Yes, I’m back on the CDT, despite a right knee that needs replacing. I had high hopes as I headed out from Monarch Pass once again, this time heading NOBO.

I could tell from yesterday’s hike – the difficult terrain coupled with my bum knee – that even my scaled-down hiking plan would be too much. So I got up early to give myself more time to reach my target of about 16.5 miles (26.6 km).

Wow, what a crazy day’s hike to Cottonwood Pass. As I noted yesterday, I didn’t hit my goal mileage, which made today’s even longer (17.3 mi / 27.8 km). I woke up at 5 a.m. and got on the trail by 6:20 a.m., hoping for the best.

And the craziness continues! Kim said she could shuttle me after all, getting me on the trail by noon. However, that would mean I wouldn’t reach Twin Lakes until Saturday, and I had some nonrefundable inn reservations.

Since I was shuttled last night from the CDT trailhead on the southern shores of Twin Lakes to the Twin Lakes Inn, I’d missed several miles of trail that run along the lakes’ northern side. So today, after a great breakfast at the inn, I first stopped next door at the Twin Lakes General Store.

Before I left home, I had contacted a trail angel, Mike, who was supposed to pick me up from the east end of Twin Lakes yesterday. But, of course, Pieter and Liz dropped me off in town on Thursday night because of the water filter issue, and yesterday I did an out-and-back on the trail.

It was sort of hard to get back on the trail today, after slackpacking for two days and staying in the Twin Lakes Inn for three nights. Mike agreed to drop off Shroomer first, just a mile down the road.

I knew rain was predicted for most of this week, but I crossed my fingers that it would be light and fleeting, then struck out on the trail before 8 a.m., heading for Tennessee Pass. My biggest climb was right away, so I was glad to get that over.

I’ve said it many times, but you always have to be prepared to pivot when hiking a long-distance trail. That can be hard for Type-A people like me, who love to create itineraries and stick to them.

Today I was going to enjoy another slackpacking day – yay! The forecast called for possible showers at 8 a.m., but then nice for the rest of the day. Perfect!

Today’s hike was supposed to be partway along the Silverthorne Alternate, ending up tomorrow in Silverthorne, where Ed will meet me. But this alternate route has two huge climbs up to nearly 12,000 feet (3,658 m).

Wow, that campsite last night was awful! Even a tiny tilt in the ground can make for terrible sleep. I was sliding all over my tent and felt like I didn’t sleep for one minute. So it was a relief when morning came.