Royal Arch hike

ALL HIKERS

DAY 3: ROYAL ARCH TO TOLTEC BEACH

It was another pleasant night. We have an easy day, so no need to get up extra early. After breakfast and packing, I take one more picture of the "Monument" framed inside the Royal Arch.


	The "Monument" - Royal Arch 10-31-2011 @ 6:57

We make the short trip back to the waterfall and take a break while many in the group go exploring up a small side canyon. I'm guessing that Mark will be shopping for shirts when he gets back home.


Waterfall and pool 10-31-2011 @ 7:29	Mark during a break 10-31-2011 @ 7:30	Mark during a break 10-31-2011 @ 7:30

We backtrack some more until reaching the place where we will climb out of the creek bed and eventually get above the Royal Arch. After another short break, we start the uphill climb.


Climbing above the Arch 10-31-2011 @ 8:56	Climbing above the Arch 10-31-2011 @ 9:06

Pretty soon we are on top walking on a level trail and come to a spot directly above the Royal Arch and the "Monument." They look entirely different from above.


Royal Arch and "Monument" 10-31-2011 @ 9:39	Royal Arch from Above 10-31-2011 @ 9:39	The "Monument" from above 10-31-2011 @ 9:39

Bob and I have been a little slow by taking lots of pictures and we seem to have gotten separated from the group. We get our first view of the River just after leaving the Arch.


First view of the River 10-31-2011 @ 9:42	Teddy Bear Cholla 10-31-2011 @ 10:08

We make our way across a wide plateau and finally reach the end, where we have to climb down to the rappel point.


Small plateau 10-31-2011 @ 9:44	Nearly to the edge 10-31-2011 @ 10:18	View of the River from the edge 10-31-2011 @ 10:42

A group of rafts shoots the rapids far below.


Rafters far below 10-31-2011 @ 10:58	Rafters far below 10-31-2011 @ 10:58

The climb down from the plateau was no fun at all as it involves some high exposure, so I am relieved to be down on this ledge. Each person then moves over to the actual rappel point, where Bert fits them with the climbing harness. They are then lowered safely down the cliff to the bottom. Clicking on a name from our group below will play a short video clip of that person rappelling down the side of the cliff:

Leslie	Bob	Tom	Ben	Bert


Ledge at the rappel point 10-31-2011 @ 10:54	The rappel point 10-31-2011 @ 11:10	Leslie ready to rappel 10-31-2011 @ 11:15

Bert is the last person down. All the climbing gear is packed away, we hike just a short distance, and stop for lunch.


	Leaving the rappel point 10-31-2011 @ 11:46

We then continue downhill until reaching Toltec Beach. Our first task is to find a cache of food and fuel that has been left here for us by a raft group. It was hidden well as we initially don't have any luck finding it. With the help of some pictures of the cache point that Bob and Marcey have, we finally locate it. Marcey works on the buckets of food while others lounge on the beach.


Marcey with the cache 10-31-2011 @ 1:46	Relaxing at Toltec Beach 10-31-2011 @ 1:48

We see only one raft group this afternoon.


Rafters on the River 10-31-2011 @ 1:53	Rafters on the River 10-31-2011 @ 1:54	The view up 10-31-2011 @ 3:14

It's Halloween, so Marcey breaks out the orange lights and candy. Now, all we need are some Trick-or-Treaters. Jim rearranges the lights to form the letter "M" in honor of Marcey.


	Halloween lights 10-31-2011 @ 6:54

Tomorrow will be a layover day, so no need to get up early.

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