Our last full day hiking the first section of the PCT offered up incredible views of the high desert as we trekked through the dry San Felipe hills.

It was time to leave the cool air and breezes of the Laguna Mountains behind and descend over 4,000 feet to the hot and dry desert floor.

Slack packing is a term used to describe hiking part of a trail with a near-empty pack. Even though we had 17 miles to hike, our fourth day was light and fast. Plus we had a bath and a bed to comfort us at the end of the day.

Our third day on the PCT took us from sagebrush and cacti to oak and pine trees. We topped out at 6000 feet near the summit of Laguna Mountain.

Our second day out on the PCT had us doing ups and downs, following roads, and visiting campgrounds.

In early December I travelled south to the warm high deserts east of San Diego. My husband and I were going to hike the first 110 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.