15 April 2004
GREAT CAMPING
NIGHT! It was still dark out and I just wanted
to curl up in the warm sleeping bag. There was
a cold snap in the morning air, but alas, nature
called. I gave the rain fly a quick shake to get any
excess water off and checked to see if the pack made
it OK in the vestibule. It appeared a shoulder
strap got a little wet and splashed by mud.
I forgot to bring my large garbage bag to store the
pack just in this case. Eric had his and also
hung it up on the rack. I quietly slipped out
of the tent and headed for morning call and stepped
promptly into a mud puddle at the entrance to our
site; SON-ON-OF-A.......!!!!!!!! I sooooo hate
Murphy! Afterwards I would curl up again and
sleep for a few more hours. Great camping
weather.
This was a
wonderful recovery day - an easy seven mile hike
"down" the gradually slope of the N.K. into Phantom
and Bright Angel Camp. Everybody slept in and
it was a slow break-camp morning. Everybody
arose seeming well rested. Mark had the same
outlook as I did about the nights weather - just a
great night to be camping. I had my morning
coffee and already had most of my gear packed.
I wanted to get a couple of pictures of the camping
area. I also wanted to take a few picture of
the ranger station to email Denise who used to be a
backcountry ranger stationed at Cottonwood. It
appears the entire camp was all sleeping in this
morning. As I passed the group camping site
one the gals tents were entire covered in a sheet of
plastic. I guess it must have a leak problem,
but that could also create a suffocation problem
too. I am always fascinated by other's camping
techniques and gear.
We bundled up and headed down the N.K.
We were spread out along the trail; all of us just
hiking at our own pace. Eventually Mark and
Sylvia would press on while Annie, Eric, and myself
would mosey - taking a little Siesta on the
retaining wall.
Mark and Sylvia snagged the same
site again under the cottonwoods. The rest of
us meandered in about 30 minutes later. After
setting up camp Mark and I went down to the river
for a while. I was trying to find out whether
or not the water was turned on at the rest houses.
I was getting mixed reports. So I eventually
headed up and found Ranger Pam again just finishing
up her ranger program. It appeared that the
water was in fact off. I of course wound up
flapping my jaw with her just a little too long.
When I got back to camp everyone had been waiting
for me so they could start dinner. Ooooops.
Sorry guys. I thought it was very nice of
everyone to wait.
The great thing about heading
through Phantom is the Cantina. Where else on
a backpacking trip can you pause to have a cold one.
Since I already had a couple that afternoon. I
decided to forgo the beer and stick with a
electrolyte drink instead. I was a little
dehydrated for some reason and I knew we would have
a good hike out.
