Start point

Southern Terminus

End point

Hauser Creek

Miles hiked

15.3

Wilderness area

Cleveland National Forest, Laguna Mountains

PCTA ambassadors Claire and Morgan

Pat O’Neill

People I met

The two women from Norway

Ryan, tentsite neighbor

Kyra, tentsite neighbor (her first long hike!)

The day on trail

Today was glorious. I started at the southern terminus and took my requisite photos. If you know, you know. Morgan and Claire didn’t make me feel weird about it. They checked my permits and signed them, and I was off.

Flowers were blooming everywhere. California poppies were striking in the beginning.

There was a really cool historic train, part of a train museum in Campo.

Later I saw chaparral whitethorn and wooly Indian paintbrush. Both were gorgeous. But my favorite was this bee bopping around the jojoba.

Lizards, of course. You know I love them.

From over 10 miles away you could still see the border fence. It’s kind of gross.

But there were tons of these little brown and yellow mushrooms!

And this super pretty little purple star!

Miles pi and 10 were nicely marked!

I didn’t hike with any music, though I did sing to myself a bit, as I am wont to do.

I’m kind of shocked. I’m almost all the way through the trail on the first page of my maps. I can’t believe I went that far.

I initially only meant to do 10 miles, but the water and tent sites weren’t ideal there, so I hoofed it to Hauser Creek. The water is plentiful, but the sites are meh. A group of really loud men took the prime site, though it shouldn’t be used because a creek runs through it. They also built a fire which is…bad, and they’re being so loud.

My gear is holding up really well, and my body feels fantastic. Other than a screw coming off the mounting plate for my camera, I’m ticked with everything so far.

I’m currently ahead of my itinerary to reach Julian on the 26th, so I’ll probably going to take an easy day tomorrow and just go to Lake Morena for some food and then figure it out from there. I’m excited to try a malt from the shop there!