13 April 2004

A slow moving morning for everyone at camp.  Easy day.  It was just a short 7 mile hike up through The Box to Cottonwood with a side trip to Ribbon Falls (approx 1 mile RT).  It probably took us a good two hours to break camp.  Our site was really nice under the shade of the cottonwood, but our tents were really crammed in there.  Everyone put rocks over their stakes after I sank a stake into my Teva flip flop. Fortunately it stopped just shy of going all the way through. 

The sun hadn't reached down into the canyon as we started our little hike up into The Box.  As I have said in other trip reports, I love hiking up into the this area as the canyon twists and turns northward.  I was in slog mode due to yet another no sleep night.  Three cups of coffee and no buzz - I was starting to wonder whether I packed decaf.  I was starting to push a head a little too far, for whatever reason I just wanted a few moments of solitude.  I reached the area where I saw the Mexico Locusts in full bloom last time, but they were way past any blooming.  I continued to push a head a little until I was at the base of that little asinine hill.  I know there is a hill in the canyon called as such - if one fits, it is that one. 

I took a quick break and let the group catch up; I could see Ribbon Falls from the trail.  We all hoofed on over and dropped packs at the base of the falls; the cool spray felt good at the base.  We were watching birds fly in under the falls.  It was quite unique to watch; they would hover a brief moment between cascades then duck under.  I mentioned to the group that I hear that one can actually go under the travertine formation.  Sooooo, Eric said he was stripping down and trying it, then Mark, well I couldn't be out done - so the three of us ducked under the cold water.  WELL I AM AWAKE NOW!  Brrrrrrr.  Actually the cold water felt refreshing and quite frankly washed away all the trail dust to boot.

We spent the rest of the morning having Ribbon entirely too ourselves.  After some lunch we headed back up to Cottonwood.  The group campsite was pretty awesome and would later be occupied by an entirely female backpacking group from Utah.  We were scouting for a site that would offer both shade and some space.  A father and daughter group offered us theirs since they were packing out.  Next to the group site this was the best and right next to the water spout. 

It was a little buggy and the first time that I ever experienced any type of bug situation in the canyon.  I explored the campsite area and wanted to learn more about it.  A former backcountry ranger that I have the pleasure of knowing used to be stationed here (See Denise Traver's website at www.hitthetrail.com).  We hunkered down for the evening chatting with the few people that we in camp.  We all walked down to below the ranger station to the creek to cool off.  The ranger station was not manned yet since it was early in the season. 

Eventually we would take our meals and the bugs would disappear from the cool night.  Annie was spraying her rigatoni all over the place while draining the water (more on that later).  Poor Annie had to spend time picking up wet noodles instead of eating a hot meal.  We would turn in early that night.  The next day's plan way a hike up to Roaring Springs although someone mentioned the North Rim.  As tired as I was, I would be lucky to make the springs.