A very late start and a nero. Several reasons, the most important allowing us to rest before a very early start tomorrow to walk Forrester Pass before the snow softens. Most of the way from here is treeless so will get very soft in the afternoon.

It was also very good weather, so a chance to rest and relax, and for Kevin to dry his kit a little. Additionally here onwards we would likely have to camp on snow.

Nonetheless nothing is easy here so we still had to work for our nero.

It was hard work to find dry land to camp on! Thankfully my tent is compact.

A much more sensible distance today. In the snow at altitude I am more than happy with 1.5mph, and didn’t even achieve that!

The weather continues to be excellent and despite the hard work this was a very pleasant day.

I feel a bit more acclimatised, camping at about 10400′ tonight next to Wallace Creek, which we’ll have to find a way to cross tomorrow.

We’re all set up for a short day to camp at the foot of Forrester Pass to do the scary bit next morning.

Given my current troubles with altitude, Kevin and I decided it would be a good idea to sleep the next night below 10000′ so we gunned for 17 miles.

It was very tough, I broke my previous altitude record (above 11500′) and we walked in snow most of the day. We arrived just before sunset and collapsed into our tents, or at least I did!

I had a bit of a lie in, only leaving after 8am. While most of the group were doing another 18 miler, I preferred to keep the miles down so I could camp on dry land and, more importantly, at lower altitude. A good maxim is ‘walk high, camp low’.

This meant most of the group (apart from Kevin, now known as Dickbag) went ahead, which was a thoroughly good thing.

Lots of snow on the ground, though none too arduous, and the weather was for the most part excellent. We climbed back up to 10700′ and dropped down to 9974′ to camp, which is my highest camp spot yet.

At camp we were joined by a lovely Quebec couple, and Kevin built a great little camp fire in the existing fire ring.

A chilly morning followed by a climb to my highest altitude yet, about 10600′. This altitude is really starting to tell, I have to drink as much as I would in the desert and when I climb I’m like an OAP! So quickly out of breath, and if I don’t rest can get a little faint.

I think tomorrow I should start to acclimatise.

There was a reasonable cover of snow above 9000′, especially on North facing aspects. I wore crampons for a bit, not because they were necessary but to ease walking.

A hard, long day with issues unrelated to walking making it more so.

My pack is insanely heavy. A lot of food combined with a Bear Cannister, ice axe and crampons make it the heaviest yet. I didn’t dare weigh it.

Everyone who were waiting on packages received them and we all set out around 2-3 in the afternoon. We followed the valley of the South Fork Kern River for a while then veered left up to an altitude of 7989′, a climb of nearly 2000′ which felt worse than it was due to the weight.

The good news is that I’ve already started eating it lighter…

Mary from Two Foot Adventures, the mobile outfitter temporarily based at the general store

The famous Yogi, triple crowner and author of Yogi’s Guide. Also owner of Triple Crown Outfitters