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| Diane, Annette, Kathy, Holly, Aaron, & Dee at Cottonwood Campground. |
Drive Day: We met at Diane's house to drive up to the South Rim where we caught the afternoon shuttle to the North Rim Lodge. We got our cabin and went to the cafe for dinner.
Day 1: We caught the early early shuttle to the trailhead and started down the trail in the dark at 5:40am. Stop at Coconino Overlook. By 9:26am we were at 4.12 mile. I waited for others at top of Muav, resting my back. Kathy having a little trouble with all the downhill in her feet, legs and knees. Annette doing well, and so is Dee and Baxters. Aaron appears to be enjoying the landscape. By 9:55 all others catch up and take break. Five minutes later, Baxters and I take off and arrive at Manzanita at 11:00 for a break. By 11:50 we are at Cottonwood camp. At 2:45 the other gals arrive. The Baxters take off at 3:00 to hike to Ribbon Falls, and I go soak my feet. Met a guy in camp who saw a rattlesnake...he is Billy Hughes and I posted a reply to his post on GCHBA facebook. To bed by 6:30.
Summary: 6 hours 10 minutes hike from rim to camp (nearly 8 hours, including lunch break, for some others).
Day 2: Up at 3:50 to pack and hit the trail at 4:50 with flashlights. Baxters stayed behind until done with breakfast and they got on the trail by 5:30. We wanted to beat the heat through The Box. On the way, I looked for the hiking stick I dropped in March. It is still there except a bit further done the slope (from run off). The Baxters caught up with me as I was looking at it, and Aaron wanted to retrieve it. But we told him "No Way!" At 5:50, the Baxters passed us on the trail. At 6:50 I passed the other girls so that I could get to camp early to rest by back; arrived at Phantom Ranch at 8:50. Picked campsite #9 (that Harvey usually gets with no pack pole). We got some free entertainment as we watched a young mule gallop down the trail, across the creek, as fast as he could. Two gals stopped off the trail to let him pass. He seemed so happy as he turned the bend heading to the black bridge. Shortly after, a man in sandals went jogging down the trail after the mule. Turns out that a female boater was able to get the mule's attention and the mule was soon back in his pen. Put food in cans and went to canteen for lemonade. After sitting inside for a spell, we went out to watch for the other gals. Getting on past 11 and no sign. :-( Oh, oh, look the other, there they are without their packs coming up from the campground. They had arrived at 10:20 and found our camp, and policed the squirrels any from our tents--too late, damage done. They got a Cliff Bar and something else, and ate a hole in the top of my pack. Aarons pack had bite marks and the pocket unzipped to get to the Cliff Bar. When I got back to check on the damage, Dee's pack was also broken into and a bag chewed up. Set up tents and put packs in them. Went back to canteen to retrieve my charger and get lunch, and to change out of hiking clothes into a lava lava. Returned to camp and sat in creek briefly and soaked head. Baxters went up creek to fish. Rest of us kicking back. First time I've ever soaked in Bright Angel Creek without going numb. At 1:30 mule riders arrived (10). No ranger programs on this trip, but we improvised our own.
Summary: 4 hours from Cottonwood to Phantom Ranch (5 hours 40 minutes for some others).
Day 3: Layover day. Slept in until about 6:30. Most campers already gone. Found out others decided to do Phantom Creek instead of CC Overlook this morning, so I went to the Overlook alone. Saw hikers heading up to PC about 8:10 from my view at overlook. Saw a fawn but no doe on CC Trail near bottom. It would run up the trail, turn and run back at me, twice, before it finally realized it needed to step down a wash off the trail. Saw a toad. Got a lemonade and then went to crew bunkhouse to charge up and relax in shade. Aaron was coming down the trail behind the bunkhouse on way to river to fish. Too hot to do any hiking except early in the morning. Soaked in the creek again.
Day 4: Up early again (at 3:00) to avoid the heat up Devil's Corkscrew. Ready by 3:35 and waited for others to leave at 4:00. At Pipe Creek by 5:00 and base of Corkscrew at 5:45. At top of Corkscrew at 6:20 (others arrive at 6:57). At Indian Garden by 6:45 and take top campsite #1 because 2nd toilet out of order. We soaked in Garden Creek in the afternoon. Holly and Aaron waited for the trail to be shaded and then headed out a day early leaving about 3:15. Ranger Elyssa arrived at 3:30 for ranger program at 4:00. Played Euchre...laughed!
Summary: 2 hours 45 minutes from BAC to IG.
Day 5: Left camp at 5:00, at top at 9:00. Others topped out at 10:30. Great trip!
Photos