getting ready to leave was “Hotsauce and Arron 1/2 of the Aussies. In the distance climbing was his partner Ollie.

I set-off after them but they seem to have an amazing pace, plus I keep stopping to take video and photos. It was a massive climb once up the views were amazing in all directions . I expected to head straight down but no, it was a false summit so more climbing until it seemed that i was standing on top of the world .wow.

Then it was down, thankfully there were switchbacks but still took a while to reach the meadow far below but then once across that it was another climb, again with amazing views.
I took a break and guzzled some water before noticing a deer watching me . He watched me for a while then disappeared.
I finished my break and my climb, I appeared to be heading down but the trail was surrounded by this bloody scratchy bush that whips your legs. It actually fucks me right off and there corridors of the bloody stuff. arrrrrrhhhh.
I eventually emerged onto a wide open field with huge pockets of water I walked straight across and up the opposite side . The trail boys had been busy and had cut the “DEVIL Bush back hurrah hurrah.
The trail dropped into a wood sadly most of tress were dead due to the beetle but it was still nice and cool as I wandered through, It was about an hour before I emerged out into another meadow.
There was a fast flowing stream in front and so I dropped my pack and began to grab water . It was great tasting and cold so i quickly guzzled it down before refilling. I had just sat down when another hiker appeared he was from Hawaii and called Mudbath.
He had done the PCT and all the other longish trails.. then his hiking partner appeared. (Sonic) We chatted a while as we enjoyed our break.
OK time to go I had just slung on my pack when I felt raindrops and then the temperature quickly dropped, better get going. The two were in front appeared fast and were soon pulling away
For the next two hours the trail headed down perfect for me, I followed the river as it made its way down the mountain passing several mighty long jams.

Again the trees die, fall down, slide into the river , where the it takes them down stream like matches and……
I crossed through another meadow then back into another forest, the trail snaked through it but omg there were so many blowdowns to navigate over or around . I was fairly happy as i pushed on until at 3.30 i decided to take another break.. But I struggled to get going again dam and now the trail decides to climb again and sharply . I had nothing so I plodded and panted as I slowly made my way up 4pm I could stop!@! Maybe !
No come on snail I climbed and climbed puffing and panting, I should grab water but didn’t want to climb with it.
Okay there is a lake in 3 miles that will do me. But when you have had enough and tired and still climbing 3 miles is a bloody long way. It was no use I needed help so out came the ear buds. Come on snail we have got this.
I crossed several streams and hesitated at each one. No come on there will be water in the lake lol. Over this hill maybe no, Come on..
At last the lake. It’s amazing on reaching camp really lifts me.
I scouted out a spot and soon had my tent up. Then too the lake to grab water.
Would you believe it scratchy bush was all around it ,but I succeeded.