Beth and I are having breakfast in camp this morning because we did not want to get up early to make the breakfast at Phantom Ranch. The morning mule pack team comes down the trail headed for Phantom Ranch. I wonder how many pack teams arrive each day to keep the Canteen supplied with food and drinks.
We move our campsite this morning a few spots to the north after that group of people in it leave. Our old spot was right next to a water faucet and there was quite a bit of traffic to it. Beth puts some tape on her toes before we head out for our day hike up the Clear Creek Trail.
The Park Service has their vegetation watering system turned on as we leave the campground.
We pass a brass plaque commemorating the construction of the Trans-Canyon Telephone line in 1936. That's pretty neat that it has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Of course, it was quite an engineering feat that the CCC was able to build it that long ago.
We walk about a half-mile north of Phantom Ranch and start up the Clear Creek Trail. It is smooth but steep.
In less than a half-hour, we reach the Phantom Overlook, which is about half-way to the top of the Clear Creek Trail. This rock bench I'm sitting on and the entire Clear Creek Trail were some of the many projects built by the CCC in the mid-1930s. The views from here looking down on Phantom Ranch are quite good.
Beth and I decide to go all the way to the top. Fortunately, it's only about another twenty minute climb. Wow!! The views from the top are stunning. Looking south one can see most of the South Kaibab Trail from the Tipoff Point to the River and just how steep that part of the trail is. It looks like several rafts are tied up at the Boater's Beach.
We discover a small trail that gets you a lot closer to the edge where the views are even better. From here, one can see both suspension bridges and up and down the Colorado River. This is definitely one of the highlights of our hike and was well worth the effort to get up here.
When we get down to the North Kaibab Trail, we meet Eric and his daughter, Mariah. We talked to them yesterday at the Canteen and suggested that they hike up to the Clear Creek Overlook.
Back at camp, Beth discovers that the squirrels have chewed into her deck of playing cards she left on the table. The Park Service has provided two metal ammo boxes at each campsite. While we put all our food items into the protective metal boxes, it never occurred to us that the animals might rip open her card box trying to get food.
I've done three raft trips, all with Canyoneers, so I think I'll go over to the Boater's Beach and see if any of their rafts are tied up while Beth remains in camp. There are a lot of rafts here, but none from Canyoneers. I am surprised that the larger motorized raft shown in the first picture below is a rental that a private group is using. I didn't realize you could rent rafts that large.
Beth and I hang out at the Canteen most of the afternoon. We have the steak dinner later tonight, so we go back to camp to put on our matching Phantom Ranch T-shirts that I bought here ten plus years ago. Of all the shirts I have purchased here, these are our favorites. Their shirts are one-of-a-kind and only sold here at the bottom for one year. Just as we are leaving the campground a volunteer Ranger comes by checking permits. He sees our shirts and points out a feature on the back of the shirt that can't be seen in this picture. He actually designed only one T-shirt, this one. The inscription next to the Silver Suspension Bridge reads, "Inspired by Sjors," his name. What a coincidence it is that we would meet the shirt designer.
As usual, the steak dinner at Phantom Ranch is great. Beth and I have enjoyed our extra day at the bottom. Layover days are wonderful. We have the early breakfast tomorrow morning at Phantom Ranch and are then headed up to Indian Garden for the night. MAIN INDEX | HIKING INDEX | BACK TO DAY 2 | FORWARD TO DAY 4
|
