Post Birthday

Day 53

Date: 23.06.2022

CDT Mile: Mile 1'116.8

Miles hiked: 21.8 miles / 34.9 km

Elevation: 5'210 feet ascent (Aufstieg 1'589 m) / 4'308 feet descent (Abstieg 1'314 m)

Camping at: 11'142 feet / 3'398 m

I slept all night, waking up a couple of times but just fell back asleep. That must have been around 10 or 11 hours I was sleeping, I was really tired lately! What a Birthday evening! And as far as I can tell, it also rained a long time. When my alarm went off a 5.15 am, I for sure was not getting up! It was cold, I was still tired (I know, hard to believe!) and everything was wet and moist. We seem to have blue sky, so I want to wait till the sun reaches our tents for drying. The sunrise was stunning this morning and I enjoyed the views from my tent, wrapped in my warm sleepingbag.

And by looking outside, I can see the tent of the K2's. Apparently they made it to camp just after 8pm, but Boss and me were already asleep!

We finally managed to leave camp at 6.45am. The sun dried the tent a little, but not fully. The sun just wasn't hot enough yet and I didn't want to wait any longer. I will have to dry out my sleepingbag at lunch anyways, as it has gotten a little moist too.

The first uphill climb of the day was ok, meaning not too steep. There was one or two smaller snowtraverses but nothing serious anymore. I kinda was still surprised to see more snow again. And then the views, they were amazing! And the weather is amazing too - sunshine and blue sky! That's how I love it! I don't mind hard and steep uphills, as long as it is warm outside and not raining, thundering, snowing or any other kind of storm! When we checked the weather forecast at Monarch Pass, it said rain for the next 7 days. But it is much better, and I am super glad. Every mile I can hike without rain is a joy (not like yesterday, when the weather was bad and icy cold!). We passed a couple of other saddles with beautiful views and also cottonwood pass (which was full of shampoo and detergent smelling people😁!), before a looong descent into a valley. We, that is Boss, Ducky and me, have lunch on the downhill and dry out our tents, sleepingpags and tyvecks. Apparently it will rain in the afternoon and some dark clouds are already visible in the sky. Boss and me get ready, we try to hike as far as we can before getting rained on. But I am so tired and full after lunch. All I want is a little nap😁 It's around 11 miles before camp and a big climb. I just walk, and walk and walk and when I slipp in the mud and just manage to not fully face dip, my energy is finally coming back!🤣 The uphill to the Lake Ann Pass Intersection was much nicer than I thought. And within 1.5 hours we made it to camp, being there before 5pm. Well, we could hike Lake Ann pass today but then the rest of the group - Patches and the K2's - will probably not make it anymore. So we decided to set camp here as discussed in the morning. It was another beautiful, yet hard and long day.

While pitching my tent, a marmot gets very close to me. It doesn't seem to be much afraid, but smells the food! Cheecky little things! I have to throw a wood piece in his direction to make it run away! Around 6pm Ducky comes along. Just in time before heavy rain hits our campsite! As the mozzies are bad today again, we all set up tent first and were already inside when the rain started. At 7pm the K2's arrived too, still raining a little outside. Patches apparently has hurt his knee and therefore took a hitch at Cottonwood Pass to Twin Lakes, where we shall be tomorrow. Also Piper has had a sorrow knee yesterday and might have gotten a hitch off trail too to recover. I don't know yet. But since Monarch Pass we had a couple of very steep downhills and I can also feel my knees. We hope Patches and also Pipers knee's will be better soon!

Post note: how cute was that! Suddenly the K2's come over to my tent, handing me all kind of birthday Gifts. Wine and cotton candy from them, and a lovely b-day card, more yummy chocolates and some celebrations thing's from my friend Stumbelbee, Pale Ale and Sprouts. Thank you all so much, that came totally unexpected and therefore I even enjoyed it much more! (Happens if you fall asleep at 6.30pm on your b-day on trail!). (I had no cell service till Twin Lakes...)