We are up before sunrise.  The wind was really blowing last night.  Our campsite is in a protected low area with trees all around it.  Beth and I wonder what might have happened if we had spent the night at Yuma Point as originally planned, a point which is very exposed to the wind.  We decide to have a candy bar for breakfast, so we can pack and get on the trail around sunrise.  We reach the Waldron Trail junction in a few minutes.

     The trail begins the upward section here.  Beth and I are refreshed from our overnight stay.  We trod along, marveling at the stone-paved sections the Santa Fe Railroad installed here over eighty years ago.  That must have been extremely labor intensive.

Paved sections of the Hermit Trail 10-8-2005 @ 6:46	Paved sections of the Hermit Trail 10-8-2005 @ 6:56	Paved sections of the Hermit Trail 10-8-2005 @ 7:00

     After another hour on the trail, we are treated to one last sunlit view looking down the Hermit Gorge.

	Last sunlit view of Hermit 10-8-2005 @ 7:54

      As we approach the trailhead, a group of six people about my age head down.  They indicate that they are going down the Boucher Trail to Boucher Creek.  One lady is wearing jeans and all are carrying forty-year old backpacks.  Beth and I are concerned for their safety and wonder if they have any idea what is in store for them.  We reach the rim around 8:00 where a guy takes our picture by the trailhead sign.

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