Richard and I are up early, eat, and drive my car to Hermits Rest.  A little final packing and we're off.

	Richard at the trailhead 10-14-2017 @ 7:36

     The trail is very easy walking and we quickly make our way downhill.  The Santa Fe Railroad began construction of the Hermit Trail in 1911 to compete with Ralph Cameron's Bright Angel Toll Road.  It's hard to imagine the amount of effort it took to "pave" much of the trail with stones placed vertically to provide an all-weather surface.  Much of that paving is still intact. 

Just starting down the trail 10-14-2017 @ 7:45	Richard on the trail 10-14-2017 @ 8:32	A "paved" Hermit Trail 10-14-2017 @ 8:40

     Near the bottom on the left we reach some flat stones that have a lot of small fossilized animal footprints imbedded in them.

Fossilized animal footprints 10-14-2017 @ 8:45	Fossilized animal footprints 10-14-2017 @ 8:46	Fossilized animal footprints 10-14-2017 @ 8:46

     In no time at all, we reach the bottom and the Waldron Basin.  After passing the Waldon Trail sign and the Dripping Springs Trail sign, we loop around to the right and continue down the Hermit Trail.

Waldron Trail sign 10-14-2017 @ 8:58	Dripping Springs Trail sign 10-14-2017 @ 9:16

     The trail is still very easy walking and has only a slight descent.

	Richard near Santa Maria Spring 10-14-2017 @ 9:33

     In just a little while, we reach Santa Maria Spring, named by Mary Jane Colter.  The spring has some abandoned bathrooms, a water tank, a stone rest house, and two benches inside.  Richard takes a short break here while I proceed on.

Old bathroom at Santa Maria Spring 10-14-2017 @ 9:35	Santa Maria Spring 10-14-2017 @ 9:37

Bench at Santa Maria Spring 10-14-2017 @ 9:38	"Restbit" bench at Santa Maria Spring 10-14-2017 @ 9:38	Rest house at Santa Maria Spring 10-14-2017 @ 9:39

     In a few more minutes, Richard gets a neat picture of a tarantula crossing the trail.

	Tarantula on the trail 10-14-2017 @ 9:56

     The views looking up and down Canyon are impressive.

Looking back toward Dripping Springs 10-14-2017 @ 9:57	Looking down the Hermit Trail 10-14-2017 @ 9:57

     I come across some tools and equipment at the side of the trail.  Among the items are a large drill, long bits, and some six-foot round bars.  When large boulders fall on the trail, I have seen the Park Service drill a few deep holes in the middle of the rock and then drive some of the bars into the holes until the rock splits in half.  That method apparently makes moving large boulders more manageable. 

	Tools on the trail 10-14-2017 @ 10:22

     We then find a very large eye hook and an imbedded pipe in the rock that has broken off, shown in the first two pictures below.  The third picture is one that I took on a prior hike somewhere along this part of the trail.  I assume they all had something to do with the cable tram that used to run down to the Old Hermit Camp.

Large eye bolt 10-14-2017 @ 10:39	Pipe set in stone 10-14-2017 @ 10:39	Cable holder 4-7-2013 @ 10:10

     Before too long, we are approaching Lookout Point, aptly named for jutting out into the Canyon and providing nice views.  On other hikes on the Hermit Trail, I have seen hikers getting their picture taken near the top of Lookout Point.

	A point on the Hermit Trail 10-14-2017 @ 11:00

Lookout Point 10-14-2017 @ 11:03	Lookout Point 10-14-2017 @ 11:15	Lookout Point 10-14-2017 @ 11:17

     The first picture below indicates some trail crews are working in the area of Lookout Point.  If you look closely at the last picture above, you can see a porta-potty on the left about half-way up to the point.  We never do see any workers, though.  We then make two or three loops around to the right until reaching Breezy Point, named by Emory Kolb for the high winds frequently encountered there.

Sign near Lookout Point 10-14-2017 @ 11:18	Breezy Point 10-14-2017 @ 12:21

     After lunch, we start down the Cathedral Stairs.  Much of it is paved with stones and several sections still have the concrete poured by the Santa Fe Railroad during construction over a century ago.

The Cathedral Stairs 10-14-2017 @ 1:03	The Cathedral Stairs 10-14-2017 @ 1:04	The Cathedral Stairs 10-14-2017 @ 1:06

     Below the Cathedral Stairs, the trail descends steeply as it passes by Cope Butte.  I am pooped and really dragging.  Just then we see a couple approaching from above.  I suggest to Richard that he proceed on ahead as fast as possible and reserve one of the better campsites at Hermit Creek as I am in no condition to do that.  When you reach the Tonto Trail junction, you still have over a mile to go.  These signs are new.  The last time I was this way the signs were falling apart.

Tonto Trail junction sign 10-14-2017 @ 1:59	Tonto Trail junction sign 10-14-2017 @ 1:59

     I stop for a break at the Old Hermit Camp.  It's hard to believe that this was a luxury camp from around 1911 to 1930.  It had a cable tram running up to the rim, a car to drive around the facility, and a Fred Harvey chef to cook meals.  Tomorrow we are going to explore some above here to see more of the old relics.

Old Hermit Camp 10-14-2017 @ 2:32	Old Hermit Camp 10-14-2017 @ 2:33	Old Hermit Camp 10-14-2017 @ 2:33

Old Hermit Camp 10-14-2017 @ 2:33	Old Hermit Camp 10-14-2017 @ 2:33	Old Hermit Camp 10-14-2017 @ 2:33

     I finally make it into camp well behind the young couple that passed me at the Old Hermit Camp.  Fortunately, Richard beat them down here and got us a very nice campsite.  It's a little warm, so we rest in the shade of the rocks at the vacant group campsite for an hour or so while consuming some adult beverages.

	Hermit Creek group campsite 10-14-2017 @ 3:17

     The Park Service has built a new bathroom since I was here last.  It is very nice.

New bathroom at Hermit Creek 10-14-2017 @ 3:18	New bathroom at Hermit Creek 10-14-2017 @ 3:19

     Once it cools down some, we set up camp and start to fix supper.  Upon unloading my pack, I discover that I left my cooking pot and propane canister in my car.  Bummer!!  Richard uses an alcohol stove and only has enough alcohol for his needs.  I have my camp stove, but that won't do me much good without a propane canister.  A guided group is camped next to us, so I wander over and ask if they have a spare propane canister.  I am in luck and they give me a used canister.  Tomorrow morning they are going to leave two more used canisters, so I should be in good shape for the rest of the hike.  I use Richard's cooking pot to heat water for my freeze dried meal.  Richard is having pizza tonight.  This campsite even has a big rock for use as a kitchen table.

Richard's bivy 10-14-2017 @ 4:07 85	My tent 10-14-2017 @ 4:07 86	Our campsite 10-14-2017 @ 4:07 87

     Tomorrow should be an easier day as we only have 3.8 miles to go over to Monument Creek.

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