SEP 5th

I woke early to the sound of the wind still roaring. But I had slept really well.

I dozed until my next alarm  before   I began to get ready .

I went for a wee and retrieved my bear bag that  was still where I left it.

I slowly packed up  slurped my tea  and I was ready.

I looked up at the climb  that I was about to do,  tightened my pack and began .

I hadn’t gone far when the trail

suddenly turned right and preceeded to head down and down  and it was a lovely wide path  I followed this path down for almost an hour and then got really annoyed as if I had known it was going to be this  good  I would have gone on.but  sadly I do not own a crystal ball or hindsight..

Now  the trail began to climb  but it wasn’t too bad as there were switchbacks  and they were not steep and they  were shaded  by  trees on both sides. As I walked I kept saying to myself I could have camped there,there’s a good spot  and there. Oh that would have been a good spot .

Eventually I emerged  out  onto the ridge  and there was no trees or shelter as I began to cross the wind  returned with vengeance. 

OMG  it was fierce,I removed my hat  or risked it being  ripped from my head the noise of the wind was also deafening and as I walked I turned into a crab as  forward movement seemed impossible in places I fought not to be blown off of my feet.

I stared ahead and could see the wibbly wobbly  line of the trail  meander  over several  more  large hills and disappear off into the distance. This was going to be so much fun….NOT!

I pushed on walking sideways as it was impossible to  go straight battling  with  the ferocity of the wind.

Again I thought should have done more last  night.

I  counted off the hills as I  crossed them, after   the last one I headed   into more trees and a break from the wind..  but once through it  I was presented   with more of what I had just crossed  with the trail Once again crossing several more hills and into the distance.  But  now the wind had subsided  and I could walk normally and wear my hat .

I was  getting nearer to Rogers pass and  a good time to grab lunch.

I began to climb yet another large hill  when almost at the top I noticed people, mother and son on a day hike . The mother made me smile as she was carrying an enormous  sheaf knife .

What are you planning to hunt I asked?

This made her laugh.

We chatted for a while before  heading  in our different directions 

Soon I could make out the road and the trail  began to head down.

I went  left  then right along the switch acts  bit it seemed to take forever until I was at the trail head.

 Phew.i found a large rock and 

Dropped my pack. Used the bathroom and as there was a trash can dropped my trash.

Lunchtime, I ate a load of snacks and then took a few photos of the sign as it’s my name  ha ha.

Okay  what goes down has to  go  up so reluctantly  hoisted up my pack again and began the climb out . As i began to climb I stopped and put on an audio book these seem to help me push  miles .so  head  down and walk.

Once again I’m carrying water and once again its heavy  such fun .

I pushed on climbing with the odd  few minutes of swearing until 3.30 when I needed a break .

But  only a quick stop as I wanted more miles  .I had plenty of  food  but  really wanted to push on to bench mark  or at least get to the water. I set off again  turning  up the music  but  it was l mad climbs again but i was determined to push  and get  there. I refused to look at my watch incase  it laughed  at me.

Okay  I need more motivation so went from audio book to music.

That’s a better beat.

Okay  I can peek at my watch now  6.30  Okay snail   we are almost  there.

Water…..I watered  up and  not much further was the perfect spot …

My tent was soon up and relax.

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

Bloody tasty. Okay i have finished cooking and too my tent

Milage 10 but happy 

Well it was a little blowy last night. But I think I slept well.
I had set my alarm for 4.45 but silenced it then lay there for a while but I had to get up, I let the air our of my mattress and slowly packed up. I was in trail by 5.30 and set off along the river bank to water after about an hour I spied the cattle trough.

I bottled up and headed on eventually the river bed became dust .I crossed over the cattle grid and headed to the main road. It was a long winding road passing by several very smart ranches..
At the road where several boxes left by a church group. i dumped my cow water for fresh then headed out to walk the 13 miles to Silver city. Luckily there was a dust road besides it keeping me safe from the traffic. As in began to walk the wind got up and typically it was in my face.
I guess it helps keep it cool ,but it just made my nose run great .
I pushed on passing a dead and decaying horse nice. Eventually my foot path ran out so I crossed over the road and continued my yomp
Afte several hours I thought why am I carrying so much water. So stopped and dumped 2 litres. Well thats much better .
After another two hours I noticed a pickup pull up on the other side of the road.  As I got nearer I noticed it was Tim. I crossed over are you going to give me lift in ?
Do you want lift in?
Yes…no not really.
He handed me a Gatorade omg how good was that, it was ice cold so I couldn’t neck it. We chatted a while as I drank my  drink.

Okay back to the trail sorry road . I pushed on and the sun reappeared.  Wow its amazing how quickly the sun can heat the tarmac,roasting my feet.
The hours slowly passed but I was no closer to silver city until… I reached the sign , but it was still a few miles until I reached town.

I found the hikers hostel but it was rammed and so no vacancies, so I headed down town. Next hotel was also full, fuck fuck. okay the next one had vacancies but was very expensive… and they only had room for tonight and I wanted two nights, dam it okay I will take it.
Fuck, fuck, fuck my credit card is declined I think the chip has just failed.
Luckily I had a back up credit card, but it was stored safely at the bottom of my pack so every thing came out as i frantically searched for it , getting more embarrassed. Finally I managed to pay and at last entered room, dumped my kit, stripped off and stepped straight into the shower.
Wow that was so good.
Once dried I called the credit card company, They were worse than useless so not impressed
So maybe I will get a call back in the middle of the night….Maybe.
I put my uk sim into my back up phone and headed out to find ATM, I retried my card, the pin worked  but then funds were refused. Bollocks . So I withdrew money on my spare card.
This is not going to plan, but I have money so now food.
I found a place called “Little toad crew brewery”  so several beers and a Mexican Ruben’s 

Fed and watered i headed back to watch telly and upload videos, on the way back i popped into the “Palace Hotel to see if they had any rooms for tomorrow? Sadly not but he was really helpful, he showed me that the hotel I am staying in is now showing vacancies for tomorrow. He also gave me names of several other hotel’s what a great bloke.
I raced back to my hotel and managed to book another room tomorrow, its a different room but who cares its a room.
On the way to the lift I bumped into Rock & her friend

Milage.  17 phew