Rae Lakes Rally – The Walk

Waking up this morning was not fun. I set the alarm for 5 in the morning, but I snoozed it and fell asleep for another hour. Night walks take away your stress. Even starting later than I expected, I was able to catch up with Posh Spice, Rambo, Rolodex, Little Wagon, Raccoon, and crew.

We all headed to Glen Pass. The climb to Glen Pass was steep. Raccoon and Rambo felt the altitude. Posh Spice and I made sure to stick with them in case their symptoms got worse. We headed very slowly towards the top and contemplated our snowy descent. The way down seemed steep. The curves were covered in snow, making rock climbing inevitable. It didn’t seem dangerous, but it did seem exhausting.

Luckily our reward was in sight. The Rae Lakes are part of a notoriously impressive backpacking circuit here in the Eastern Highlands. I knew we would all stop for lunch there and that the subsequent hike would be snow-free. When we got to the lake, some people were swimming while the rest of us ate on top of a rock. I had an omelet with peanut butter and dates. I was excited to mix it up with my usual granola bar lunch. I will absolutely be repackaging this.

The afternoon climb was also impressive, but not much easier. Most of the day was a steep descent. Climbing is exhausting, but a steep descent is always felt on the joints. At the end of the descent we were rewarded with the 800 mile marker, a suspension bridge, and a 3 mile climb to camp.

There are so many people at the camp again tonight. I quickly set up my tent, greeted everyone, and inhaled my cacio e Pepe Mac and cheese. The mosquitoes were so bad I couldn’t wait to get into my tent. We’re camping at an odd mile marker, so I’m not sure what tomorrow holds. It might be a two-pass day, although I’m nervous. I’ll have to check out what the rest of the hikers are doing here in the morning.

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.