We eat, pack, and leave camp around 8:50.  In about an hour, we reach the Ribbon Falls cutoff trail.  I have heard that the bridge going across the creek is closed.  It's worse than that.  The bridge is gone!  Apparently, a few years ago the Park Service felt the bridge was unsafe and completely removed it.  That is going to make it very challenging for us to get across the creek to see Ribbon Falls.  We climb down from where the bridge was and make our way through the brush until we reach the creek.  The water in the creek is a little deep and is flowing swiftly.  We spend about twenty minutes looking for a safe way to cross the creek, but do not find one.  We eventually give up, which may be a good thing.  We later meet two guys who were soaked from head to foot after falling into the creek trying to cross it.

     We return to the trail and head south.  Unfortunately, we now have to climb and descend "Asinine Hill."  It is appropriately named because you have to climb this very steep hill, only to have to make a steep descent back to your original elevation.  A little further down the trail we come to another sign indicating that Ribbon Falls can be accessed by crossing the creek here and backtracking to the Falls.  Since we wasted a lot time trying to cross the creek earlier, we decide to skip Ribbon Falls and continue on.  I tell Beth and Curt to go on ahead as they will be much faster than I will.  I trudge along, eventually coming to the first of several bridges I have to cross.

The first bridge 10-13-2021 @ 11:14	The second bridge 10-13-2021 @ 11:15

     Just a little later I have to cross a small rock slide area, which is no problem at all.

	A small rock slide 10-13-2021 @ 11:31

     This area of the Canyon is called "The Box" due to its high walls.  New hikers to this area probably feel like ants trapped at the bottom of a box.  I cross two more bridges and seem to be making a little headway.

The third bridge 10-13-2021 @ 12:00	The fourth bridge 10-13-2021 @ 12:11

     I sit down on a low rock wall beside the trail and have lunch.  I needed that break anyway.  After crossing two more bridges, I feel I'm getting pretty close to Phantom Ranch.

The fifth bridge 10-13-2021 @ 1:40	The sixth bridge 10-13-2021 @ 1:49

     When you come to these trail signs, you know you are really close.  I round the corner of the Canteen at Phantom Ranch and find Beth and Curt sitting on a bench.  They got here a couple of hours ago and have already staked out a nice campsite.  Like yesterday, I am pretty tired, so a more lengthy break is now in order.  Beth goes and gets me some lemonade at the side window.

Trail sign 10-13-2021 @ 2:03	Trail sign 10-13-2021 @ 2:04	Trail sign 10-13-2021 @ 2:15

     After my extended break, we head to camp and I set up my tent.

Beth's tent 10-13-2021 @ 4:35	Curt's tent 10-13-2021 @ 4:35	Richard's tent 10-13-2021 @ 4:35

     While I rest more at camp, I suggest that Beth take Curt over to see the Kaibab Suspension Bride, often called the "Black Bridge."  It was built in 1928 to replace a frail and poorly built wooden suspension bridge.  In order to get the one-ton, 1.5 inch suspension cables to the bridge build site, the Park Service enlisted 42 men, mostly Havasupai Indians, to carry each cable on their shoulders and snake their way down the South Kaibab Trail.  The bridge was designed to carry a load of 750,000 pounds.  Click here to see a picture of both suspension bridges before the original bridge was torn down.

Kaibab Suspension Bridge 10-13-2021 @ 4:55	Tunnel - Kaibab Suspension Bridge 10-13-2021 @ 4:57

Kaibab Suspension Bridge 10-13-2021 @ 4:58	Cables on Kaibab Suspension Bridge 10-13-2021 @ 5:00	Kaibab Suspension Bridge 10-13-2021 @ 5:05

     They then stop by the grave of Rees Griffiths, a trail foreman who died there in 1922.

Trail worker grave 10-13-2021 @ 5:10	Trail worker plaque 10-13-2021 @ 5:11

     Nearby are some Anasazi ruins.  I am surprised that they have survived all the floods that must have taken place here over time.  The circular depression in the middle picture below is called a "Kiva."

Anasazi ruins 10-13-2021 @ 5:12	Anasazi ruins 10-13-2021 @ 5:12	Anasazi ruins 10-13-2021 @ 5:13

     It's getting close to supper time at Phantom Ranch, so I head over that way.  Hopefully, Beth and Curt will know to meet me over there.  Phantom Ranch opened back up to in-house dining last month, but now has returned to take out meals only.  I know everyone will be glad when this Covid pandemic is over.  Beth and Curt arrive just as they are announcing that our meals may be picked up at a side window.  My steak dinner is entirely packed in a cardboard box.  As usual it is great despite the packaging.

	The steak dinner at Phantom Ranch 10-13-2021 @ 5:35

     We go back to camp and I head to bed early.  We also have breakfast tomorrow morning at Phantom Ranch.  Fortunately, it is the late breakfast, so we will not have to get up too early.  Tomorrow should be a much shorter day.

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