The others meet me at my camp spot around 7:30.  I finish packing and we're off.  They tell me how bad the wind was yesterday up on the point, so I'm glad I camped where I did.

	Looking back on the trail 10-17-2016 @ 7:52

     After a couple hundred yards, we reach the high point in the picture above.  The trail then makes two loops past Cardenas Butte and is slightly downhill all the way to Stegosaurus Rock.  I have turtle hiking speed going uphill, reasonable speed on level ground, but am a real speedster going downhill.  I am by far the oldest of our group, so I decide to shift this baby into high gear, motor around the two loops, and put some distance between the others and me.  Anyway, I can't let these "kids" think they can out hike me.

Cardenas Butte 10-17-2016 @ 8:21	Cardenas Butte 10-17-2016 @ 8:39	Almost to Stegosaurus Rock 10-17-2017 @ 8:40

     I quickly outdistance the others by a large margin and pull into Stegosaurus Rock.  It is aptly named because, when viewed from this angle, the thin vertical rocks on top resemble a dinosaur's back.  Looking in the distance toward the trailhead reveals just how nearly vertical the upper part of the trail is.

Stegosaurus Rock 10-17-2016 @ 8:56	Looking up to the trailhead 10-17-2016 @ 9:04

     Escalante Butte is now visible next to Seventy-five Mile Creek.

	Escalante Butte 10-17-2016 @ 9:20

     It is uphill from this point on.  Maybe my large lead on the others will be enough to overcome my slow uphill speed and allow me to reach the trailhead first.  A little farther up the trail I come across some trail crew supplies that appear to have been dropped here by helicopter.  A few years ago, the Park Service did extensive work on this part of the trail after a large rock slide.  I can't see where any new work has been done or where any is required.

Work gear on the trail 10-17-2016 @ 10:19	Work gear on the trail 10-17-2016 @ 10:19	Work gear on the trail 10-17-2016 @ 10:19

     I can hear and see the others below as I make my way to the top.  When you reach these rocks pictured below, you know you are getting pretty close to the top.  A few more turns and I reach the trailhead.

Rocks near the top 10-17-2016 @ 10:55	The Tanner trailhead sign 10-17-2016 @ 11:16

     The others arrive in a few minutes.  We head over to the cafeteria at Desert View and have lunch.

	Our group at Desert View (L-R)  Richard Perry, Richard Erbe, Pete White, and Jonathan Upchurch 10-17-2016 @ 12:20

     Then we all say goodbye and each head our separate way home.

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