Day #37-The hardest fought 24 miles of my life to date. Miles hiked: 23.9

Waking up in the woods and not in a comfy little town always makes me ready for adventure, and today that’s exactly what I needed. After coming out of New Mexico crushing 30 miles or more each day with time to spare, it’s been difficult to readjust expectations for how fast or far I can hike. With Rocky terrain, huge elevation change, snow, and not a lot of oxygen to breathe as we are consistently over 11,500 ft, it’s not a lot in this section. 

However, expectations out the window, the only way is forward.

Today we scaled a ridge with lots of exposure and amazing views all morning before arriving at Knife’s Edge just after lunch. You can most likely imagine how it got its name, and you wouldn’t be wrong. After several steep snow fields in the bowl preceding, we arrived at the main event and decided to create our own “low route” to increase safety.

However, even this gave me the scaries, especially when I slipped on a scree field (loose rocks and boulders) and had to roll across sea lion style. More holes in my shirt and pants and abrasions to my skin were made. But we made it across!

After Knife’s Edge there was still work to do with several more climbs and chances for me to get caught up to my chest in a post hole…all part of the fun, right? 

Needless to say, I was physically and emotionally exhausted by nightfall but slept extra well. Back at it tomorrow!