A sleepless and cold night it was and I kept waking up so every time I did I ate more peanut butter. At 4:45am I got up and ate breakfast and had tent and stuff packed and ready to go by 6am. It was still dark so I had to use my headlamp to head straight through the woods and uphill - it was very muddy and steep to start. Within an hour I had reached the clearing and could make out the pass. I was the first one up here today as I could see there were no footprints in the snow. There was a little wind but no where near as bad as the John Gardner pass is famous for; heard it can get 150km/h winds. Coming up to the pass visibility was clear and there were glimpses of sunlight so this was good news I could attempt the summit so I gritted my teeth and went for it. the first section was going straight uphill on small jagged rocks - Life's Lessons: having to concentrate only on the moment: focusing and watching every little rock I stepped on. Not looking to far ahead as this was getting me sidetracked and realizing anything is possible and its only through the strength of our mind we can achieve this. Minds are our greatest tool and our greatest energy! It wasn't long before I hit solid snow - which proved very difficult to walk on - specially where the water was running (Created ice and very slippery rocks) I ended up doing the splits a few times and battled to stay upright. The pass kept getting steeper and steeper; a few times the huge gusts of wind nearly blew me over but I kept pushing on envisioning the top. Breaks were kept short and I chowed down on nuts, chocolates and raisens for energy - which proved just right to pick me up.
I met an English couple who i had seen at Eratic Rock meeting and they so kindly explained that the next camp: Cano Paso was close. I eventually arrived at the top of the pass but the wind was blowing too much and I couldn't stay to enjoy the views. I however stopped on the other side and got my first look at the famous Glacier Grey. Next came the downhill decent - which was easy at first and I felt sure I would make camp by midday enabling me to continue on to the next campsite later in the day. The downhill got worse after leaving the summits rocky outcrops and entering the woods i was met by some of the most difficult trekking i have ever experienced. The track was a stream and was not only wet and muddy but with a 50 degree slope - slippery beyond imagination.
I slipped, fell, twisted and ended up on my ass many times. Halfway down my legs went to jelly and completely buckled under me and my 25kg pack.
I was really worried I wouldn't be able to make it as my legs had no ability to hold me upright any longer. My legs were wobbling and very weak and to go with that it only got worse and more slippery and incredibly dangerous. When I was at what appeared to bevthe base at a stream I met Clementine a German hiker who had done the pass in 3 hours - incredible it took me 6 hours and I wasn't going slowly. After making it to lookout he wanted to stop and have lunch with me and then continue on to the next campsite. I couldn't and explained I had to stop and was lucky to have even made it here (later found out there was Argentinian hiker still missing on pass after 1 month). I was at Camp Passo another free Conaf site by midday and was able to ask the ranger for the best spot to pitch my tent.
After setting up my tent I did my washing in the stream and hung my stuff out to dry in the midday sun.
I cooked another delicious noodle soup and tuna for lunch and made tea. To be honest I was a little worried about my knees, legs, blisters and two toes which i had ripped the nails off - but just have to take easy from here on out and hope I can keep moving. I went over to cooking hut and had a chat with American father and daughter team Darryl and Beryl - both travelled a lot and lived and worked in South America.
I then walked up to the Mirador - where i got incredible panoramic views and had about 20 minutes to enjoy before it got to cold. Next was an afternoon nap listening to music and trying to get warm. I then boiled water for my now nightly hot chocolate and made dinner: Tuna and soy mince, dried mushrooms and carrot soup to flavour - was wonderful and heated me up perfectly. I cleaned my dishes in the stream, prepared my stuff for tomorrow and hopped into my sleeping bag a bit warmer by 9pm.