Attempted Climb of O’Neill Butte, and a Better “Plateau Point”
Here’s an interesting view of Garden Creek, on the Bright Angel Trail. In the lower-center area of this photo you can see its high, cascading waterfalls adjacent to the Devil’s Corkscrew.
looking into the east arm of Pipe Creek
Burro Spring
I couldn’t find a way into Pipe Creek from the head of the drainage, but it afforded an excellent late-afternoon view.
Sunset from the Tonto Plateau was as beautiful as can be expected.
Above, O’Neill Butte and Yaki Point are emblazoned in the evening glow.
Moonrise over the Redwall spur below Yavapia Point
the familar sight of Indian Garden and the Bright Angel Trail to the South Rim
This would be another night-hike, just fine by me, planned to beat the August heat and enjoy sunset in the inner canyon.
a new sign at Indian Garden – funny!
On this night, somewhere between the 1.5-mile resthouse and the rim, I turned the corner of a switchback and almost tripped over a girl lying in the dirt across the trail! She was utterly exhausted, and her boyfriend was already receiving helpful first aid instructions after a 911 call on his cell phone. I stayed with them at least a half-hour until a medic hiked down to the location to assist and motivate the girl up to the rim, one step at a time. I carried some of their gear up to the trailhead for them.
This would be my last hike at the Grand Canyon of the summer season of 2009, before leaving for the High Sierras to hike the John Muir Trail throughout September.
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