Day 5 (3/3): Refugio Grey to Campamento Paine Grande (10 km, 6.2 miles) and Suzy's Birthday!

Waking up dry and warm (especially since it was windy and rainy outside) was awesome! Mark surprised me with a sweet card that he carried all the way from Colorado and a Refugio breakfast of eggs, salami, cheese and toast. A perfect start to my birthday here in Chile!  At breakfast, we met a guy from San Diego named Kerry who was celebrating his birthday too!  He was hiking the W with his 5 months pregnant sister Kaitlyn (she gets adventure points for doing this pregnant!) and her husband Brandon.  We made plans to meet for drinks in Paine Grande to celebrate that evening.  We slowly packed and geared up for the rain, leaving around 11 for Paine Grande. 

We really need to get new, non-matching gear!

We are now on part of the W trail so encountered as many people within the first few kilometers as we did the whole four days on the backside. The weather soon cleared and we said adios to Glacier Grey behind us but had fabulous views of Lago Grey to our right and the huge Cerro Paine Grande mountains to our left. And wind. The wind here was the strongest we have experienced yet and would have knocked us over a few times if we didn't have sticks to support our weight. 

Thankfully my hat had a good strap but it still wanted to blow away in these winds!

After 3 1/2 hours, we approached the crystal blue of Lago Pehoe and saw Refugio and Campamento Paine Grande ahead. 

Birthday camp spot with quite a view!

 We set up our tent by the hill to minimize wind but it was still quite a feat. We even put rocks on the stakes to ensure it would stay put! For my birthday dinner, we enjoyed a nice glass of wine and a delicious Refugio dinner of chicken, potatoes and flan (complete with the candles Mark trekked in).  The whole room ended up joining in on singing Happy Birthday to Kerry and I!

 I would have felt a little guilty enjoying these comforts on a typical backbacking trip but it's part of the Torres del Paine experience and hey, it's my birthday! What a fun day with a great guy in a very special place!