Participants; Heidi Ekstrom, Jim Koestner, Marty Pietz, Matt Veck, Larry Walker, Michael Walker and Courtney Waters

A moderate hike of about 20 miles spread over 4 hiking days on un-maintained trails with a few spots of significant exposure. We were treated to mild weather and ample water. We were also able to spend some time underground caving on Horseshoe Mesa which is always enjoyable. This was the first time below the rim for some of our hiking team and they certainly seemed to have a good time.

Saturday, May 24th: We pick everyone up at their houses so nobody has to park a car anywhere away from home. We drive off toward Flagstaff around 3:00 PM, a very early start for us. After a fine respite at Denny’s and some browsing at the Barnes and Noble bookstore, it’s off to the cinders North of Sunset Crater. A group is riding quads up on one of the volcano cones, and it looks like some kind of UFO swirling in the dust. It is quite an eerie sight. We are shortly sawing logs. It is a crisp 38 deg F (3.3 deg C) and everyone burrows deep in the sleeping bags.

Sunday, May 25th: Up and rolling around 7:30 AM with a stop at the usual Wukoki Ruins and then on to Cameron Trading Post. We spotted two pronghorn antelope near the road. The food at Cameron was excellent and hearty as usual. The Navajo rugs offered for sale continue to appreciate in value. We stop inside the park East entrance to climb up the watchtower built by Mary Colter in 1932. Onward to Grandview Point for sandwiches built from the cooler, heave-ho to the packs and we are hiking around 1:00 PM. As we approach the notch, which is about halfway down to Horseshoe Mesa, it is apparent that Matt is having some knee problems. We rest at the notch and proceed with the second part of the trek to Horseshoe. At about mile 2, Matt determines that his knee is not getting better and prudently decides to turn back before things get worse. Larry decides to hike back with Matt, help him make arrangements to return home and hike back down to join the rest of the group the next morning. We later learned that Matt’s knee was in pretty bad shape; he received five cortisone injections upon his return to the doctor. Marty proceeded with the rest of the crew. Larry agreed to meet everyone at Hance Creek the next morning. The sun was declining rapidly and Marty did not want to climb down the redwall on the East side of Horseshoe Mesa in the dark with new people, so we camped that night on top of the mesa. While it was still a bit of light, we looked over some of the mining relics left on the Mesa. The entrance to the mine with the track and cart has collapsed since the last time we visited this area. Chile verde con frijoles burritos for dinner with Mandarin orange cups for dessert. Much warmer, but very windy tonight.

Monday, May 26th: We arise and boil water for oatmeal, pack up and drop down the East side of Horseshoe Mesa arriving at the lower mine tunnel at about 9:00AM. Another hiking party is packing up from their overnight at the mouth of the mine and they tell us that Larry passed by about 8:00AM. We must not have spotted him when he came across the top of the mesa. We top off the water at Miner’s Spring and hike on to Hance Creek, arriving about 10:30. Larry is snoozing under a large cottonwood tree. We decide to camp there tonight and will dayhike eastward on the Tonto Trail after a fine lunch of our salmon avocado stuffed pita and a nap. After everyone is awake, we put some purified creek water and snacks in the day packs and climb out of the Hance Creek drainage proceeding eastward. We spot a 3 foot gopher snake on the trail. The wind is fierce in spots and we stop around 4:30 to return to camp so as not to hike in the dark. Sadly, we did not make it to the Colorado. Dinner that night is Spaghetti with Sausage and grilled Onion added to Marinara sauce followed by Pistachio Pudding. There is much less wind tonight. Jim has noticed his knee is starting a conversation so he takes some ibuprophin.

Tuesday, May 27th: After breakfast we pack up and hike back to Horseshoe Mesa with a quick side trip to Miner’s spring to top off the water supply. We meet a lone hiker who has become separated from his group on his first trip below the rim and he is pretty anxious to find the rest of his party. We point him toward where we recall seeing some folks who meet his description and from a distance of about ½ mile it looks like he found the rest of the group. We eat lunch of Vienna Sausages, Fig Newtons and String Cheese before everyone finds their personal cedar tree to snooze under. After nap time, we (except Jim who had decided to rest his knee) grab headlamps and spare light sources to go caving. Cave of the Domes has some new growth and is pretty as always. Our search for Theodore Roosevelt’s signature among the many on the domes is still fruitless. After finishing up underground, we head back to camp for Turkey with Stuffing and Strawberry Cheesecake for dessert. Courtney is diligent about snapping a picture of a mouse who has wandered into our cooking area. No wind tonight, just lots of snoring.

Wednesday, May 28th. No cooking this morning, just hot water for coffee. We heft packs and are hiking by 7:30 in order to keep the sun over the Eastern ridge. Another distressed hiker, this time a woman is having difficulty with the heights and sheer size of the canyon. She also has concern about where to get water. We visit awhile with her and her family and advise them on getting water from Miner’s Spring, wish them well and hike off the mesa toward our water cache at the notch. Two park service employees are hiking in to change out the solar toilets on the mesa. They are the ground crew that attach the cable lowered from a helicopter to lift the complete toilet assembly and take it to ??? We ask them to look in on the family who was having a hard time. We recover our water cache and are out of the canyon by 11:00. Showers, a fine lunch in the El Tovar dining room complete with white linen tablecloths and napkins, some really swell ice cream, and we are rolling for Mesa. We are home about 8PM.