Beth and I are up early and get away just after 7:00, because we want to take the side trip to Ribbon Falls and still get to Bright Angel Campground before noon.  By arriving at the bottom early, we hope to get a good campsite.  The trail is substantially flat and we make good time.  At the Ribbon Falls sign, we turn and cross the bridge over Bright Angel Creek.

Ribbon Falls sign 5-20-2014 @ 7:32	Ribbon Falls bridge 5-20-2014 @ 7:34

     In just a few more minutes, we reach Ribbon Falls.  It seems prettier than when I was here on my two prior rim-to-rim hikes.  Another group is here and takes our picture by the falls.

Ribbon Falls 5-20-2014 @ 7:51	Richard and Beth 5-20-2014 @ 7:50	Ribbon Falls 5-20-2014 @ 7:51

     Beth climbs up behind the falls on an established trail that was not here on my last trip this way.

	Beth behind Ribbon Falls 5-20-2014 @ 7:59

     If you retrace your steps from the falls back to the North Kaibab Trail, you then have to climb up a very steep hill called "Asinine Hill," aptly named because, after your brutal climb, you immediately lose all that altitude back down to your original starting level.  Beth and I are taking a shortcut from the falls to the main trail, so we follow the water from the falls until reaching Bright Angel Creek.  We then walk downstream beside the creek until we find a spot with some large rocks in the water and use them to cross the creek.  The main trail is right there, saving us a lot of time and effort.

Century Plant 5-20-2014 @ 8:06	Cactus in bloom 5-20-2014 @ 8:46

     We soon cross the first of several bridges we see today.

Bridge 5-20-2014 @ 8:55	Bridge 5-20-2014 @ 9:19	Bridge 5-20-2014 @ 9:27

     The trail remains almost level and is very easy walking.  We see a few trail runners and quite a few people doing day rim-to-rim hikes.  These two groups of day hikers are a relatively new phenomena at the Grand Canyon that are putting a huge burden on the facilities at Phantom Ranch.  Their numerous drink purchases at the Canteen and their use of bathroom facilities at the bottom are overwhelming those resources.  The Park Service may have to reexamine their policy of not requiring permits for those doing day hikes.

Plateau Lizard 5-20-2014 @ 8:50	Richard on the trail 5-20-2014 @ 8:51

     Many of the trail sides have extensive rock and wall work.  That must have taken a lot of effort.  Beth and I take a break at the side of the trail on top one of the walls.  Pretty soon one of the Canyon ravens comes begging, but he gets nothing from us.

Wall beside the trail 5-20-2014 @ 9:17	Wall beside the trail 5-20-2014 @ 9:54	Raven 5-20-2014 @ 10:04

     When we reach Phantom Creek coming in on the right and cross over two more bridges, we know we're getting pretty close to Phantom Ranch.

Phantom Creek 5-20-2014 @ 10:24	Bridge 5-20-2014 @ 10:26	Bridge 5-20-2014 @ 10:32

     Sure enough, in just a few more minutes, we come to some signs near the start of the Clear Creek trail.  That means it's only about a half-mile to Phantom Ranch. 

Trail sign 5-20-2014 @ 10:42	Trail sign 5-20-2014 @ 10:42

     The Park Service has an ingenuous way to get free water for use on the vegetation at the campground without having to use pumps.  They installed a large plastic pipe in Bright Angel Creek that scoops up water and funnels it down to the campground.

	Water intake pipe 5-20-2014 @ 10:47

     Beth and I pass Phantom Ranch, cross over the last bridge next to the campground, and stake out a site the other side of the bathroom.  It's a little too hot to stay at camp, so we take our lunch over to the canteen, where we have a beer and send postcards to friends.  Later this afternoon we head back to the campground and set up our tents.

Campground bridge 5-20-2014 @ 11:00	Richard's tent 5-20-2014 @ 5:10	Beth's tent 5-20-2014 @ 5:10

     Tomorrow we are going to do a day hike up the Clear Creek Trail to the Phantom Overlook and maybe go all the way to the top.

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