This was a good hike despite the blisters my new boots gave me doing Havasu Canyon last week.  I really like my new MSR Pocket Rocket propane stove.  It is extremely compact and light weight.  My trip highlights were:

• The great views coming down the Hermit Trail.

• The magnificent stone pillar, the Monument, at Monument Creek.

• The easy day hike to Granite Rapids.

• The massive Salt Creek drainage and all the nice views of the South Rim.

• I really enjoyed my campsite at Horn Creek too.

     If you are doing this hike, I have the following recommendations:

• This hike is suitable for either direction.  It makes sense to me to do it from west to east and spend your last night at Indian Garden.  That way you will have a nice camping spot at Indian Garden with piped water and also an easy 4.6 mile hike out the last day.  That sure beats an 8.5 mile hike out the Hermit from Monument Creek.

• Much of the water at Monument Creek flows underground.  I found water above ground a few hundred yards downstream of the campsites in the creek bed.  However, it quickly went underground after a short distance, not to be seen again until Granite Rapids.

• The day hike to Granite Rapids was very easy once below the switchbacks at the Monument and through the rough start of the creek bed.

• Both the descent from the Tonto into Monument Creek and the climb out of Monument Creek up to the Tonto are a little tougher than regular Tonto hiking.

• While there is a spring at Cedar Spring, it is a hundred yards or so downstream of the trail crossing.  There was water for me at Salt Creek, but as the name implies, it is salty.  I also had lots of water in Horn Creek, but due to its high uranium content, probably should not be used except in emergencies.  None of these three locations is considered to have perennial water, hence none should be relied upon to have water.

     I had planned on doing Tanner - Beamer - Little Colorado solo in three days, but with these blisters, I cancelled that trip.  I am definitely making some changes in these new boots to the footbed liners or maybe going back to my old, trusty brand.  Next spring I am doing Tanner - Escalante - Grandview and a Colorado River rafting trip. 

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