Friday, 4-28-06: Left Phoenix around 20:00. Arrived in Flagstaff around 22:30. Hit Sunset Crater at milepost 430 on RTE 89, FR# 9122M, 29 miles from Coco's in Flagstaff. Stopped for a night in the cinders north of Sunset Crater [wp 0001]. Got there around 24:00. Beautiful night! Lots of stars and Milky Way to be seen. Little wind. Nice and cool.

Saturday, 4-29-06: Rolled out of Sunset cinders about 07:00. Stopped at Cameron for breakfast. Stopped at Navajo Bridge at Bitter Springs / Marble Canyon [pic]. Stopped for fuel near the Lee's (no relation to Larry L.) Ferry Anglers (Guides & Fly Shop). Drove up past the "Scary Larry" sign and on through Jacob Lake up to the closed North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park [pic]. Some simple map checks and a short detour in the National Forest (FR 461 west to FR 282 south to FR 212 east) brought us back to Hwy 67 inside the park where we proceeded to the Swamp Point Trailhead. One of the more challenging parts of this trip was finding and getting to the trailhead and loop back points. Several fallen trees had to be moved out of the roads: bring your chain saw! [pic]. We dropped off Larry Lee's truck down the road [wp 1015] that leads to Lancelot point - toward Kanabownits Spring. Looks like the sign to Kanabownits Spring has been removed. We arrived at Swamp Point around 15:00 and then prepped and proceeded down the North Bass trail. We hiked to roughly the top of the Redwall descent, arriving around 19:30, enjoying a look at Muav (Teddy's) cabin along the way [pic]. Plenty of water in the springs and along some White tributaries. Legs adapting for first day. For me, bean burros for supper with mandarin orange fruit cup - perfecto! Nice stars. Saw the scheduled Iridium flare completely by coincidence (29 Apr, 20:54:20, Mag. -6, Alt. 11°, Azm. 352° (N), Satellite Iridium 22). 21:00ish, lots of z's...

Sunday, 4-30-06: I think this is the day that decided the rest of our trip itinerary. The impact of this day on our minds and bodies would determine how ambitious the rest of the week would be. We arose around 06:00 and broke camp around 08:00. One thing we like to do is take our time and enjoy ourselves; we are on vacation after all. We descended the Redwall in fine fashion and then proceeded to boulder hop and navigate our way down the White Creek. Plenty of water was flowing. Around lunch, we encountered some slight rain with plenty of thunder heard in the distance. Once we reached the Tonto Platform / White Creek split [wp 1023], general disdain for boulders and discussions of flash floods caused us to choose the Tonto Platform trail - the "old trail". Many descriptions say this trail is difficult to follow, but it was basically a super highway. Cloud cover and many breaks made this an amiable route to Shinumo. We arrive at Shinumo around 17:30. What an impressive "creek" is the Shinumo! By any other standards in Arizona, this is a "river". Everyone was thinking, "carrying packs across this is going to be interesting." Baths, supper, and ibuprofen for all. Funny, Shinumo seemed so cold and fast; a day later and we're playing in it like it was our backyard pool. Up with the tents cause it looks like rain and the insects are prevalent in this riparian environment. Turkey and stuffing for me - perfect in taste and amount. Crab cakes for Gary - very good! Log sawing for Larry L. All is good.

Monday, 5-01-06: Happy May Day! I guess. You know, the month of May is a great month, but it's always been hurried along out of the way for various reasons, mainly school ending. Lots of dayhiking for today. Nice jaunt down to the Colorado. No sense trying to camp down there due to popularity of spot with river rafters. We decide Shinumo-White confluence area is just great. We tried to reach the Colorado via Shinumo. Bass' camp was interesting to check out. Lots of historical trash as it were. Still amazing to us that part of his activities was escorting "tourists" from the South to the North rim on site-seeing trips! We bumped into a river party coming up to see Bass' camp et al. They told us that we couldn't get to the river via Shinumo way because of a waterfall that required significant skill to circumnavigate. What do they know, we have a map! Well, they were right... After Bass' camp (a few hundred yards), the trail splits. A well-worn path heads south uphill to the platform area and beautiful views of the Colorado. We took this route on the way back. We decided to give the rest of Shinumo a look and see about those falls. Well, dead end. Just over the 15-20 ft. waterfalls and around the corner 100 ft. was the Colorado. Much discussion ensued: mostly grumbling at me for not listening to the rafters. Now we had to back bush-track all the way back to the appropriate trail. However, only a short distance back up Shinumo, after much head scratching, map reading, contour looking, I found the old trail that bypasses the falls. Bam, within 20 minutes or so we were down at the beach of the Colorado - and we saw a cool water fall on the way [pic]. Swim, fish, eat, relax, harass river folks (they were, and always seem to be, very nice and friendly - usually amazed to see us there), just enjoy a lazy afternoon at the Colorado at Bass Rapids. We hiked out on the river rafter main trail - what a grunt up to the saddle ridge. Oh, but what a beautiful overlook! Nice vistas. This route was much easier than boulder hopping. This area of the North Bass is 99% rock, 0.9% water, 0.1% vegetation - lots of schist and dark, deep, old, hot, rocks. Interesting, we saw quite a bit of quartz and pyrite and mica (maybe) - lots of metamorphic activity sometime. We got back to camp around 16:30. Red beans and rice - a favorite - for my supper. Kahlua, ibuprofens and sleep...

