I'm up around 6:00, eat, pack my gear, say goodbye to my new friends, and leave camp just before 7:30.  This is a great day to hike with crystal clear weather.

North view from the trail 4-30-2009 @ 7:39	Looking up at Horseshoe Mesa 4-30-2009 @ 8:02

     Blooming flowers and cactus are everywhere on the Tonto platform.

Globemallow 4-30-2009 @ 8:10	Purple Mat 4-30-2009 @ 8:44	Trailing Four O'Clock 4-30-2009 @ 8:57

     In about an hour, I reach the junction where the Tonto Trail meets the north approach off Horseshoe Mesa.  In the middle of the large cairn marking the intersection is an old mining drill stem.

Cairn at north approach intersection 4-30-2009 @ 8:18	Looking up the north approach 4-30-2009 @ 8:18

     There are lots of the usual desert plants and the blooming cactus are simply gorgeous. 

Mormon Tea 4-30-2009 @ 8:19	Blackbrush 4-30-2009 @ 8:19	Century Plant 4-30-2009 @ 8:42

Hedgehog Cactus 4-30-2009 @ 9:10	Yucca 4-30-2009 @ 8:50	Prickly Pear Cactus 4-30-2009 @ 9:29

     Following a friend's advice, I drop my pack on the Tonto Trail near the highest point and make my way north to the edge.  Someone has done a lot of work part way there to make a large cairn out of rocks, but one of his creations has collapsed.  The views from the edge are very good.

Large cairn 4-30-2009 @ 8:56	Fallen cairn 4-30-2009 @ 8:56

Angel's Gate 4-30-2009 @ 8:46	West view from the edge 4-30-2009 @ 9:07	Northeast view from the edge 4-30-2009 @ 9:07

     I head back to the Tonto Trail, pick up my pack, and continue to the east.  There are more pretty flowers everywhere.

Brittlebush 4-30-2009 @ 9:49	Purple Sage 4-30-2009 @ 11:00	Fleabane Daisy 4-30-2009 @ 11:08

     I can see Ayer Point to the east as I turn south near Hance Creek.  In another half-hour, I'm getting pretty close and it looks like the primo site by the big cottonwood tree is vacant.  Another ten minutes and I pull into camp.  Hot digity.  That big tree means I'll have shade for lunch and then be able to take a nice nap out of the sun.  A small friend observes me from his perch on a rock.  The two ravens assigned to my hike report for duty late, finally arriving around 3:00.  Apparently their dispatcher forgot to tell them that I carry a Foodsack, so my stuff is completely protected from critter attack.  After about an hour of unsuccessful efforts, the ravens move on, presumably looking for easier pickings.

Hance Creek south bound 4-30-2009 @ 10:34	Primo site at Hance Creek 4-30-2009 @ 11:19	Plateau Lizzard 4-30-2009 @ 3:22

          While this is a great campsite because of all the shade, the frogs have already started croaking from the creek, which is only a few feet away.  Because I am a very light sleeper, all this noise is unacceptable and will probably only get worse after dark.  Around 4:00 I move my stuff up the hill and as far away from the creek as possible.  The increased distance from the creek is the best I can do to combat the effects of all the frog croaking.

     Someone has made a feeble attempt at building a rock chair at my new campsite.  Maybe they have not been to the "Throne Room" at Deer Springs just above Deer Creek.  The stone slab chairs there are absolutely amazing and must have taken a monumental effort to construct.  A little later, two guys wander into camp after a day of exploring Hance Creek downstream.  They were scheduled to go to Havasu Canyon, but that trip got cancelled by the Havasupai Tribe a few days ago due to an outbreak of swine flu at the Village of Supai.  At this late date, Hance Creek was the only use area available for them here.

Rock chair 4-30-2009 @ 4:23	My campsite the second night 4-30-2009 @ 4:24	Two guys from Ohio 4-30-2009 @ 4:44

     I'm going to try to get away early tomorrow morning and beat the heat going up to Horseshoe Mesa.  I'm looking forward to exploring the mine just above Page Springs.

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