All Hikers - 2006 Clear Creek Hike, day 5

ALL HIKERS

DAY 5: PHANTOM RANCH TO SOUTH RIM

Several of the guys in our dorm snored loudly last night. I am a very light sleeper, so I did not get one minute's sleep. I guess I can't complain too much, because I was warm and dry. I get up just in time for the 5:30 breakfast. Like all their meals, it is wonderful. Then it's back to the dorm, deliver my duffel to the packing location, load the few items left in my pack, and head out around 6:15. With only one quart of water in my backpack, it weighs in at a scant fifteen pounds. I cross the silver suspension bridge, walk the River Trail, and reach the River rest house around 7:00. This light weight hiking is kind of fun. As usual, Garden Creek is pretty. I meet up with two ladies above the Devil's Corkscrew where we take each other's picture. The snow cover begins just above the corkscrew.


Garden Creek 3-12-2006 @ 7:22	Richard at top of the corkscrew 3-12-2006 @ 8:13	Above Devil's corkscrew 3-12-2006 @ 8:43

I reach the Tonto Trail east sign in a few more minutes. Before long I reach Indian Garden. How often is it that you see the mule corral and Ranger Station with snow on the roofs in mid-March. After a short snack break and a little water, I head up the trail.


Tonto Trail sign 3-12-2006 @ 8:45	Mule corral at Indian Garden 3-12-2006 @ 8:55	Ranger Station - Indian Garden 3-12-2006 @ 9:13

As I leave Indian Garden, it certainly looks like a lot of snow up at the rim. The trail is pretty muddy and sloppy up to the 3-mile rest house.


South rim from Indian Garden 3-12-2006 @ 9:14	3-mile rest house sign 3-12-2006 @ 10:17	3-mile rest house 3-12-2006 @ 10:18

After another short snack and water break, I begin the next section. The snow is deeper, but the trail remains mostly mud and yuck. The 1.5 mile rest house looks like it has had a lot of snow and the thermometer inside shows it to be a balmy 14 degrees.


1.5-mile rest house 3-12-2006 @ 11:41	1.5-mile rest house sign 3-12-2006 @ 11:41	Thermometer inside rest house 3-12-2006 @ 11:51

After my last break, I begin the final leg to the rim. The mud and slop have disappeared completely, leaving nothing but packed snow to walk on. Surprisingly there are several groups headed down to the bottom. Fortunately I encounter only a couple of slick spots. The snow is generally two to three feet deep beside the trail. These two pictures taken between Kolb Studio and Lookout Studio are indicative of the trail conditions the last 1.5 miles.


Kolb Studio 3-12-2006 @ 1:09	Below Lookout Studio 3-12-2006 @ 1:09

I head to the General Store Deli for some food and then to the livery stable for my duffel. Now the long trip back to Oklahoma.

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