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Day 7: Lorna Lake to Windy Ridge on Little Paradise Pass

A long day ahead of us, we made an early start departing Lorna Lake. We climbed two passes this day and easily covered a great distance - thanks to a great trail and scenic, rolling terrain. Ascending from Lorna Lake and the Big Creek valley we quickly found ourselves hiking over the dry, barren, rocky terrain typical to this area, leaving all vegetation far below us.
Crossing the outflow of Lorna Lake
We quickly reaced the pass, gaining our first glimpse of the headwaters of the Tyaughton Valley below.
Standing at the pass, the green slopes of the headwaters of the Tyaughton valley rolling out below us.
We followed the Tyaughton trail to the junction with the "Little Paradise" trail. Our original plan was to hike the entire length of the Tyaughton valley to Spruce Lake, then back to our shuttle vehicle at Tyaughton Lake via the Eldorado Basin. However, as we'd spent more days in Big Creek Park than originally planned, thanks to the Snuffeleupagus trail, we no longer had time. The Little Paradise trail would take us back to our starting point, leading us to Relay Creek opposite the original Gang Ranch range cabin we'd come to on our first day.
Hiking the Tyaughton valley. L-R: Trudel, Andre, Robson, Joanne, Sarah, Ashley, Aynslie
Ian gets the credit for this portrait
The Not-So-Little Little Paradise Ascent

Merging onto the Little Paradise trail, we began our second ascent of the day. We broke for lunch in a sunny meadow, all seven of us trying to hunker in the shade of one large tree. We climbed a little higher, then walked through a scenic sub-alpine meadow full of whislting marmots. At the edge of the meadow the final, steep ascent began. Just when you thought it couldn't get any steeper, it's angle increased by a few more degrees. And a few more and more!
The Marmot-meadows are now far below!
Ashley entertained us with a little song of jubilation at the prospect of a rest of at least "two whole minutes at the top of the pass" (left).
Eventually the grade began to ease as we ascended along a ridge
Cresting the Pass
Windy Camp above Little Paradise Valley

An insanely strong wind howeled over us on the pass, forcing long jackets and pants to come out of our packs with ustmoste haste. Not wanting to descend alomst 1,000 feet to the Little Paradise valley, we found ourselves faced with the challenge to find an even somewhat wind-sheltered area to camp.

After scouting out a few areas, and a little group "pow-wow", we settled for a reasonable sheltered slope facing Little Paradise valley. Two very small, flattish ledges hung off the side of the steep slope, affording enough room for a few tents. Joanne, Ian and Aynslie set theirs up on the upper ledge, Andre and I on the lower, while Ashley and Sarah hiked down several hundred feet to a spot that was just barely flat.
One Hour One-Way to the Nearest Water Source

Yup, that's right. No water anywhere on these dry slopes. Had Andre and Ian suspected how far they'd have to travel back to the last water supply we'd come across on our ascent, they would have descended to the Little Paradise valley below.

They each took a pack with them with all our empty containers and two water fileters and returned two hours later with about 22 litres of purified water, much to Robson's excitement. The dehydrated pooch immideately lapped up three full bowls from his folding doggy-water dish!
The upper ledge, where Joanne, Ian & Aynslie's tents were set up, became the communal camp area.
No Sleep on Windy Ridge

Though our camp's location was windsheltered in relation to the exposed slopes, it was still so windy that we had to stake down our tents with heavy rocks and keep any light articles inside them. The wind shook and bellowed our tents all night long, snapping and flapping the tent walls like slack sails on a ship. All of us tossed and turned through night, catching only moments of sleep here and there between the violent gusts, except Joanne who managed to sleep quite comfortably.