After a night at 10,250 feet, we woke up and trekked another couple miles until our trail went straight up. Now if you've been backpacking before, you'll know that most uphill climbs come in the form of switchbacks. Not this one. This trail went straight up. And by trail, I mean the supposed trail that was under knee to waist deep snow. When the snow is that deep, you really have no clue what's underneath...trail, trees, rocks, badgers...
Kate and I went straight up for at least 1/2 a mile before the physical toll was too much. We were post-holing (stepping in and out of knee to waist deep snow), because we didn't bring snow shoes (they help you stay on top).
We looked and looked for anything resembling a trail, a campsite; but found nothing.
In the end, we turned back downhill and made it back to the original trail, and back to the campsite we stayed at on night #1.
It was a bad case of 1 step forward, 2 steps back.
Regardless of the throbbing muscles I never knew I had, the aching shoulders, and soaking feet, we ended the day feeling a real sense of accomplishment and beauty from our tasks and surroundings.
Peace,
Ross
p.s. Part 3 tomorrow (the final chapter(s))...
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