ALL HIKERS

DAY 3: MONUMENT CREEK TO SALT CREEK

     After breakfast this morning, Richard and I discuss our hike today over to Salt Creek.  Richard has camped there before and indicates there is no shade.  It has been pretty hot in the afternoons.  Not wanting to get baked in the hot sun all day, we elect to stay here until this afternoon before moving over to Salt Creek.

     Some other hikers we meet are moving on to Horn Creek and also elect to stay here until after lunch.  We then meet Bianca, a solo hiker from Australia.  She is in the U.S. for a couple of months and this is her first hike in the Canyon.  She went to the Backcountry Office and got three different walk-up hiking permits.  Since her permits were obtained very late, they saddled her with itineraries that were difficult and frequently had long distances between campsites.  We spend quite a bit of time going over her permits, pointing out things to do and not do.  Since she is camping at Cedar Spring tonight, which also has no shade and is only 1.2 miles from here, we suggest she stay here until late this afternoon.

   
  Bianca
10-16-2017 @ 2:10
 

     Richard and I leave a little bit after two o'clock.  The steep climb out of here up to the Tonto is no fun at all.  Tower of Set, north of the Colorado River, is quite impressive, as much so as Zoroaster Temple in my opinion.

Leaving Monument Creek
10-16-2017 @ 2:32
Tower of Set
10-16-2017 @ 3:07

     In about one hour, we reach Cedar Spring.  I camped here once before eleven years ago.

Cedar Spring trail sign
10-16-2017 @ 3:20
Cedar Spring camp site
10-16-2017 @ 3:26
Cedar Spring camp site
10-16-2017 @ 3:26

     When we reach the north side of the Tonto, we get our first view of the River.  It is still flowing a very pretty green color.

   
  Our first view of the River
10-16-2017 @ 3:54
 

     Even though our hike today is only 3.4 miles, we are hoping this huge drainage we have entered is Salt Creek.  It take us over thirty minutes to get to the back side of the drainage.

Richard taking pictures
10-16-2017 @ 4:02
Richard on the trail
10-16-2017 @ 4:12

     The Salt Creek campsite sign is a welcome sight.  The campsites are only fifty yards or so more to the south.  After setting up our tents, we relax a while.  Our arrival time here was perfect because we are now in the shade and the temperature is quite pleasant.

   
  Salt Creek trail sign
10-16-2017 @ 4:39
 
My tent at Salt Creek
10-16-2017 @ 5:08
Richard's bivy at Salt Creek
10-16-2017 @ 5:08
Lounging around camp
10-16-2017 @ 5:28

     Our hike tomorrow over to Indian Garden will be 7.3 miles, so we agree to leave a little earlier in the morning.

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