Richard Erbe and I agree to do an easier hike than some we have done in the past.  He has just returned from doing an ultra-tough hike to the top of Schellbach Butte.  I wanted no part of that.  The butte is named for Louis Schellbach, who was the Chief Naturalist at the Grand Canyon from 1941-1957.  He is the grandfather of two of our mutual hiking friends, Traci Wyrick and Craig Schellbach.  We decide on a five day hike going down the Hermit Trail to Hermit Creek, then east to Monument Creek, then over to Salt Creek, then to Indian Garden, and finally out the last day.

     We meet at the South Rim a day early and assemble our gear for the hike starting tomorrow.  We are going to leave his car at the Backcountry Office parking lot and take mine to Hermits Rest.  To make sure we have the correct gate code, we make a test run out there.

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