Posted by 21.7 miles
I was away early from camp as I was keen to get a really tricky snow traverse out the way late in the day called the Knifes Edge. It is not long but very steep with some major consequences should a slip occur. Basically if a you can’t self arrest, you would keep sliding to the bottom at uncontrollable speed and hit rocks below. I don’t have ice spikes with me on this trip given the low snow year and it would be incredibly dangerous for me to attempt this in the icy morning conditions. I do have an ice axe however and opted attempt the knives edge i. late afternoon/early evening conditions when the exposed face has been in the sun all day and snow softened. Although I knew the snow pack would be at a point of softness meaning deep post poling.
It was fickle weather all day and a day of constantly changing clothing layers. Light snow flurries greeted me on the first couple of climbs for the day. This was manageable but I thought this was summer.
Approaching the top of a 12,700 pass clouds darkened quickly and thunder cracked overhead. With no cover in sight and no where to shelter I bolted for the top of the pass to move over it at pace and make my way downslope as quickly as possible. Very tough work at that altitude. People always ask about the dangers of thru-hiking and talk about things like bears and am I carrying a sidearm but no one ever thinks about lightning. It is probably the most frightening things out here.
Throughout the morning visibility was low but the sun would eventually win the day.
Multiple rock out crops were passed throughout the day with the tiny squeak of pika’s. So small I can never see them or get photos. And if its not pika, marmots sight me well before I approach, sound the alarm and scurry off, bounding across the rocks to their burrows.
Deer and elk are abundant and have been seen everyday. Their footprints dot the CDT along with humans on the trail, in the mud and across the snows.
Late in the afternoon noon I had to traverse what I’ve labeled the ‘Ridge Line from Hell’ that was close to a mile ling with ripping winds that literally picked me off the ground several times. It was a battle to get across it.
Just before 6pm I hit the Knifes Edge. Slow is steady and steady is safe I kept repeated to myself. I’d seen photos and video however the traverse ahead was much steeper in person. Way less snow than I anticipated but steep with consequences nonetheless. It ook me a full 45 minutes to traverse maybe 0.2 of a mile! I was postholing up my thighs. Much of the top layer of snow was super soft and could be pushed off, the risk of avalanche ever present. Ice axe in hand I inched across.
My bottom half saturated and feet numb from the snow I raced on towards Trout Lake just off trail to find a camp for the night. It would be another restless night with a flapping tent in ripping winds. Picture trying to sleep with someone constantly crinkling a chip packet inches from your face.
Mick Beckers 