Mt. Laguna Car Camp

I did a one night car camp up at Mt. Laguna to test out my new tent and sleeping pad.  I got the tent for half off on Black Friday and the sleeping pad was 1/3 off so very good deals.  They are WAY lighter than the tent and sleeping pad I was using.  I think it shaves about 5 pounds off my backpack weight.  Pretty sweet.

Pico and I went up there and procured a campsite.  The weather called for sunny with a high of 60 and a low of 30.  Unfortunately, the weather report said nothing about frigid winds.  Oh man, it was SO windy and so cold.  I got the tent set up and it is tiny!  It definitely is an ultralight minimalist type of deal. 

Pico and I did our requisite walk out to Laguna Lake before the sun set.  The lake is still very low and scummy looking.  The wind was pelting us and my sinuses started to react.

We got back to the campsite and made a fire which did nothing to stave away the chill from the whipping wind.  I put Pico inside my down jacket and we stood by the fire and watched the sunset.  The sun had the winter glow to it as it set- frigid and no warmth there.

I made my beef stew and it was so good!  Nothing like a hot meal when it's freezing cold.  I wanted hot chocolate but couldn't find it anywhere.  That was a bummer.

We crawled into the teeny tiny tent and tried to situate ourselves.  I had my feet towards the door with my head in the opposite smaller end and started feeling claustrophobic and nauseous.  So I flipped everything around so my head was by the door.  My head touches the top of the tent when I sit up and it's very difficult to get in and out.  I didn't even bother changing into my sleeping clothes.  I would have had to change outside in the 30 degree whipping wind.  Pico snuggled down into my sleeping bag and his little body was a welcome furnace.

I woke myself up in the night snoring!  I'm not a snorer but I had developed a sore throat and I think that's why I was snoring.  And my sinuses were jacked up from the wind.  They still are and I hope it doesn't turn into a sinus infection.

The next morning I was supposed to hike but I decided to bag it because I really wasn't feeling well.  I made my breakfast (dehydrated quinoa and apples, pecans, cinnamon, and powdered milk) and then slowly packed everything up and headed on out.  It was kind of a weird disappointing trip to be honest.  I'm not sure about that tent and I definitely felt under the weather.

Tonight I have a 2 hour hot yoga class from 10pm to midnight to ring in the new year.

Happy New Year!