Keith and I have the 5:00 breakfast this morning, which allows us to get on the trail early.  He has never done that part of the Tonto Trail between the Tipoff Point and Indian Garden, so he is going up the South Kaibab Trail and picking up that section.  I've already done that stretch, so I'm going up the traditional route.  Since he is a much faster uphill hiker than I am, he will probably still beat me to Indian Garden.  You are now allowed to exit the campground to the south.  That was barricaded off the last few times I was here.

	Leaving the campground 4-28-2011 @ 6:21

     I reach the Silver suspension bridge in a few minutes, cross it, and am soon looking back toward it and the Kaibab suspension bridge.

Silver suspension bridge 4-28-2011 @ 6:25	Bridge trail sign 4-28-2011 @ 6:28	Silver and Black bridges 4-28-2011 @ 6:30

     I find a strange, shadowy figure on the trail.

	A shadowy figure 4-28-2011 @ 6:51

     As I leave the River Trail and turn up the Bright Angel Trail, I notice they have installed a new bathroom that wasn't here my last time this way five years ago.  I really like this section of the trail as the hiking is very pleasant by a pretty Garden Creek.

A new bathroom 4-28-2011 @ 6:59	Garden Creek 4-28-2011 @ 7:01	River Rest House 4-28-2011 @ 7:01

     I only find a few blooming flowers today.  I was expecting many more.

Prickly Pear Cactus 4-28-2011 @ 7:16	Tansyleaf Aster 4-28-2011 @ 8:45	Globemallow 4-28-2011 @ 8:46

     I've been hiking near a Florida family I met at Phantom Ranch.  I get their picture just below the Devil's Corkscrew.  A few minutes later the daily mule pack team comes down the trail headed for Phantom Ranch.  Above the Devil's Corkscrew, I get the same family's picture again.

A family on the trail 4-28-2011 @ 7:35	The daily pack team 4-28-2011 @ 7:42	Above the Devil's Corkscrew 4-28-2011 @ 8:12

     Just a little ways up the trail from the Devil's Corkscrew the family and I take a short break and they give me one of their apples to eat.  I was talking to one of them and looked away only briefly when a fast squirrel makes off with my apple.

Above the Devil's Corkscrew 4-28-2011 @ 8:22	A thieving squirrel 4-28-2011 @ 8:40

     I say goodbye to the family and head up the trail.  I'm getting pretty close to Indian Garden now.

Indian Garden sign 4-28-2011 @ 8:59	Almost to Indian Garden 4-28-2011 @ 9:01

     Indian Garden is almost deserted when I pull in, so I'm able to get one of the better campsites.  Despite his longer distance to travel, I am surprised to have beaten Keith here.  He arrives in a little while and we set up camp.

Keith's tent 4-28-2011 @ 11:58	Indian Garden campsite 4-28-2011 @ 11:58	Richard's tent 4-28-2011 @ 11:58

     Keith and I have been out to Plateau Point many times, so we forego that and just hang around camp all afternoon.  Tomorrow should be another easy day with only 4.6 miles to go to reach the rim.

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