Mt Laguna Car-Camping near the PCT

Our friends invited us to come car-camping at the Burnt Rancheria campground at Mt Laguna. We had planned to continue our PCT section hike progress and walk in from Cibbet’s Flat Campground to meet them, but at the last minute decided to keep things simple and just meet them at the campground for some luxurious car camping!

On arrival, we set up camp (including all of our sleeping mats – 6 in total for three people) and hung out around the fire a bit. Gabriel enjoyed talking with the three other kids: Meret, Vera and Charlotte, but his favorite thing to play with was definitely Bernard (our camp-stove).

A snake we saw slithering through our campsite
A snake we saw slithering through our campsite
Mark and Gabriel enjoying a beer
Mark and Gabriel enjoying a beer
Hanging by the tent
Hanging by the tent

After a while we set off to find the PCT where it crosses the Desert View Trail. We walked a bit on the trail, thinking about the trail stretching from its southern terminus back at the border all the way to Canada.

We were a Volkswagen convention, with Joel Amy and Meret's awesome vanagon and our beetle
We were a Volkswagen convention, with Joel Amy and Meret’s awesome vanagon and our beetle

laguna-car-camping 9

Look at the view!
Look at the view!
On the PCT!
On the PCT!

laguna-car-camping 14 laguna-car-camping 15

Botanical examination
Botanical examination

laguna-car-camping 16

Cactus and wildflowers on the PCT near Burnt Rancheria
Cactus and wildflowers on the PCT near Burnt Rancheria
Mt Laguna area view
Mt Laguna area view

Tent camping with our car nearby was a real treat! Even though there were relatively high winds forecast (not as high as Combs Peak or Wilson’s Prom but still decently high), I wasn’t that worried about everything blowing away, like I have been with the tarp.

laguna-car-camping 22

Playing catch
Playing catch
Enthralled by Mark and Tiffany's camp stove
Enthralled by Mark and Tiffany’s camp stove
Amy, Vera and Meret enjoying some watermelon
Amy, Vera and Meret enjoying some watermelon

Tiffany and Mark had made a delicious veggie chili / soup dish for dinner – YUM! Then, out came the marshmallows to roast. As the temperature dropped I put on my thermals and silly hat and everyone thought that was hilarious. I am glad to bring such joy to everyone’s day simply by looking ridiculous. I was warm, too!

She has arrived!!!
She has arrived!!!
Coming back from the toilet - seriously I don't know how they manage to make such clean, non-smelly pit toilets over here.
Coming back from the toilet – seriously I don’t know how they manage to make such clean, non-smelly pit toilets over here.

laguna-car-camping 28 laguna-car-camping 29

Rocking the ridiculous threads and harmonica
Rocking the ridiculous threads and harmonica
Charlotte really wanted the harmonica!
Charlotte really wanted the harmonica!
Vera giving Gabriel a flower
Vera giving Gabriel a flower

laguna-car-camping 36

Jeff trying on the silly hat
Jeff trying on the silly hat
Marshmallow roasting
Marshmallow roasting

laguna-car-camping 37 laguna-car-camping 38

We brought out the harmonica which was a huge hit with the kids, Charlotte and Vera especially loving it.

Even though there was plenty of alcohol and friends ready for good conversation, our party plans were short-lived as each family put their kids to bed and collapsed along with the kids, before 9pm.

laguna-car-camping 39

In the morning we enjoyed breakfast and proper coffee, gathered round the fire for a chat, and then packed up and headed home.It was a great break and I feel lucky and privileged to have been included with our friends on their trip.

Breakfast
Breakfast
laguna-car-camping 43
Gabriel and ‘Bernard’ the burner. “I have always wanted to play with this!” he said.

laguna-car-camping 41 laguna-car-camping 42