CDT - Day 52 - Baldy Lake to Marshall Pass
It was great waking up next to Baldy Lake, I didn't have to worry about using up too much water the night before. The wind had died down overnight, alleviating my fears of being crushed by falling trees. When I woke up, the three CT hikers camped nearby were still in their tents, and I was the first one up and out.
I knew when I hiked down to the lake yesterday that the climb back out would be steep, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. My legs usually work pretty well first thing in the morning, and I made it out of their easily.
For most of the day, the trail was relentless, with steep climbs and descents. There were very few flat sections where I could really crush miles. I met quite a few CT hikers heading southbound, as well as one northbound CDT hiker from Mississippi named Shaggy. We chatted for a bit near a natural spring, and he told me about a great campsite near Marshall Pass.
After a grueling 23.57 miles, I made it to the Marshall Pass Trailhead and set up camp nearby in a meadow. Once again, I was surrounded by widowmakers, but there was no wind, so I was feeling fairly safe from falling trees. I pitched my tent as far away from them as possible and tucked it in next to a stand of healthy, living trees. There was another tent already there and I had to set me tent up pretty close them.