20-37.2

17.2 Miles hiked

We woke to the tent dripping with an insane amount of condensation, likely due to our choice of campsite at the lake. 

We woke at dawn, and began hiking at 0700, passing through towering oaks and lovely meadows.  By 730 we could already feel the intensity of the sun

Amber saw a sign that said 2643 miles to Canada, and was aghast.  She had thought the PCT was 2650 miles.  In the blink of an eye she lost 13 miles of forward progress.  Devastating.  

The day once again grew very hot, and we started to get overwhelmed by the temperature and sun exposure. We doused ourselves at every little stream, and were completely dry within 20 minutes.

We found a little swimming hole in a canyon and spent a few hours during the heat of the day dousing ourselves.  

We gained nearly 4000 feet of elevation today on our approach to Mt Laguna. We slowly climbed along the side of arid mountains as the PCT did its usual switch backed dance of gradual inclines.

Rising up from the cactus, chaparral, and manzanita, we camped underneath the first pine tree of the trip thus far.