Sunday, April 18, 2021
Miles: 27.6
Elevation gain/loss: 6289’/4888′
Start: Kitchen Creek
End: campsites 3mi beyond Pioneer Mail picnic area
I got up at 3:45am and packed up, after being unable to sleep from the horribly windy night with my tent shaking, and heading out by 4:30am.
Part way through my day, I passed through Mt Laguna. It was so nice to see trees again, and to realize exactly what had been missing for the last day and a half. I went to the store and bought some snacks and drinks and then hung out at the visitor center while my phone charged in the bathroom. From there, I headed back out into the hot sun.
Towards the end of my day, I arrived at the Pioneer Mail picnic area, which had the last reliable water for 25 miles. I hung out in the shade for an hour or so, cooked and ate dinner, filtered 6-7 liters of water, and packed out with 5 liters. I arrived an hour or so later at my evening’s campsite at 6pm. The spot was sheltered from the wind, and while I could hear voices from another nearby campsite, I had my spot to myself.
Transcending Mountains 