30 Mar Day 4 – Sleeping under a rock

Hiked 18.2 miles today, At mile 55.9

I don’t know what I’ve come to, but after 4 days I’m already sleeping under a rock. I’m camping above Oriflamme Canyon and the usual tent spots are taken. I found a small open patch near the edge of a high dropoff. I tried, but couldn’t get my tarp to stay up in the wind, so I moved back under a boulder a little larger than a Ford F350. There, I snuggled up to the side of the rock where there was just a little less wind.

Today, I took advantage of the cooler hours in the early morn and early evening and I felt much better. 

There was great scenery everywhere. I looked out across miles of desert that lay thousands of feet below. I could spot the Salton Sea to the east and a snow-capped mountain to the North. Here are a few photo highlights.

I reached higher elevation and at Mt Laguna and saw the first pine trees of this hike. I loved relaxing in the shade of these tall trees.

Here is the trail

The trail was sometimes near the edge of a drop-off.

Here are some Mountain views. 

This is my bed for the night.

Here is the view from my camp spot.