[Bloated Chipmunk]

I've caught up to only being 3 mos. behind on my TRs. Woo hoo!! OK, so for my b-day I took the day off & went hiking (of course!) before having a dinner celebration w/friends in the evening. Like last yr., I concocted a loop in the Laguna Mtns. but this time decided to expand upon a trail I'd hiked a few mos. earlier. I parked @ the Redtail Roost TH & started up the RTR Loop Spur trail.

The trail gently climbs up onto a ridge through the trees, w/peek-a-boo views to Wooded Hill & the Giant Golfball.

The big white ball

After a little while the trail drops off the ridge & meets Escondido Ravine Rd., where I turned left. A short distance later it meets up w/the Agua Dulce Rd., & in this area there are some of the biggest trees I've seen yet in the Lagunas.

Big trees

Forest pano

Forest pano

I turned right/north, & entered the meadow area where I would make a left turn onto the Big Laguna Trail.

Meadow pano

Froggy enjoying the meadow view

Once I hit the junction w/the Chico Ravine Trail, I turned left/south to begin my loop back around.

My next junction was w/the Old County Rd., where I turned left/east for a bit, pausing for views to the north.

I made my way up to Pk. 5,961', which had what appeared to be a summit register but it turned out to be empty.

Aptly named Wooded Hill across the way

Empty boxes

Dog tags

BC atop Pk. 5,961'

Froggy wondering why no register inside

I dropped off the summit, picked up the rd., & found a nice rock for a snack since I realized I was well past halfway thru the hike & hadn't stopped for a real break yet.

Blue hole

Morteros

Froggy wondering if a bear will come up that rd.

I found some morteros nearby:

Morteros

I made my way down to the Agua Dulce pumphouse next.

Agua Dulce Creek

I crossed the edge of a little meadow, then headed for Pk. 6,010' but missed the turnoff cuz it was super obscure & I was distracted by a guy asking where the pumphouse was. When I realized I'd overshot it, I headed xc to meet up w/the trail to the summit. The path gets wicked steep before topping out @ a water tower & gravel rd. Around this time a t-storm was moving in so I didn't waste much time. From this point it was just an easy walk back down to the parking lot.

Meadow

Pk. 6,010'

Looking back up the rd.

Storm clouds

Rain to the south

Water tower

Stats

The drive back home was pretty wild. I experienced sideways rain, lightening, thunder, & smoke. I'm guessing that one of the lightening strikes that seemed awfully close wound up setting some chaparral on fire.

Smoke & rain

After stopping by home to freshen up, I met peeps @ the restaurant for a well-deserved marg (or 2).

[whitebark]

I'm glad to see that some of the forest in the Lagunas has survived all of the forest fires.

[ups n downs]

Nice pictures and loop. I was a Laguna Mountain Volunteer back in the early 90's. This was always a great getaway.

[Bloated Chipmunk]

Yes, the Lagunas are always a nice, fairly close-in getaway.