Stage 6

We woke up, both glad to not have gotten badgered during the night.  We cooked breakfast & filled up our water.  While we were packing up I saw some people about to go on a day ride and told them how I was on the CT and lost my chain lube asking if I can use some of theirs.  One of them gave me a bottle with an eighth left and told me to take, I can't thank him enough.  We set off on what Kyle told me was his favorite trail riding the opposite direction we were going, I wasn't pumped for this climb to say the least.  The first bit wasn't bad but the top of this was the steepest/loosest push yet.  When I got to the top Kyle was waiting and some riders doing the ever elusive "Monarch Crest Trail" stopped to talk to us, asking about our trip so far.
They set off on their way and Kyle gave me some heavy news.  Kyle told me he was done.  I laughed and responded Ya me too.  He told this was as far as he was gonna get on this trip, were gonna get to the next trail intersection and he was going to ride Greens Creek and call his wife for a ride. I asked if he would reconsider, as I couldn't comprehend quitting this far in especially after having a day like the one over Ten Mile and Kokomo I figured it could only get easier.  He told me he had thought really hard about this and he was confident in his decision and that what ever he had that I needed to finish the trip I could borrow.
So we rode down the infamous "Monarch Crest Trail" and I got stuck behind a spode trail that wouldn't get out of the way.  We stopped at the intersection that Kyle was going the other way as me at and went over how fun the trail had been so far.  I took the SPOT device, his camp soap as I had lost mine, and the smaller not yet leaking water filter bag.  He asked if I wanted the last of the whiskey but when we realized there was only 2 shots left we decided it would only be appropriate to take the shot before we part ways.  We high-fived and parted ways.  I pulled out my rain jacket as I knew I was heading for a storm.  From here it was a fun but cold and wet descent down to Marshall Pass.
When I got to the road the rain was coming down hard and I just wanted to get back into the trees and keep riding as I couldn't see an end to the storm in any direction.  I started heading down the road as I thought this is what the sign said. After about a mile I questioned my decision as I hadn't seen at CT signs in awhile and roads like this had been well marked in the past.  At about two miles I realized the trail must have been up the hill when I joined the road, which I confirmed with my Data Book.  This was a valuable lesson that I now needed to know where I am going rather than just following someone.  I pedaled back up the road which now had a stream coming down it.  I got to a Forest Service built bathroom near where the trail was and read the next couple of turns from the data book so I wouldn't keep making mistakes.  While I was there Barry showed up.  He told me he was struggling, had run out of Advil and was going to bail.  I asked where I should camp for the night since I knew water on the trail was scarce for this section of trail and this was prime big cat/bear territory and I was a bit worried going solo with minimal back country experience.  He told me if he was gonna keep going he would be sure to get to Apple's place just before the La Garita detour.  He decided to ride down the road and call for a ride.  Bummer as I was hoping to have someone to ride with some for the rest of the trip.

I decided to keep moving to get out of the storm and headed to the trail.  It was a easy pedal on a mellow uphill jeep road for the most part.  There was a gate to cross the divide on an exposed saddle.  I kept feeling like I wasn't on the trail as I didn't see any signs for awhile but I saw some through hikers that confirmed I was still on it.  There was some super fun rocky descents that I'd read most people hated in their write ups, I loved them on my SJ and ripped down them to Tank Seven Creek where I filled up my water, hoping to be able to make it through the whole Sargents Mesa segment without filling up as I knew the only guaranteed water was off the trail at Lake Baldy where I knew I could camp safely if needed.  The rain had let up but I could see several storms around me.  I was soaked and desperately wanted to change socks but I was worried as I had left a pair drying on my rack that was now soaked that if I put on my last pair of dry socks in wet shoes near another storm I could have a rough day the next day so I dealt with it.
I started the push up the hill, it was steep so I had difficulty pedaling all of it.  I got close to the top of the hill and there was more cattle and some sort of big cat near them.  As I got closer to it, crossed the trail to the field without cattle and I am pretty sure it was a Lynx.  I'd never seen one before but it had pointy ears, broad shoulders and was somewhere between the size of a bobcat and mountain lion.  I knew it would leave me alone after it ran away but I was more concerned about mountain lions stalking me as it was starting to get dark.  I knew I should get as far as I could tonight hoping I could get out of Cat Country since I only had a bivvy.
After several times of thinking I was at the top of the hill I finally got there looking forward to a nice easy pedal over the mesa. NOPE. It was crazy rocky as I had read in all of the write ups.  Some short sections were so rocky I had to hike on flat sections.  The sun set as I neared Baldy Lake and I considered camping as I heard this was a great camp spot but I was determined to make it to Apple's to make the next day easier.  I turned my music up so I wouldn't hear any sounds and be worried about being stalked by a big cat.  I also checked behind me every few minutes and scanned the sides of the trail looking for eyes reflecting back at me
I got to Razor Creek, another good potential camp spot and there was even someone else already camped there.  I considered setting up camp and really wanted to fill up on water but the creek was too low and again I decided after checking my data book that I could make it to Apple's.  I swapped out for some more of my cold weather gear here though as I felt more comfortable near someones camp.  I started on some rocky and fun descents which were especially exciting since it was dark.  I finally got out of the woods onto a road near a field.  I checked my book to figure out where to go.  It was really cold here.  I thought about camping here as I stated to get too tired to keep a good pace but decided this field was probably a prime area for big cats.
I rode down the hill on the road.  I got to a major paved highway and decided camping near here would be ideal as the little amount of traffic may help keep cats away.  I made sure in the book that Apple's place wasn't achievable which it wasn't.  I set up camp behind a fence next to a cattle guard.  I didn't have enough water to cook and wanted to keep a little for the morning.  I packed my food into a dry bag, hung it from a low tree not as far as I wanted to, and set up my sleeping stuff.  I had trouble falling asleep listening to the big cats howl getting closer until a car passed by on the highway then they seemed to get further.  This was a rough day, I was hoping to make it to the end of the La Garita detour the next day and hoping it would be easier of a day.

Mileage: 47.18 mi
Climbing: 8,637 ft
Camping Elevation: 9,720 ft