5 hrs 15 mins is the time it took to do the 2 miles over the crest of the Tenmile Range. Absurd. The first bit, snowshoeing up to a small saddle went fast. The traverse over to the crest took forever. The slope was too steep to traverse wearing snowshoes so I started carefully kick stepping across. That was incredibly time consuming because had I fallen it would have been a several hundred foot slide into the basin below. Each boot length step was taking 2-5 seconds. It was slow but eventually the angle eased and I could speed up a little. Then I started to posthole up to my thighs. No sign of the CT until much later. It was rough but eventually I kicked stepped straight up the short final slope to the crest. What did I behold on the other side? Even more complete snow coverage in the mountains ahead of me. I'm not sure exactly where the trail will take me but I likely have more of the same to look forward to. At least it makes finishing a section very satisfying.

Before camp I was able to treat myself to a blue cheese buffalo burger and two beers at Copper Mountain resort's Incline Bar & Grill. The trail goes right through it so I stopped. I didn't get to the campsite I wanted but it was worth it.