Laguna Mtn Camping

We headed out to go Camping on Friday evening. We got up into the lower slopes of the Laguna Mountains around 9:45 to Cibbets Flats campground. We quickly realized that it was very cold and to top it off, the campground was full. We then wound our way up near the highest parts of the mountain at around 6000 feet to Burnt Rancheria campground and found a great camp site. COLD ! First things first, we got the fire going and then everything started to fall into place as we helped each other set up our tents. We had a great time that first night around the fire. There was just a sliver of moon and the stars were brilliant. Several hours later we were all dozing off to sleep warm in our bags.

The next morning My sisters dog "Banjo" and I woke before everyone else. I got the coffee going and took a little morning hike up to the peak directly behind our camp. The grasses were green, The flowers were blooming and the Black Oaks were all full of fresh new green leaves. I sat on top of the peak taking in the views and enjoying a few minutes of solitude and silence in the forest.



After breakfast we all geared up for a hike down the mountain a ways up into the Cottonwood Creek drainage. Other than hundreds of flies buzzing around our heads from time to time, the creek was nice and flowing pretty good this year.










After the hike we headed back to camp for a great lunch and some lounging around and napping.

Linda and I woke up and were ready to hike again. Everyone else was still in relax mode. We hiked up and caught a spur trail connecting to the Pacific Crest Trail. We hiked along the edge of the forest overlooking some mountain and desert views while winding in and out of Pine forest and pinyon-Juniper zone. Later that night we got an invite to go to the observatory on the mountain and look throu a 21 inch lense telescope up at the moon, the stars and the planets...Linda and I went and it was amazing---Super Cool.
Anyway, we spent the rest of the weekend touring around the mountain checking out the eastern escarpment down to the Anza Borrego Desert and driving out of the mountains by way of Pine Valley Road which is a nice adventure in itself.