How could there be so much difference in my performance walking uphill between today and yesterday? So many variables that I don't know but don't look a gift horse in the mouth. I was faster and not starving at the 2 miles turnaround. I was even faster going downhill!
I got the idea for the Knife-edge snowshoe yesterday when I stepped off Camp May Road to pee in the bushes and found myself post holing in knee deep snow (maybe I hit a drift but still...) Seems to me that the burnt stuff littering the Knife-edge would be well buried.
Good news - the Valles Caldera National Preserve will have hiking shuttles this spring and summer that drop you off at a location (Alamo and North Rim) and you get to do freelance hikes in an 8 hour time window. I don't know how the shuttle pick up works but I suppose you're at a certain place at a certain time or spend the night!