There was rain off and on last night, so I am glad I had my tent.  I have gotten into the habit of putting all my gear inside the tent, so I don't have to worry as much about rain or critters.  After breakfast, I start my day hike to Granite Rapids.  At the base of the Monument, a sign directs you to a series of short, but steep switchbacks down to the creek bed.  The creek bed is a little rough at the start, but soon smoothes out to mostly small gravel.

Granite Rapids sign 10-9-2006 @ 8:10	Start of Monument Creek 10-9-2006 @ 8:17	Monument Creek bed 10-9-2006 @ 8:20

     I travel the 1.9 miles to the rapids in about an hour.  All the recent rains have caused the Colorado River to run a dark, chocolate brown color.  It reminds me of that pre-Glen Canyon Dam saying: "Too thick to drink and too thin to plow."  I relax for about fifteen minutes at the rapids but do not see any rafters.

Granite Rapids 10-9-2006 @ 8:56	Granite Rapids 10-9-2006 @ 8:56

Granite Rapids 10-9-2006 @ 8:56	Granite Rapids 10-9-2006 @ 8:56	Granite Rapids 10-9-2006 @ 8:56

     There are some nice sand campsites on the west side of Monument Creek.

Sand campsite at Granite Rapids 10-9-2006 @ 9:18	Sand at Granite Rapids 10-9-2006 @ 9:19

     The walk back to camp is uneventful.  The Monument is indeed an interesting object.  It really is amazing that such a tall pillar of rock is still standing.

The Monument 10-9-2006 @ 10:19	The Monument 10-9-2006 @ 10:22	The Monument 10-9-2006 @ 10:25

     The trail to camp goes by the open bathrooms.  Since this is a "three-holer," it's obvious that Monument Creek is a popular place.  My campsite is right beside the Monument Creek campsite sign and is protected by some acacia trees.

Monument Creek porta-potties 10-9-2006 @ 10:29	Monument campsite sign 10-9-2006 @ 10:32	My tent at Monument Creek 10-9-2006 @ 10:38

     For the first time in my Canyon hiking career, the Park Service lost my permit application.  When I called a month later checking on my application, the best they could do then was one night at Monument Creek, so I am forced to move to Cedar Spring tonight.  As I am packing, I meet a couple from Canada who are doing their first Grand Canyon hike.

	Canadian couple 10-9-2006 @ 12:24

     I finish packing my gear and leave my nice campsite.  My GPS shows the trail starts up only a short distance south of here.  Sure enough, there is a small crevice with numerous switchbacks to get up to the Tonto Trail.  This climb out is no fun, especially since I am carrying seven quarts of water for the two dry camps in a row I will have.  All the campsites are hidden below in the trees.

Half-way up the climb 10-9-2006 @ 12:59	On top the Tonto Platform 10-9-2006 @ 1:08

     Once up on the Tonto, I make good time and reach Cedar Spring in less than an hour.  The Cedar Spring campsite sign at the drainage is a little confusing since the actual campsite is three or four hundred yards more to the east.  You do have a nice view of the Abyss from the campsite.

Cedar Spring sign 10-9-2006 @ 2:03	Cedar Spring drainage 10-9-2006 @ 2:03	Abyss on the South rim 10-9-2006 @ 2:10

     The campsite is a flat spot on top of a small knoll where I set up my tent and relax a while.

Cedar Spring campsite 10-9-2006 @ 2:10	Cedar Spring campsite 10-9-2006 @ 2:10	Cedar Spring campsite 10-9-2006 @ 2:29

     The view to the north of Tower of Set and out to the west shows some real nasty weather there.  I hope that stuff doesn't drift over this way.

North view of Tower of Set 10-9-2006 @ 3:04	A threatening sky overhead 10-9-2006 @ 3:05

     Tomorrow I am going to Horn Creek for the night.  Again, because of the Park Service permit snafu, I was not able to get Indian Garden tomorrow night.  I replace the Moleskin on my blisters before heading to bed.

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