We meet at Moran Point at 6:30.  Art and I take all the packs to the trailhead while Marsha and Shari drive their cars to Lipan Point.  Art and I join them there shortly.  This way all our cars will be at the Tanner trailhead when we finish our hike.  Shari then drives all of us to the New Hance trailhead to begin the hike.  The New Hance trailhead is designated by two "no parking" signs on the highway.  If you are by yourself, it is 1.1 miles from the trailhead to the nearest paved parking area, the Moran Point parking lot to the east or the Buggeln Picnic area to the west.  There is a forest service road one-half mile to the west that many people use to park their cars.

     Shari takes our picture at the trailhead and just after 7:30 we begin the quarter mile walk through a flat area with numerous juniper trees.  The New Hance Trail sign is the last flat place for some time.

     Most of the websites I visited describe how steep and unrelenting the New Hance Trail is.  They were all accurate.  Walking past the trail sign is like pushing the down button on the express elevator.  You better have your pack straps securely buckled and your boot laces tightened because this baby goes downhill in a hurry.  Marsha explains she is not much of a downhill person and Art and I quickly outdistance her on the steep trail.  The dominant feature on the top half of the New Hance is Coronado Butte on the west side of the trail.  It is reminiscent of O'Neill Butte on the South Kaibab, but larger. 

     The inner Canyon is alive with various plant life.

     After nearly two hours, we take our first real break in a grassy area near the eastern base of Coronado Butte.  In one more hour, we reach the last green area in this upper section. 

     The trail now turns to the east and then loops around to the north to what must be the break in the redwall.  We continue on that loop until finally reaching a high promenade with a flat area suitable for camping.  It is about noon so we stop for lunch.  Contrary to what we thought about this being the break in the redwall, the trail again drops down to the east and loops once again back to the north.  The wind has been blowing about 20 m.p.h. with gusts in the 30-40 m.p.h. range.

     We finally reach the break in the redwall and start down.  I have not been feeling well and am not sure what is causing this.  I have plenty of water and the temperature has been pleasant.  The gusty wind makes traversing this downward stretch exciting (actually a little dangerous) as it pushes us around from rock to rock.  We reach the base of this section in no time at all in what has to be the easiest redwall I have ever gone down.  For the first time in my Canyon hiking career, we meet two Park Rangers coming down the redwall also.  They are going west out of Hance Rapids tomorrow.  I am feeling really sick as we reach a flat area at the top of a grassy meadow.  I am so nauseous that I have to lie down.  With how I am feeling right now, I am almost certain that I cannot continue.  Art and Marsha decide to go on to the creek that is about 1.5 miles farther down.  They are going to leave their packs at the creek and bring back water.  I am getting chills, so I get out my sleeping bag and crawl in.  That feels so good that I get out my pads and pillow for a really comfortable nap.  Several groups heading uphill stop and ask how I am doing.  After about two hours of rest, I am feeling a little better and decide to pack my gear and head downhill before it gets dark.  Hopefully I will meet up with Art and Marsha before long.  In about fifteen minutes, I see Marsha coming up the trail with Art not too far behind.  She carries the fanny-pack portion of my pack to help reduce my weight.  When we meet up with Art, he carries my pack.  That is good because I am now feeling very sick again and questioning the wisdom of going down farther.  It is easy to see how Red Canyon got its name with its dark red walls.  The trail below the meadow loops back to the east and descends rapidly along some very fine, red dirt-like soil.  This is an area where one slip would result in a lot of bounces before reaching the bottom.  I found this to be one of the more treacherous areas so far due its steepness and slick surface.  After what seems an eternity, we reach the place where the trail meets a creek and our campsite.  We had originally planned to go all the way to Hance Rapids, but I am in no condition for any more travel.  We set up camp, I recover just enough to eat, and then all head to bed.

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