ALL HIKERS

DAY 3: THE CONFLUENCE TO PALISADES CREEK

     We only have about six miles to go today to Palisades Creek, so there's no need to get around early.  We leave around 8:30.  Our campsite last night was a little small, but it is the only place you can camp between the Confluence and Palisades Creek.

Looking toward the Confluence
10-15-2016 @ 8:36
Our campsite last night
10-15-2016 @ 8:36

     The Beamer Trail is very easy walking and substantially level.  However, the irritating thing about it is having to continually contour in and then out again to get past all the drainages that intersect the trail.  I've not counted how many drainages there are, but it seems like twenty-five.

One of the many drainages
10-15-2016 @ 9:36
Walking the Beamer
10-15-2016 @ 11:21
One of the many drainages
10-15-2016 @ 11:47

     The trail is high above the Colorado River where there are great views looking both up and down stream.

Looking up River
10-15-2016 @ 10:09
Looking down River
10-15-2016 @ 10:31

     The only place with some minor exposure is just before we reach Palisades Creek.  Here, the trail is a little narrow in a few places with large drop-offs on the River side.

   
  Very minor exposure
10-15-2016 @ 12:37
 

     We finally get past the last drainage and are high above Palisades Creek looking down on our camp spot.  It is still a lengthy descent down there.

Looking down on Palisades Creek
10-15-2016 @ 1:17
Descending into Palisades Creek
10-15-2016 @ 1:17

     We pull into the first area we come to, which has lots of trees.  I have camped before farther down in the open.  While resting and before setting up our tents, we discuss whether to move camp downstream to Espejo Creek.  That would make our hike tomorrow shorter, but I am a lot more tired right now than I thought I would be.  We take a vote and agree to stay here.

Richard's tent
10-15-2016 @ 5:20
Jonathan & Pete's tent
10-15-2016 @ 5:20
Richard Erbe's bivy
10-15-2016 @ 5:21

     Everyone sets up their tent and then Pete announces that he is going to go out to the River and bathe.  I've got to see this as I'm not sure he understands that the water is always a near constant 45 degree temperature.  After putting one foot in, he has an abrupt change of plans.

     Tomorrow we are hiking over to Tanner Rapids and then up the Tanner to the top of the Redwall for the night.  Since we have a long, hard hike tomorrow, we agree to get up and leave early.

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