Day 3 (Mt. Laguna Camp Ground to Scissors Crossing)

Start Location: Mt. Laguna Camp Ground (Mt. Laguna Map)

Finish Location: Scissors Crossing (Scissors Crossing)

Daily Mileage: 29.5 Miles

Total Miles: 75.9 Miles

Miles To Finish: 2584.1 Miles

Day Three started at the Mt. Laguna camp ground, after a night of gusty winds. 

(View of Little Laguna Lake from the camp ground on a brisk morning.)

Throwing his original plan of hiking about 15 miles out the window - cause who only wants to hike 15 miles? - Dave decided he would try to make it almost 30 miles to Scissors Crossing.  It would only be fair to disclose that the advantage of combining what would be two 15-mile days into one 30 mile day was that it would avoid Dave having to camp in the middle of nowhere (which would require the carrying of a heavier pack), especially with rain on the horizon.  It also potentially would give him a rest day, if he were so inclined.

So he bundled up and headed out.

(Dave jotting down his starting location in his log.)

As he walked through the mountains of the Cleveland National Forest - the flowers in the desert below made it look like a beautiful yellow carpet stretching out across the valley floor.

The other surprise of the day for him was finding a pop-up tent in the middle of nowhere - about 20 miles into the Day 3 hike.  It must had been set up by one of the many thoughtful trail angels, as it had beverages, hiking supplies, and even a portable shower.  Dave stopped to say hi and grabbed a Pepsi.  Then he was off for the final 9 miles of the day.

As Dave finished up, the weather started to turn.  So he headed to Julian (a small town a few miles away) to spend the night at the Julian Lodge.  It turned out to be an excellent call because by the time he was able to get a warm pizza, the rain had started and the wind was gusting.  Later it hailed and the temperatures plummeted again.  But that was o.k.  Dave was inside safe and warm after a long day.

~Midget Trail Angel