Breakfast consists of the second prepackaged sandwich I bought last night eaten inside my tent with my new gloves on.  Gosh, it is cold.  Tim and I are up and about around sunrise, pack our gear, and start the 1+ mile walk to the North Kaibab trailhead.  Although cold, it is a crystal clear day, perfect for hiking and taking pictures.  We take each other's picture just as we reach the trailhead and then start down. 

     In less than a mile down the trail, it has warmed considerably and I take off my sweat suit and gloves.  Tim suggests that I scrap the sweat suit for future hikes and consider fleece or PolarTec outerwear for its warmth and light weight.  The higher elevation on this side of the Canyon supports entirely different trees and vegetation than at the South Rim.  The aspen trees are just starting to change colors and the pine trees are simply beautiful.  As we make our way down the trail, the different colors of the rock formations are very striking.

     By the time we reach the Supai Tunnel, my knees are hurting some.  I sure was hoping not to have to deal with knee pain again on this hike.  We take a snack, water, and bathroom break before starting out again.  I estimate my pack weight at 40 pounds.  Since the North Kaibab trail is just as steep as the South Kaibab trail I did last year, carrying that much weight gets old fast. 

     There are numerous switchbacks to deal with the steepness of the trail and a couple of bridges to cross.  I wonder how they got the materials for the bridges down here.  That must have been a challenge.  The view looking back at the North Rim is astounding.

     The trail is not quite as steep the closer we get to Roaring Springs.  It's hard to believe that all that water just gushes out of the side of the mountain.  We finally reach the trail junction going to Roaring Springs and head down it.  It is steep and there is a three-foot drop down at the creek right at the bottom.  After making our way to the other side, we climb the small hill, sit down at one of the picnic tables, and have lunch.  The Park Service website is in error when it shows there is not a restroom here.  It is actually pretty nice for a pit toilet.