JUNE 27TH 

After several late night excursions to the loo I managed  to get a good  night’s sleep and was up and ready by 6.30.
It was a cool morning but as I was in the valley and so my fly was soaking
I headed out and at once began to climb and climb and climb  in fact I spent all morning climbing until I  needed a break ..
I sat on  rock in the sun watching the mist or steam rise from the damp grass now being baked by the sun .

A hiker passed me and quickly was out of sight. I was about to resume but then needed to quickly run into the forest
I have decided that I have contracted giardia from dirty water .I have tablets and should have started taking them sooner but was hoping that  the other medicine would fix it.
I was was just about to hoist my pack when another hiker came through his name was Silver and he was 72, wow. He has hiked this trail 3 times and is now on his fourth . He told me loads of interesting and useful stuff .
He headed off , I followed still climbing . We will very climbing all day. Such fun . Silver made the climbing look so easy
I was puff puff puff stop.
At the next water stop I asked him how he made it look so simple. He gave me a few tip on walking  and on breathing. All worth trying.

He headed off again and I followed 
Eventually getting to the top of  the first summit over 12000 ft.
Silver took my photo and I took his as it was such a great view.

A bit more climbing then it’s down snail, thank goodness I said ,We’ll actually i swore lol.
So I headed out amazed at the Vistas  all around  me.

At last I was at the top and once again the views just breathtaking. 
Okay I think its down now snail.
Silver headed off  following the meandering line of the trail shortly followed by myself.
But the trail appeared to be  heading in the opposite direction . Oh F*uck I havnt finished  limbing as another large mountain appeared before me .

By now Silver was a fair way ahead . I was struggling a bit. I’m guessing  with bacterial infection that  I was suffering from I was suffering from lack of energy.
Several  sobo CDT hikers came through so I asked them about snow. 
All is good they said.
In the distance was a large rock just perfect for a lunch stop.
I dropped my pack and Silver joined me
I got out my fly to dry in the sun.
Great idea Snailtrainer  said Silver and did the same.
It was lovely to sit and relax in the sun for a few minutes.
Okay time to walk, I set off crossing several snow bungs before dropping down over the saddle.
From now it should be all downhill and only 6 miles to Copper mountain.Easy peasy….lol

As I was beginning to descend, Gourmet appeared, passed me and zoomed off into the distance.
As I began to zig-zag  down  I came to an amazing lodge perched in the mountain . You can rent this place and wow it looks amazing probably  many shillings ££££$$$$$$

I pushed on before noticing another hiker gaining on me from behind. I paused to let him buy only to find that it was Yader.
Great to see you…catch you up trail  as he was planning to climb the big mountain. .
I was going to take the alternate. 
The trail crossed over the mountain giving great views down the valley before dropping down into the forest.
The trail was switchbacked making the going easy, but I was still struggling with no energy even though  I was heading down. I needed to stop. I sat down and took off my pack and lay down on the ground .
My breathing was mad so I lay there until I sounded normal lol.
God I feel rubbish but then I had been climbing since 6.30 and the altitude kills me
Okay snail a handful of miles to go and it was only 2 pm I got up sung on my pack and returned to the spiraling downward trail.
But I really wasn’t feeling it, I could camp there.but I wasn’t carrying  any water. Okay next water and I load up and then the next flat spot  will be mine.
Typically it was a while before water, okay now somewhere to camp….The trail now followed the river and once again the beavers had been busy. Oh there perfect,in the shadow of an old log cabin the perfect spot .

I dropped my pack before sitting on rock for a few minutes .
Just in front in some trees I noticed several other hikers setting up camp.
As I sat  on my rock the clouds began to roll in. Better throw my tent up quickly
Once done now I can relax.
I had just finished setting up when a CT hiker appeared.
Would you mind if I set up?
Not at all go for it.
As he set up I fired up my stove and made a cuppa.
Would you mind if I cooked here too?
No problem, It was actually nice to have some company and conversation  .
As we were cooking one of the ladies from the trees came over and said they were having a happy hour and invited us to join them for  tequila and lime.
So when we were done we joined them. It was two ladies and a husband.
I  enjoyed our drinks  but the weather wasn’t being kind and I was getting cold so I thanked them and left. 

Once back in my tent I had a quick tidy before getting into my bag as it was getting cold.
Actually just in time as the heavens opened  and whosh down came the rain.

Night all

Mileage  12