We have the late breakfast this morning at Phantom Ranch, which is at 6:30.  We're up by 6:00, get ready, and head over to Phantom Ranch.  The breakfast is again outdoors, but is very good.  You get sausage, scrambled eggs, and as many pancakes as you want.  After that, we go back to camp, pack up, and head out around 8:15.  I again suggest that Beth and Curt continue on to Indian Garden ahead of me as I am sure to be very slow.  In no time at all, I reach the Silver Suspension Bridge.  Construction of it began in 1965.  Just before it was completed, a flash flood destroyed everything.  It was finally finished in 1970.  Its primary purpose is to support the pipeline that carries water from Roaring Springs to the South Rim.

The Silver Suspension Bridge 10-14-2021 @ 8:30	Looking back at both bridges 10-14-2021 @ 8:36

     After you cross over the Silver bridge, the trail is quite sandy in several places, so the going is a little slow.  In about an hour, I reach where the trail heads uphill.  Quite a few rafts are tied up there waiting for clients who are hiking from the South Rim down to the River for their raft ride.  The bathroom here is relatively new and is very nice.

Rafters 10-14-2021 @ 9:22	Rafters 10-14-2021 @ 9:23	A fairly new bathroom 10-14-2021 @ 9:28

     Just up the trail a little ways is a rock rest house.  I suspect few people actually use that as it requires you to cross Garden Creek to get to it.  The creek is quite pretty.

Garden Creek 10-14-2021 @ 9:32	A rock rest house 10-14-2021 @ 9:33	Garden Creek 10-14-2021 @ 9:44

     I then start the uphill trek to the base of the Devil's Corkscrew.  The trail is very rocky and the going is a little slow.

	A rocky trail 10-14-2021 @ 9:44

     Some of the scenery near the base of the Corkscrew is very pretty.  I then start the tough slog up the Corkscrew.  This is no fun at all.  When I am nearly to the top, I meet up with the morning mule team headed down.

Pretty scenery 10-14-2021 @ 10:44	The morning mule team 10-14-2021 @ 11:10	The morning mule team 10-14-2021 @ 11:10

     Pictures from the top of the Devil's Corkscrew looking down do not do justice to its difficulty.

The top of the Devil's Corkscrew 10-14-2021 @ 11:16	The top of the Devil's Corkscrew 10-14-2021 @ 11:16

     When you reach the top of the Devil's Corkscrew, you get fooled into thinking you are almost to Indian Garden, but it is still a mile or so.  However, when you reach the signs below, you are getting close.

Trail sign 10-14-2021 @ 12:57	Trail sign 10-14-2021 @ 12:57	The Tonto Trail east 10-14-2021 @ 12:57

    I pull into Indian Garden just after 1:00 and sit down for a while.  After my rest period is over, I head on to the campsites to find Beth and Curt.

	Indian Garden mule hitching rail 10-14-2021 @ 1:18

     I find our campsite and put my stuff down.  Beth is taking Curt out to Plateau Point, but I'm going to take it easy and remain in camp.  Below are some pictures taken at Plateau Point on a prior hike.  I remind Beth to have Curt go about 15' east of the railing, jump down on that ledge, and carefully peer over the edge to see a very cool waterfall that can not be seen from the trail below.

View from Plateau Point 5-22-2014 @ 5:45	Richard and Beth at Plateau Point 5-22-2014 @ 6:03	View from Plateau Point 5-22-2014 @ 5:46
View from Plateau Point 5-22-2014 @ 5:46	Hidden waterfall 5-22-2014 @ 5:46	View from Plateau Point 5-22-2014 @ 5:50

     Back at Indian Garden there is a huge tree right next to our campsite that the Park Service has cut down.  There used to be lots of downed trees here my last trip this way, so the Park Service has somehow disposed of all of those.

A very large tree cut down 10-14-2021 @ 4:38	A very large tree cut down 10-14-2021 @ 4:38	A very large tree cut down 10-14-2021 @ 4:38

     There is a small library down by the mule hitching rail.  Beth and Curt have been looking at some of the books.  The Park Service even has a little box in the middle of the campground so hikers can return the books there instead of having to go all the way back to the library.

	Camp at Indian Garden 10-14-2021 @ 4:45

Beth's tent - Indian Garden 10-14-2021 @ 4:46	Curt's tent - Indian Garden 10-14-2021 @ 4:46	Richard's tent - Indian Garden 10-14-2021 @ 4:46

     After supper, everyone goes to bed early again.  Our plan is to leave tomorrow morning at 7:00 as I am meeting some friends at the South Rim during the lunch hour and I don't want to be late.

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