Hot, Steep Climbs and Blisters (Starting at Trail Mile 41.5)

I sound like a broken record, but each day seems to be climbing, climbing.  I find myself wondering if the SOBO hikers feel like all they do is go downhill.  Today seemed hotter than previous days.  It helped listening to a great audio book - The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto.

I came to a stream going directly across the trail, so a good time to filter some water.  As I leave the creek, I start climbing about 500 feet to the Laguna Mountain recreation area.  I finally reach a very welcome and beautiful shaded forest of black oak trees and several types of long needled pines.  The ones I recognize are Ponderosa and Sugar Pines.

Sawyer mini-squeeze is state-of-the-art filtration system.

 I ended up at a very nice campground near the trail town of Mt. Laguna.  I was looking forward to a big juicy hamburger at a famous pub 1/4 mile off the trail.  However, the cafe had closed an hour before and considered it the end of the hiker season.  Really?  There are still NOBOs heading out over the next couple of weeks.

 

 

Nearing Mt. Laguna

Anyway, I ran into several other hikers.  The site fee is $25.00, but the campground allows up to 8 thru hiker tents per site, so I split the site with 7 other hikers.  Had stimulating conversations on a variety of topics, including thru-hiker tips and equipment comparisons.  Fun to sit around the campfire with 3 young college students from Pennsylvania, a foul-mouthed (but entertaining) city tree-climber/trimmer from Jersey, a Mark and a couple of Mike's, a Naval Captain nearing retirement and my new friend Claudia. Here is where I  discover my first blister.  There was an awesome full moon as I took a trip to the restroom.  Here I enjoyed a coin shower. 

Amazingly, not painful.

No headlamp needed tonight.

The next morning, leaving our packs at camp, Claudia and I hiked the quarter mile into Mt. Laguna to resupply our food.  The general store had everything a hiker might need with prices at least 4 times what you would pay at a regular grocery store.  But, we appreciate the variety and I discover foil-wrapped tuna and salmon mixed with herbs of various combinations, pub mix, chips and other things I don't have in my supply boxes.  This will add variety to my diet.  It is easy to get sick of eating the same thing day after day.

After leaving Mt. Laguna, I hike a couple of my favorite days so far.  Went through rolling hills and a large recovering burn area with acres of various wildflowers and flowering bushes.  There were great views and the senses were bombarded with wonderful smells from all the flowers - hiking aroma therapy.

The fragrance was amazing!

White dead contrast wild flowers.

Black dead contrasts wild flowers.

More stark black with white flowers.

 Found a great spot for two tents tucked back in some trees/bushes, which was a plus since we were on a ridge, which usually means a windy night.

Claudia's z-packs duplex.

Trail Happy Hour.

Dinner of  Beans and Rice

Sunrise viewed from inside my bag.