It rained all night long.  I feel fortunate that my wind damaged tent did not leak any.  I'm up just in time to make it to Phantom Ranch for the 7:00 breakfast.  As usual, it's fantastic.  The manager says there is a major snow storm at the South Rim, the shuttles are not running, and the mules are not coming down today.  South Rim temperatures will be 31 degrees for the high and 11 degrees for the low.  The thought of hiking to Indian Garden to camp out in freezing temperatures is not an appealing one, so I think I'll just hang out at Phantom Ranch today.  However, the dorms are still full tonight, so I might be back at the campground again.  Hopefully someone will cancel today.  Finally at about noon the manager informs me there is an opening at the dorm.  I head back to the campground, pack my gear, and go to the dorm.  The dorms have five bunk beds crammed into a small room, a toilet, and a shower.  I am stuck with a top bunk. 

     I go back to the canteen building to write more postcards.  I manage to change my meal reservations to have the steak meal tonight and the 5:30 breakfast tomorrow.  The canteen has seating for 48 and a small supply of candy bars, toiletries, beer, and postcards, but no soft drinks.

     A man I am talking to says he is using the duffel service to pack out some of his stuff tomorrow.  Since I am also hiking to the rim tomorrow, that sounds like a great idea.  You are allowed to pack up to 30 pounds of gear into a feed bag, which will then be hauled to the rim by the mule pack train.  If I had crampons and had some assurance the shuttles would be running tomorrow to Yaki Point, I would go up the South Kaibab Trail.  Since I have neither, I will be heading up the longer Bright Angel Trail.  I have my steak meal and head back to the dorm to go to bed early.

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