Sunday 18 April 2004

The next morning was calm and there were still a lot of clouds in the sky – very little damage to the camp other than some leaves and twigs blown around.  I got an early start and headed out around 6.  the rest of the camp was still a sleep by the time I made the climb out of Monument.  If you are heading east out of camp you need to exit the camp at the streambed and follow the streambed up stream paying attention to cairns – the trail switchbacks out of the canyon onto the Tonto.

The Tonto was amazing and the remains of the storm clouds made for some excellent pictures.  I was really making good time on the Tonto and I made it Cedar Creek by 7; Salt by 8 (took a 15 minute break); Horn by 1030 (took 30 minute break) and Indian Garden by 1230.  The various side canyon and amphitheaters were wonderful and I can see why many like this hike on the Tonto. 

While at Horn I committed a mortal sin in the desert and dumped excess water.  The water between Hermit and Indian is contaminated.  Horn Creek is posted, but the backcountry office is now saying that the water at Salt and Cedar is also contaminated from the uranium mining.  Some now even believe Hermit may be also.  I was concerned that I was going to need a lot of water remembering all too well my hike on Clear Creek where I got cooked.  However this hike was early in the morning, easier, and mostly in the shade (due the storm clouds and the fact that you are on the Southside and well with in the shadows of the South Rim for the better part of the morning). I was lugging 250 fluid ounces of water and I barely used about 50-60 by the time I got to Horn. 

I made it Indian and took campsite 4 looking down the Bright Angel trail.  I have camped at this site before and have enjoyed it.  I kicked back and took a nice break that afternoon – my feet were a little sore, but I planned on going out to Plateau Point for the sunset. 

It was another wonderful sunset at Plateau Point and I chatted with some of the other campers.  Like my last time here I planned on hiking back in the dark under the starts.  There was another gentleman there named Mike whom asked me I wanted to share a cigar with him (he was having a cigar in remembrance of his son who he scatted his ashes off the point just the past year (see www.stevesdream.com).  Really nice and I enjoyed his conversation and  night hike back.

One of the most phenomenal attractions of the Canyon is the incredible people I meet there every time I return.