Day 2 - April 29

Tenting at Morris Meadow (Mile 39.4).  Walked 19.2 miles today.

Woke around 5am and shortly after heard others at the campsite starting to rouse themselves, so I joined them.  Broke camp at 6:15 and set off.  Had a climb first thing, but it wasnt too bad.

Walked behind a couple of hikers, for about half a mile before they stopped for a break. I continued on and dropped back down and walked through a long meadow.  Crossed under California highway 94 and had to ford the first stream of the trail.  "Ford" is a generous term.  I rock-hopped across on two rocks.

Passed under the first interstate of the trail (I-8) shortly after.  Emily and I kept leafrogging past each other and also I passed a couple of guys wearing kilts (not The Wandering Kiltsman from yesterday). Eventually I stopped to dry out my tent which was wet from condensation last night.  That took no time with the wind, sun and low humidity.  Met up with Emily and the kilt guys (I never got their names) at a spot along Kitchen Creek.  It was a short, steep descent, but a fantastic spot with a nice deep pool that we all waded into.

The water was ice cold and felt great.  We all chatted and hung out for about half an hour and then Emily left, followed by me about 5 minutes later.  The kilt guys were making plans to hang out by the stream for a while.  Continued up the trail, crossed a road, and began the long and fairly exposed climb toward Mt. Laguna.  I was glad I wasn't doing this section in the afternoon as even now, it was pretty warm out.

Caught up with Emily after a mile or so and we walked together and chatted.  She's an Environmental Science major from Oregon and spent some time in the desert area of Colorado last summer, so she could identify some of the desert flora (including scientific names!) that I know absolutely nothing about.  We walked and talked for the rest of the afternoon before making camp in a very nice Ponderosa Pine (pinus ponderosa as Emily pointed out) forest a few tenths of a mile off the trail.  There was supposed to be a spring but here but we didn't find it.  Only after we were settled in for the night did Emily find the directions in the water report.  Oh well, we each have enough water to get us to Mt. Laguna tomorrow morning.