Home Contact Sitemap
Briski.us
Day 2
 
Up
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Epilogue
Gear List



Photos
 
Mine Abandoned mine? I saw this mine opening on my first trip to the canyon, but never bothered to explore it. There was a definite beaten path leading up to the opening and I had figured since there was no warning signs it must be relatively safe or a dead end. It turned out it went back only 30 feet.
Devil's Corkscrew Devil's Corkscrew
Indain Gardens Indian Gardens. The Western Redbuds (purple flowering trees center photo) were in full bloom. The air was filled with floating Cottonwood seeds. It was absolutely beautiful.
Yours truly Yours truly at Indian Gardens rest house.
Mule Train Mule Train heading down the Bright Angel Trail. The lead wrangler in this photo is the same one I chatted briefly with on the South Kaibab the day before.
Condor10 Condor Number 10 again. A pair of them were soaring above the South Rim.

 

 

 


Thursday, April 4, 2002

About 4:30 they come around and wake you up for breakfast.  I was already awake.  The guy in the top bunk tossed and turned a bit and I didn’t get much sleep, that and the parade of people going to the head.  I was skipping breakfast and going with some fig bars.  I did grab a cup of coffee at the side window of the kitchen (need my caffeine fix). 

I started up in the dark at around 5:20.  I wasn’t too far up the Bright Angel trail before there was enough light to ditch my headlamp.  It was quite peaceful in the early morning hours and I made it to Indian Gardens by 7:45   I munched on a Powerbar and kicked back and took a nice siesta.  I geared up again after my 10 minute power nap, refilled the water bladder and continued on.  I am glad I refilled the bladder at Indian Gardens due to the fact that the Park Service had not turned on the water yet at the rest house.  They would by the end of the week.  I made pretty good time heading up Bright Angel, but as I neared the top I started to run into more day hikers/tourist from the rim, quite literally.  I understand that not everyone understands the trail etiquette of  uphill hikers having the right of way, however at least excuse yourself after bumping into me.  This is about the only time I dislike hiking on Bight Angel, that last mile/mile-and-a-half. 

 I stopped and stepped to the side to let a mule train pass. Ironically the lead wrangler was the same gentleman I spoke to leading a mule train up the South Kaibab yesterday.  After the mules passed, from around a bend, came a little boy by himself running after the mules.  I thought this was a little strange that he was out here by himself.  I stopped him and asked him where he was going in such a hurry.  He said he was trying to catch the mules.  <grin>   I saw his mother now racing down the trail to catch up with him.   He was quite curious about my bite valve and hose hanging off my pack.  I explained to him what it was for and he exclaimed, “Well that’s a good idea,” then raced off again after the mules, his exhausted mother not too far behind.  <Bigger Grin> I stopped again to give a little girl’s family a band-aid from my med kit, and then finally made it to the top around 11:10.   I ditched my pack in my car and made my way over for lunch at Bright Angel Lodge.  While waiting for my hotel room to become available I had a splendid opportunity to watch the condors soar overhead.

 

Trails:  Bright Angel Trail.  This trail is a corridor trail and is well maintained.  All junctions are marked with signs.  There is water at Indian Gardens, 3 mile and 1-1/2 mile rest houses There are toilets at Indian Gardens and 1-1/2 mile rest house. There is an emergency phone at the Indian Gardens.  The trail is very wide in most places.  Expect to be passed by mule trains heading down to Phantom Ranch and Plateau Point.

Distance traveled: 9 miles. Time: 5 hrs 50 min. 

Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous.  

 
Back Next
Copyright © 2006 Michael John Briski. All rights reserved