I am a very light sleeper, but there wasn't much frog croaking last night, so I got lots of sleep.  With only five miles to go today, there's no need to get up any earlier than normal and this should be an easy day.  Of course, I've been saying that the last few days.  We are going to carry extra water for our anticipated dry camp tonight.  We leave around 8:15. 

West side of Turquoise Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 8:47	Northwest side of Turquoise Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 8:48

     We soon come to a section of the trail with some fine plant life and an unusual Graham's Fishhook Cactus.

Beavertail Cactus 3-23-2008 @ 9:00	Graham's Fishhook Cactus 3-23-2008 @ 9:13	Mexican Vervain 3-23-2008 @ 9:50

     In about an hour, we reach the north end of Turquoise Canyon.  Across the river to the north is Scorpion Ridge.  Keith and remark to each other how similar Scorpion Ridge is to Zoroaster Temple on the Clear Creek Trail.

North end of Turquoise Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 9:17	Scorpion Ridge 3-23-2008 @ 9:17

     We only have Sapphire Canyon to cross before reaching Agate Canyon.  That is a refreshing change from the last few days where we had numerous canyons-drainages to traverse.  We come across what is basically a weed, a Common Fiddleneck.  At the back side of Sapphire Canyon, we find the only pine trees we have seen since leaving the South Rim.  Like most of the other side canyons, water is flowing here too.

Common Fiddleneck 3-23-2008 @ 10:18	Keith by a rare pine tree 3-23-2008 @ 10:32	Water in Sapphire Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 10:35

     An hour later and we are at the north end of Sapphire Canyon.  Agate Canyon is the next drainage to the east.  You would swear that Scorpion Ridge on the north side is Zoroaster Temple if you didn't know better.

North end of Sapphire Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 11:20	Scorpion Ridge 3-23-2008 @ 11:21

     We're on the home stretch now and the walking is pretty easy.  We pull into camp just before noon.  Our Alaska friends were right: Agate Canyon is bone dry.  It's a good thing we carried enough water to last until we reach Slate Creek tomorrow.

North end of Agate Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 11:29	A dry Agate Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 11:53	A dry Agate Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 11:53

     There aren't a lot of good campsites at the trail junction, but Keith picks the best one he can find.  I walk downstream about fifty yards and find a site that someone has put a lot of effort into by placing rocks around it.  The weather has been quite hot, so Keith and I sit in the shade the rest of the afternoon.  It is nice to get into camp early in the day.

My campsite at Agate Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 12:37	Richard's tent at Agate Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 12:50	Keith's tent at Agate Canyon 3-23-2008 @ 3:44

     A real plus for a dry camp spot should be the absence of frogs and their croaking.  I guess I will find out later.  Tomorrow should be another nice day with only five miles to Slate Creek.

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