Saturday 13 December 2003

This day was supposed to be a hike up the Old Devil’s Corkscrew and Old BA to Indian.  Since I changed my itinerary to stay another night at BA campground, I was going to hike up these old trails and back.  However, a volunteer ranger gave me some errant information about the break in the wall to take on the Old Devil’s Corkscrew.  As I started to head up this break it was clear that I could not see any form of the trail.  Since I was hiking solo, I didn’t feel comfortable heading up the crumbling slope.  It turns out that the correct break is actually before the prospecting hole (Between the hole and the falls).  I could have gotten myself in trouble.  I headed back down and checked out the confluence of Pipe Creek and the Colorado before heading back to camp. 

I sat an chatted with the ranger about several hikes including the Bonsai route.  It was too late in the morning to make Ribbon Falls so I just elected for a short day hike up the North Kaibab.  I hiked all the way up to the pour-off under Jones Point.  I started to scramble up the pour-off when I realized I didn’t leave notice with the ranger that I was heading in this direction.  I decided it was prudent to just hike back and do some reading over at the Cantina. 

I sat and chatted that evening in camp with several campsite neighbors including one young guy who wandered and asked if he could join since he hadn’t talk to anyone in two days (big grin)….  Buddy, I know how you feel.

10 miles covered for the day.