Day 10 Monarch Crest to Baldy Lake

We began the day with fantastic views and single track riding down the Monarch Crest trail to Marshal Pass. Past the pass, back in the trees, the single track continued a few miles before deteriorating into a rocky, root filled mess. The next 20 miles were perhaps the hardest I have ever ridden (for Fort Collin's mtbikers think Michaud lane all day at 11000 ft). We were on the spine of the continental divide with lots of ups and downs, few views because of the trees and even less water. That was all in streams and lakes below us. But it was remote and it was wild and it was good. Every so often we'd pop out in a wide rolling meadow with some interesting cairns to mark the way (see photo) For a moment it would seem everything was flat and easy but then we'd be back up on the forested ridges. We finally made it to the Baldy Lake trail junction. We ditched our bikes in the trees and hiked a 1/2 mile down to water and to camp. At the lake we met a CT thru hiker 3 weeks in from Denver. He was the first person we'd seen all day.