Keith and I are back into our habit from last fall of getting up at 6:30.  That allows us to have breakfast, pack, and leave camp before 8:30 each day.  We wake up to great morning views from our campsite of the Grand Scenic Divide to the south and Bass Canyon to the west.

Grand Scenic Divide 3-21-2008 @ 7:12	West side of Bass Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 7:13

     We eventually leave around 8:15.  Right away we reach a huge cactus.  In fifteen minutes or so, we get our first view today of the Colorado River and pretty soon I find my first Mexican Vervain plant.

Beavertail Cactus 3-21-2008 @ 8:25	Colorado River 3-21-2008 @ 8:34	Mexican Vervain 3-21-2008 @ 8:36

     The Grand Scenic Divide is an impressive ridgeline.  Like much of the South Rim on this hike, there is still a lot of snow at the top.

Grand Scenic Divide 3-21-2008 @ 8:40	Grand Scenic Divide 3-21-2008 @ 8:40

     In a little while, we come to two different types of moss-like fungus next to each other.  The black fungus is everywhere on this rock formation while we only find one large clump of the thick green fungus.

Black Fungus 3-21-2008 @ 8:57	Green Fungus 3-21-2008 @ 8:57

     A little farther down the trail we find more flowers and get to see Serpentine Rapids.

Parry Tackstem 3-21-2008 @ 9:17	Mexican Vervain 3-21-2008 @ 9:18	Serpentine Rapids 3-21-2008 @ 9:19

     About ten minutes later, we come to two different Claret-Cup Cactus in full bloom.  They are simply gorgeous. 

Claret-Cup Cactus in full bloom 3-21-2008 @ 9:28	Claret-Cup Cactus in full bloom 3-21-2008 @ 9:30

     Then, within a matter of just a few minutes, we come to more blooming plants.  This entire section of the trail certainly has been a bonanza for plant life.

Blackbrush in bloom 3-21-2008 @ 9:30	Blackfoot Daisy 3-21-2008 @ 9:40	Tumble Pigweed 3-21-2008 @ 9:43

     We pull into Serpentine Canyon at mid-morning, where we take an extended break with our shoes and socks off.  Knowing that the water here causes many people intestinal problems, we carried enough from the rim yesterday to last us all the way to Ruby Canyon.  Nearby is a very pretty Schott's Yucca plant.

Water in Serpentine Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 10:31	Schott's Yucca 3-21-2008 @ 10:32	Keith at Serpentine Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 10:33

     After our break, we are back on the trail.  You would think you would get fortunate and have some flat, straight areas, but no such luck.  Getting past all these side canyons and drainages has gotten old fast.

One of the many drainages to pass 3-21-2008 @ 11:26	One of the many side canyons to pass 3-21-2008 @ 11:27

     I have never seen this much Mormon Tea in bloom, but we are hiking a week or two earlier than I normally do here, so maybe that explains it.  These plants are completely filled with purple flowers.  I later find another Schott's Yucca.

Mormon Tea in bloom 3-21-2008 @ 11:41	Schott's Yucca 3-21-2008 @ 2:03

     Holy Grail Temple is slowly fading into the background behind us while the views to the north continue to be great.  I'm tired and ready to be at camp, so I hope the next big drainage is Ruby Canyon.  However, I can't quite tell for sure looking at the map display on my GPS if the slight dip in the display coming up is another side drainage to get around.  Sure enough, after we round the corner, we can tell that the dip is another big drainage.  Bummer.  Well, I knew today was going to be long at almost eight miles.

Holy Grail Temple 3-21-2008 @ 12:42	North view 3-21-2008 @ 12:57	View toward Ruby Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 1:27

     We finally get past that last drainage and make the turn into Ruby Canyon.  It is huge, so this may take a while to reach the back side.  We eventually reach the water, but there are no campsites to be seen.  I rest here while Keith explores upstream a while.  He comes back to report that the campsites are another one or two hundred yards upstream on the left.

Ruby Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 2:32	Water at Ruby Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 3:15

     I make my way upstream and set up camp.  There is even a nice spot for cooking with rock seats and a little rock table.

Richard's tent at Ruby Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 3:49	Our cooking spot in Ruby Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 3:50	Keith's tent at Ruby Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 3:30

     The creek in Ruby Canyon has a high flow as the water cascades over a series of ledges near our campsite.  Like many of the other canyons, there is a lot of snow present at the higher elevations that face the north.

The creek in Ruby Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 4:41	The creek in Ruby Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 4:41	Looking up Ruby Canyon 3-21-2008 @ 5:50

     We are headed for Turquoise Canyon tomorrow.  Since we have water here, I'm guessing that means croaking frogs tonight also. 

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