Our plan this morning is to leave by 6:00.  Everyone is up a little after 4:00 and we actually get away a few minutes early.  In about a half-hour, we are passing the island in the middle of the Colorado River.

Passing the island 10-16-2016 @ 6:32	Passing the island 10-16-2016 @ 6:32

     This part of the Beamer Trail is almost flat and relatively easy.  After a break, I find an interesting rock nearby.

Hiking the Beamer 10-16-2016 @ 6:55	Jonathan and Richard in a break 10-16-2016 @ 7:15	An interesting rock 10-16-2016 @ 7:22

     Pretty soon we are approaching the last section of the Beamer before reaching Tanner Rapids.

	Approaching the last Beamer section 10-16-2016 @ 7:29

     The trail then climbs up a ways and contours around a couple of drainages.  Some people find the last few hundred yards before reaching the Tanner Trail to have some exposure, but I have never thought of it as having any.  After reaching the Tanner, we loop around to the right and filter water since there will be none after this.

A large drainage 10-16-2016 @ 8:03	Almost to Tanner Rapids 10-16-2016 @ 8:03

     I leave a little before the others and head up the trail.  I normally plan my hikes so I camp at Tanner Rapids the night before starting the long, hard climb up the Tanner Trail the next morning, but that did not work out for this hike.  The extra three miles we did this morning coming from Palisades Creek make this one of our harder days.  Since I am abysmally slow going uphill, all the guys quickly pass by me.

Leaving Tanner Rapids 10-16-2016 @ 9:54	Climbing up the Tanner 10-16-2016 @ 11:28	Climbing up the Tanner 10-16-2016 @ 12:32

     There is only one spot on the Tanner with some very minor exposure.  Just past it is a shady spot where I take a nap for an hour or so.  I'm in no rush to get to the top of the Redwall, so I don't mind getting up there later this afternoon.

	One area with minor exposure 10-16-2016 @ 1:58

     The Desert View Watchtower, designed by Mary Jane Colter in 1932, has been in view for some time.

Desert View Watchtower 10-16-2016 @ 2:57	Desert View Watchtower 10-16-2016 @ 2:57

     It's just as good that I arrive at the base of the Redwall this late.  It has been very warm today and the sun is just now getting to the other side of the ridge, which will make my hike up a lot more pleasant in the shade.

	The base of the Redwall 10-16-2016 @ 2:58

     I slowly trudge along all the way to the top of the Redwall.  The others have probably been here a few hours.  I have camped several times beneath that juniper tree in the first picture below.  The views of the River from here are truly amazing.  You can even see Palisades Creek where we camped last night.  The others are camped farther up on the point, where the views are even better.  However, that spot is also much more exposed to the wind and it is extremely windy today.  They ask me to join them, but I'm going to continue on the regular trail a few hundred yards more to a lower spot in between two large boulders.  That will give me a little protection from the strong wind.

Top of the Redwall 10-16-2016 @ 4:22	Top of the Redwall 10-16-2016 @ 4:23	My tent on top the Redwall 10-16-2016 @ 5:38

     I set up my tent and cook supper.  I don't know how the others up on the point can keep their camp stoves working in this wind.

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