DAY 78 Heading to Grand Lake

June 30th

Well what a night I was almost nodding off when the winds came. It was terrifying as my tent was tossed around like a paper bag and once again I was concerned that it would ripped in two , tere’s little I can do just fingers crossed it dies down hopefully
But in the meantime I just pulled my hat over my eyes sunk lower into my bag and covered my head with my bag and silently prayed it would soon stop

Phew at 9.30 it went quite very quite, well until the rain started and by then I had nodded off.
And great fantastic no midnight excursions into the woods with TP.
My series of alarms went off I silenced every one except the last, At 6.30 I removed the stopper from my mattress and began to get up. I didn’t have enough water for tea so maybe later I will make one.
I was just packing up when a familiar figure came by.
Silver i called.
But he didn’t see me so I walked towards him.
Hi we chatted about our final moments before Copper mountain and where we both crashed.
OK see you shortly I said.
But as the old proverb says More haste less speed. What a crap pack up but at last I was ready.
I set off on trail and continued the climb from yesterday, It was an awful lot further to the summit than I had realised
After half an hour I thought I could see markers for the top and even these were still a long way off.
I pushed on up in the distance I could see about a dozen tiny people. Omg it’s still miles away.
I checked my app only to find the trail went off to my right.

Luckily I hadn’t gone too far so set a course to intercept the trail.
There you are, I was back on trail but with all the recent snow the trail was invisible, except for cairns spaced a long way apart so you had to scan the horizon for them and getting to each one was a complete chore as no trail was defined.
At last a faint trail began to appear. Then to my left I saw a familiar figure it was Silver, seems that he had also continued up the other trail almost to the top.
Once again we fell into line Silver taking the lead but as I tend to stop quite often to take video. Silver was soon a long way ahead as the mist began to roll in.
Not sure if I like that but luckily it soon disappeared we were still climbing with the occasional dip eventually arriving at the Ptarmigan pass/saddle

Silver continued on up but I needed a break. God knows where he gets all his energy from ,I ate a peanut bar and glugged water.
I then heard a shout. It was silver pointing….
Later I found out he was showing me the way as he had gone wrong. I headed in the right direction as the rain started and got progressively fierce. I was shielded in the forest until I came out into a clearing.
The trail now spent about an hour going down, but was really well maintained with long easy switchbacks (nice)
As I continued down I caught silver who had stopped to filter water. Once at the bottom* the trail meandered around before starting to climb back out of the valley.

The trail was a little scruffy and not well marked. Then I came to a large river…. really no bridge.
I splashed across then walked straight up into a bog really!! before heading back into woods, the trail then climbed up straight up No nice switchbacks like the other side just up and up. I imeaditly began to struggle and said F*uck several times quite loudly. “Who designed this bloody section” Up and up, occasionally with a small flat bit then back up. I really wanted to get to the top before taking a break but I was done. I spied a dry log under a tree. Perfect, I quickly dropped my pack and sat on the log, ate a few snacks and guzzled water.

Okay lets get those miles, I went back to the climbing as the trail continued up and up and up. Omg does this not stop.
I then emerged out of the forest. Oh F*uck the trail continued up passing through a long meadow. I can’t do anymore of this a mystery voice said.
There was a small spinney that looked dry. I made my way across and dumped my pack. If it had been flat inside I would have thrown up.my tent.. I sat there for 10 minutes hating today’s section. But to get From A to C you have to pass B
So reluctantly I hoisted up my pack and began again. The rain was now throwing it down as I made my way from cairn to cairn still heading up. I was getting cold and getting miserable.. At last I was at the top except I wasn’t the trail headed off to the right and up. I said my favourite word several times and set off. Now the bloody wind returned for some fun too
I continued on following the cairns until the mist rolled in. and I was lost…..I made my way to a large bunch of trees and hunkered down the rain was intense with the help of the wind. I began to feel a little vulnerable.
On top of a mountain in fog. Mist with torrential rain and wind and I was getting cold. I checked my app ,actually I was not far off trail. when there was a lull I stuck my head out and was surprised to see the trail as the mist had gone.
Unfortunately I could also see the trail snake up the side of the next mountain FUCK FUCK no no.
I just wanted to put up my tent and get into it. I scanned the valley below. Oh fuck it I said out loud and headed to the climb.
I seemed to have found a little energy and pushed on up the hill but once again after reaching this summit I was met with several more. . Again I pushed on climbing climbing climbing. At last I was up with amazing views.

The trail appeared to go down the valley but as i got nearer i noticed it climb over a knifes edge I cautiously made my way down and crossed the knifes edge but then there was a second that climbed high and looked quite scary. but to my right there appeared to be a bypass trail Cool I will take that. It was very slippery as I made my way around. But once around I was dismayed to see a huge ice corniche That’s not what I wanted to see and high up to my left I could make out another cairn
Sorry.. But a stream of rude word’s came out of my mouth. Well it was really only 1 word said many times. I was cold and wet and had ,had enough. There were not many options.
I stared down into the valley. It was a steep climb down. Okay I’m going down (this may be a bad choice. )
It was very slippery as I made my way down the side of the mountain. It took a while as I didn’t want to slip or fall.
As i made my way down I began to think , this may be a big mistake.
Okay I’m down it took a few minutes to decide on a spot and then I struggled to put up my tent in the rain because my fingers were so numb. Once up I threw every thing in and then went for water.

Once back I inflated my mattress took off my wet shoes and socks and got into my bag as I was cold. I lit my stove and made hot chocolate. As soon as I poured the hot water into my cup, the wind and rain stopped and out came the sun and shone as hot as it could.