It rained all day. Most of the time it wasn't that heavy... Just the type of constant drizzle that eventually seeps through everything. Ascending 1200m (to 4300m) in that sort of weather is tough. Danielle, Brad and I were soon ahead of most people, as we seemed to have coped with the altitude better than others. By the time we reached the top of Dead Woman's Pass we were soaked through and freezing. Even though I could see my hands gripping my walking poles, I couldn't feel them. We waited there 10 mins before Bianca arrived with Wilbur, our Inca trail guide, who informed us that the rest of the group was at least an hour behind us. We were supposed to get a group shot at the top of the pass but the four of us were so cold that we got one of just us (looking truly miserable) before walking on and getting the heck out of there! Going down the other side was tougher still as it was a very steep descent on slippery rocks. Plus, there was a very cold wind. As we struggled through, it was amazing to watch some of the porters go past at a jog. The sun came out as we neared the bottom, and by the time we got to our lunch spot, it was really hot. The sun was out just long enough to have lunch before it poured down again. We had to climb up through thick mist to another pass before another steep descent. At the bottom, there was a set of stairs up to an Incan ruins site which was optional, and every muscle in my body was screaming at me not to go, but I didn't fly a million miles over here just to walk in the rain, so up I went. So glad I did...it was amazing, and for a small moment I really felt like I was the only person on earth. It was so quiet and still. Clambered back down and dragged my soggy self the final 20 mins to camp, where I ate and crashed. Despite the rain...a great day!!