PCT day 3. Laguna and beyond.

Start mile 32.0, end at mile 45.8 on a ridge line bushwhacked campsite.

13.8 total miles.

Elevation from 4,000 to 6150 summit of ridge down to 5840 feet at camp.

High temperature 58, tonight forecast low 28-32 on the ridge. Mostly cloudy day, light winds.

I awoke again to the wonderful soothing sound of mini waterfalls running near my tent. There’s currently so much water in the desert! It actually feels like hiking in Kansas in the spring! Thank you historic winter rainfall!

Breakfast was 2 packs of oatmeal. Pretty simple. Zack and I hit the trail around 8:00, aiming for Laguna lodge for a mid day snack. The morning was once again calm and damp. We began an immediate climb up to a ridge.

We came across an unexpected sign. Not wanting to be blown up, we stuck close to the trail! Notice the lush green hills in the background. There’s desert out here somewhere, correct?

Once across the ridge we began another steep climb up to Laguna. The landscape slowly changed from nice green desert to pine forest. The trail also changed from rock and sand to more dirt and rock.

We walked through the pine forest, listening to the 5-10MPH breezes blow through the trees. The pine smell was incredible! The slight breeze felt really cool. Temps up at 6,000 feet are significantly cooler than where we started at 2,800 feet.

Zack and I ended up grabbing lunch with friends at the Laguna lodge. I had a bbq beef sandwich and salad. Eating those greens was so good! Fruits and vegetables are now a delicacy.

Let me introduce everyone in the picture above. From left, Tom, 68 years old, is a pilot and has built himself 3 airplanes. He’s a super friendly fella. He told us about the time he was flying a plane and the propeller came off!! He rim hikes the Grand Canyon every year. Kevin is from Cologne, Germany. “Outlier” (trail name because she bounces from person to person talking), Joshua, from Hong Kong. Very friendly, always smiling and carries an insane amount of camera gear and different lenses. He may weigh 120lbs! Then Zach from NYC, Queens. He does stage set up and sound for rock bands such as Joan Jett, Foo Fighters, Steve Winwood, and formerly Aerosmith. He’s always full of good stories!

Zach and I were getting ready to leave Laguna when Ollie (pronounced Oah-lee) from Switzerland showed up! Zach and I were amazed because Ollie started a day later than we did, so he hiked 40+ miles for his first 2 days, and did not look tired. He said he wanted to catch up to Zach and I. We hit it off well in the pre PCT camp at Scout and Frodo’s (more trail names). We teased Ollie about possibly getting a car ride because he still looked fresh! He assured us he did hike the 40+ in 2 days with absolutely no soreness. Come to find out he trains for and runs marathons in the Alps!! No wonder!

After getting reacquainted with Ollie, the 4 of us (Zach, Ollie, Tom and myself) left Laguna and hiked down to the bushwhacked campsite for the evening. Outlier and Alex with the beer showed up, but Alex ended up hiking on.

After Alex left, we cooked dinner. I had Ramen and instant potatoes with a handful of freeze dried veggies that my cousin Michelle and her husband Chad gave me. They make a huge difference. After dinner, we watched an incredible sunset on the ridge. We watched clouds flowing over the mountains. What a day!!!