Richard Erbe and I just completed a hike from Sowats Point to the top of Racetrack Knoll.  Today we are meeting Jonathan Upchurch and Pete White at Lipan Point at 2:00 to begin a Salt Trail Hike.

     Jonathan has hired a man from Flagstaff to drive us to the trailhead.  We are leaving our cars at Lipan Point so they will be immediately available when we come out the Tanner Trail in six days.  Everyone is there when Richard and I arrive, so we pile our gear into the driver's small SUV.  Our four packs barely fit into the back end of his car.  It gets worse as Richard, Jonathan, and Pete have to squeeze into the car's small rear seat.  Now I know how canned sardines feel.  The driver has only been out to the Salt trailhead twice, but Jonathan has brought detailed instructions and distances for each leg.  That's a good thing because the driver completely misses the turnoff from Highway 89 and has to be reminded by Jonathan to turn around and go back.  We then do a lot better after Jonathan has the driver use his trip odometer and advises him when each turn is.  We pass a large flock of sheep on the way.  The road is in reasonably good shape and we reach the trailhead in just under two hours and unload.  After paying the driver, he departs for Flagstaff.  We find one other car at the trailhead.

Our driver's car at the trailhead 10-12-2016 @ 3:46	Another car at the trailhead 10-12-2016 @ 4:13

     The trailhead area is flat and makes for a good campsite, so everyone sets up their tent.

Richard's tent at the trailhead 10-12-2016 @ 4:13	Pete and Jonathan's tent 10-12-2016 @ 4:14	Richard's bivy 10-12-2016 @ 4:19

     Jonathan and Pete announce they are going to do a dayhike to a point overlooking the Little Colorado River gorge, a distance of about 2.5 miles each way.  Richard and I are having none of that, so we relax at camp the rest of the afternoon.  We each bought a sandwich at the South Rim and have that for dinner. 

	Richard relaxing at camp 10-12-2016 @ 4:37

     The area around the trailhead is a rolling meadow, which is probably a pretty good habitat for all the sheep we saw earlier.

Area around the trailhead 10-12-2016 @ 4:38	Nearing sunset 10-12-2016 @ 5:59	Area around the trailhead 10-12-2016 @ 4:38

     There aren't many clouds, so this is all there is for sunset.  The weather forecast is for clear weather our entire hike.  Jonathan and Pete return to camp just before dark.

Sunset 10-12-2016 @ 6:01	Sunset 10-12-2016 @ 6:01

     Our plan for tomorrow is to go from the trailhead to the Little Colorado for the night.  Since filtering water from the LCR is not recommended, we are each carrying enough water for tonight and the next two days.  Of course, that makes our packs quite heavy.  I have been nursing a sore throat and bad cold, but feel pretty good right now.

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