Which Way Is North?

LAKE MORENA TO MOUNT LAGUNA 21 miles (Trip Total: 41 miles) We were hiking by 6 a.m. and the temperature was perfect. We watched a beautiful sunrise as we hiked. We passed under Interstate 8 this morning and then hiked way up the mountainside above the highway.  We did 10 miles by 10 a.m. and then it got much harder as the day got hot. In addition to the heat, the majority of our hike today was uphill. Some guy we talked to last night referred to this section as hiking up a dragon's back. We enjoyed a two-hour afternoon nap in the shade of a big oak tree.  The last two miles tonight were in a beautiful evergreen forest, totally different than anything we'd seen so far. We're camped in the Burnt Rancheria campground in Mount Laguna Recreation Area, at about 5,000 feet. It's busy for Memorial Day weekend. We ate chicken fried rice for dinner and were zipped up in the tent by about 8:30 p.m.

MEXICAN BORDER TO LAKE MORENA 20.0 miles We spent Tuesday and Wednesday night staying with a legendary trail angel in San Diego. He picked us up at the airport and provided us with lots of good trail info. This morning, he gave us breakfast at 4 a.m. and drove us and five other hikers to the southern terminus on the border with Mexico.    We arrived at the terminus just after 5:30 a.m. just as it was getting light enough to see the trail. The temperature was comfortable, almost chilly, in our shorts and sun hoodies. We took pictures with the monument, and pretty quickly got hiking.  The trail was surprisingly beautiful all day. It was far more green than I expected for the desert. Several streams that are usually dry by this time of year were still flowing thanks to the exceptional rainfall Southern California received this winter. The wildflowers were amazing -- lots of colors and shapes and sizes that I didn't know could exist!    We ...

Day 0 - San Diego We spent the day buying food to send ahead, exploring San Diego and relaxing before we head out early tomorrow morning. The highlight was walking around Coronado Island and dipping our toes in the Pacific Ocean!  Our next post will be from the trail! 

Twas the night before flying and all through the night not a hiker was sleeping, not even a wink. Kelly and I fly out of Greenville/Spartanburg tomorrow morning at 6 am which means we will be leaving Hendersonville at about 3:30 am. We spent the day taking care of odds and ends and saying goodbye to friends and family. We also packed. The Things. All The Things. So much stuff!! It will never fit in our packs! Alas! The Things in Their Home. Next stop San Diego where we will spend a couple of days before we start hiking on the 25th.  Happy hiking to all and to all a goodnight!