After two cups of hot coffee and some breakfast, it's time to dig the first cat hole of the trip

Unlike much of the Preserve, cat holes are easy to dig here because the ground is so sandy.

Idaco Mine Canyon, which I'll hike later today, rises toward the top of the unnamed mountain behind my tent in this view toward the east.

Breakfast is typical for me while camping: granola, tamari almonds, dried apricots, dried mango and beef jerky. Instead of making drip coffee on this trip, I'm trying Starbuck's instant Via coffee. I'm not usually a fan of instant coffee, but this stuff is pretty good.