We are up early because we have the 5:00 breakfast at Phantom Ranch.  Bob Bordasch joins us at our table.  Both our groups are hiking out today.  After breakfast, we pack and hit the trail.  We are going up the Bright Angel Trail while Bob is going up the South Kaibab Trail.

	Both bridges 4-12-2013 @ 6:54

     In about a half-hour, I reach the River Resthouse.  I say goodbye to Keith and Alan as they will be much faster going uphill than I am.

Start of Bright Angel Trail 4-12-2013 @ 7:22	The new restroom 4-12-2013 @ 7:23	The River Resthouse 4-12-2013 @ 7:24

     There are several pools of water to get past in this lower section of the trail.

Water to get through 4-12-2013 @ 7:27	More water to get through 4-12-2013 @ 7:31

     Then comes the Devil's Corkscrew.  It's not fun going up this, but at least it's relatively cool.  At the top, the Cottonwood trees are shedding profusely.  It almost looks like snow on the ground.

A small waterfall 4-12-2013 @ 7:54	On top the Devil's Corkscrew 4-12-2013 @ 8:27	Shedding Cottonwood trees 4-12-2013 @ 8:40

     I pull into Indian Garden in two and half hours, my best time so far.  I sit down next to Keith and Alan, who haven't been here too long.  For some reason, I'm getting blisters on two of my left foot toes.  I'm not sure what's causing this as I am using the same boots and socks that I always do.  I dry my feet, put on fresh moleskin, and then leave after an extended break.

Indian Garden trail sign 4-12-2013 @ 9:00	Indian Garden 4-12-2013 @ 9:09

     The rim looks so close when you are leaving Indian Garden.  It's really deceiving how long it takes to get up there from here.

Ranger Station, Indian Garden 4-12-2013 @ 9:49	Leaving Indian Garden 4-12-2013 @ 9:58

     After about an hour, I'm at the 3-mile resthouse.  They have a fairly new bathroom here.

The 3-mile resthouse 4-12-2013 @ 10:57	The new bathroom 4-12-2013 @ 11:11	The 3-mile resthouse 4-13-2013 @ 11:12

     The rock formation on the west side of the Bright Angel Trail is called the Battleship because it looked like ships commonly used during the Spanish-American War. 

Looking toward Indian Garden 4-12-2013 @ 11:21	The Battleship 4-12-2013 @ 11:21

     Another hour and I reach the 1.5 mile resthouse.  I find a spot by the side of the trail and have lunch. 

The 1.5 mile bathroom 4-12-2013 @ 12:25	The 1.5 mile resthouse 4-12-2013 @ 12:48

     Then it's time to make the final slog to the top.  When you reach the lower tunnel, you get fooled into thinking you're almost there, but there's still quite a bit of work left to reach the top.  However, when you reach the upper tunnel, you are really there.

The lower tunnel 4-12-2013 @ 1:20	Kolb Studio 4-12-2013 @ 1:48	The upper tunnel 4-12-2013 @ 1:58

     The Park Service has been completely redoing the Bright Angel trailhead.  I'll get to see all the improvements on my next trip out here this fall.

	Kolb Studio 4-12-2013 @ 2:01

     I'm spending a couple of days here before heading back to Oklahoma.

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