DAY 60 Leaving Lake City

12th JuneMy alarm sounded I snoozed it and again and again.

Okay get up.

I left my tent and grabbed a towel from reception.

Visited the loo then jumped into the shower.Oh that’s is just so good.

Once dried I walked back to reception dropped my towel in the basket and grabbed my food bags, and returned to my tent.

I slowly packed up,When almost done I grabbed my last fruit jelly from the fridge. Woofed that down then grabbed my pack and carried it to the gazebo.

I must admit I thought it woukd be heavier but no it seemed okay but yes it is heavy

I dropped it by one of the tables and then took my bladder to the sink to rinse out 1 more time and refill with fresh water. I then put two lemon packets. .to be on the safe side i also filled up 1bottle 3/4 ,full.

Okay it’s still early so I sat on one of the benches and chilled as I topped up my phone. I think I’m out of data until next week. But that should be okay.

There were three of us heading out. Myself Jared and Gourmet .

One of the Staff* has agreed to shuttle us back to the trail head

It seemed longer to get there than it did for me to arrive..

Soon we were here.i put a $20 in the drivers hand and removed my pack

Okay it’s slmost 10am I will be quite happy with 10 miles today.

I hoisted up my pack crossed the road and I’m back on trail

Of course its a climb first just a little one 13,000 feet. Not sure of the actual gain

But the trail is good and uncluttered but its high and my lungs can’t cope but the climb is not so steep . As I’m stopping for air gourmet passes me and is gone. Bastard lol(youngster)

I push on one foot at a time stopping now and then to gasp for air. But I’m at the top within an hour which i’m fairly pleased with .

The last bit is a bit of a scramble but I have made it.

For the next hour it’s crossing wide open planes with the odd roller coaster. But it mainly flat meaning I can gain valuable miles. Up ahead Jared has stopped.

LOOKS like rain snail.

So he is bagging everything up just in case.

The skies are fairly dark but its still warm,the next part is another climb and then you cross the face of the mountain.

I had just climbed the first bit when the weather began to turn. I quickly climbed over the saddle and hid behind a rock for shelter.

I quickly shoved my puffy deep inside my pack and removed my rain jacket at the same time. Then got out my packs rain jacket and covered my pack.

Just in time… as from nowhere a snow blizzard appeared. I grabbed my umbrella and hunkered down behind my pack.

It lasted about 5 minutes then it was hail then it rained for 10 minutes. At last the sun came out and I resumed the trail.

I was amazed to see Jared way out in front. He must of carried on in that weather. Well I am Impressed

I set off after him but he was a good mile ahead and we were climbing.

The climb once again was long but not steep and I kept him.in sight. I tracked him for several hours untill I decided to take a break. I was roasting so was pleased to take off my rain jacket and a layer. Phew that’s better.

I took 20 minutes. I checked my app there’s water in 2.5 miles and it says camp spots

That will give me 11 miles perfect.

I pushed on and entered s lovely cool forest ,there were the customery blowdowns but not excessive.The trail meandered through the forest then exited onto the side of another mountain. I thought the trail was going to run around the side of the mountain until I noticed switchbacks below me

I continued down almost falling due to the slippery gravel. Luckily a tree saved me. I continued down crossing several small streams. When I crossed a much larger one I knew that I was close so stopped and grabbed water.

The next section was up and steep but the app said loads of camp spots…… I began to wonder where? Until I exited out of the forest. Yes yes perfect. I began to survey the area. Yes this will do.

I dropped my pack then noticed another hiker to my right.. it was Jared