We have the 6:30 breakfast setting at Phantom Ranch.  Like the steak supper last night, breakfast is great.  After that we go back to camp, pack our stuff, and hit the trail.  We cross the Silver suspension bridge and head westward on the River Trail.

     Before long we reach the River Rest House and the beginning of the Bright Angel Trail.  After a rest break there, we head up the trail toward the Devil's Corkscrew.  There are some interesting views of the South Rim and an area where water flowing downhill has created a sea of moss on the rocks.

     Like last year, the Devil's Corkscrew is no fun.  It seems that those switchbacks are like the Eveready Bunny and just keep going and going.  Showing a picture of the corkscrew section from above to a non-hiker does not do justice to its difficulty. 

     We have lunch above the corkscrew and meet two sisters with children's Pokemon backpacks who are hiking uphill also.  To paraphrase them, they are hiking the Canyon while their couch-potato husbands keep the kids back home.  We are impressed.  As we approach Indian Garden, there are several deer near the creek.  They obviously are not alarmed by hikers.  We claim a nice campsite and set up camp just as lightning and a thunderstorm approach.

     As soon as the thunderstorm subsides a little, we start for Plateau Point.  I did not get to see that on last year's hike with my daughter, so I am excited.  On the way, I am able to get a picture of a rainbow just before it ends.  It is 1.5 miles to Plateau Point.  However, the trail is sandy and this makes it seem farther than it really is.  The views from the point are impressive.  You are 1300 feet directly above the Colorado River.  The river today is a pretty green color.  

	Rainbow on the way to Plateau Point 9-26-2000

	Colorado River from Plateau Point 9-26-2000

	View from Plateau Point 9-26-2000

     We head back to camp.  When we reach the Tonto Trail west sign, Tim decides to explore a little to the west toward the Horn Creek area and agrees to meet me later at camp.  My knees have felt great today.  I am relieved after the pain I had yesterday leaving Ribbon Falls.  Tim arrives in camp about dark.  We discover that you can see the light in the lodge on the North Rim, a distance of about 15 miles or so as the crow flies.  We will be leaving tomorrow just after sunrise and hopefully we can reach the rim before noon.

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