After today and much discussion, we decided not to attempt the loop trail going out at Lancelot's Point. When we do these trips we are careful and very respectful of the difficult situations we could be in with just a twisted ankle. After thinking about how much the trail seems to have changed, the overall physical condition of our group, and the challenge that lay ahead, the difficulty should we be unsuccessful, we all decided that the wise route would be our original plan and hike out the way we came in. Plan to day hike up the Shinumo tomorrow and then 2-day hike our way out and then spend a final night on the North rim in the National Forest. Wussies one and all, but Barry (we bumped into him and his female friend on the trail) reminded me that it is wise to be flexible in your itinerary.

Tuesday, 5-02-06: Up the Shinumo as far as we could and/or wanted today. Also ventured up White for a ways to see what we had missed bypassing this portion of the trail. Also trekked up Flint Creek for a ways. Shinumo dead ends into a waterfall that is all but impassable. I found a fairly easy route around, but this was a lazy and relaxing day, so no one else was interested in going further. It was quite a view around the falls. After going as far as desired up Shinumo, we headed up Flint for a ways. It was a slight trickling stream sure to vanish come summer. Found a nice shade tree and had lunch and a nap. Relaxing day. Lots of creek crossings. Lots of waterfalls. We played in a few drop-offs and slides in the creek [pic1, pic2], headed up White Creek for a ways, and then watched Buhrman run back to camp because he forgot his TP (guess he was ashamed to ask). We got back around 16:30. Lots of photos and talk. Supper for me was Beef stew and rice - good combo and portion. Gary had brought along some Crown Royal (for medicinal purposes), and I guess he didn't want to carry it out, so he was offering. Larry L. added it to his apple dumpling/strudel mix for a glazing that was really quite good. So Crown Royal, Kahlua, ibuprofens... looks like all will sleep well tonight. For a bunch of guys that don't drink much, we sure seemed to have a lot of booze. I think Larry L. even had a stash... Kahlua is nice in coffee... Mice were somewhat bothersome to Larry L. and Bob - watch and bag your food/smelly stuff as always.

Wednesday, 5-03-06: Begin to head out today: back up Muav Canyon like we came - up and out. We decided to go back over the Tonto Platform instead of up White Creek. We take it pretty easy, enjoying the cool of the day for walking and then lounging under a rock, lizard style, during the heat [pic1, pic2]. It wasn't very hot, but it sure felt good in the shade. We found several nice places to lounge and possibly camp for the night, but with much persuasion, I managed to convince the crew that it would be much nicer to have the Redwall ascent behind us tonight and an easier climb awaiting in the morning. Buhrman protested. I'm beginning to think he's a "protestant" after all. Up the Redwall we went. We arrived and stayed at the same site as our first evening around 17:30. We ascended the Redwall beginning around 15:30 or so. It was perfect; we had shade almost the entire climb. And all were glad we did it today. Chicken and rice for my supper - perfect as usual. Last night in the Canyon proper - always sad and happy.

Thursday, 5-04-06: Hike out. Pack feeling real light now - around 40# I bet. Total pack weight in the beginning was around 55# (including food and water). I think with some cleverness, we could easily get everyone's packs to less than 50# or better each. Kahlua, video cameras, multiple stoves, pumps, etc. get real heavy... From the top of the Redwall to the trail head is basically a very steep up. Just keep plodding. Get to see more scenery on the way out because I'm not so worried about breaking a leg falling down. Stopped at Teddy's (Muav) cabin for lunch. Buhrman and Larry L. couldn't wait, they took off for the rim. We left camp around 08:00 and got out at 13:00. Quite a leisurely pace. Cleaned up and then headed over to get the shuttle truck. Drank a few hard lemonades and beers (what a bunch of boozers - driving through the National Forest UI) and headed for Jacob Lake Lodge for some grub. Seems a favorite dish once in from backpacking is a good ole American hamburger. Gary said it's the best meal he'd ever had! I agree... again. Headed back to the Forest to find a good rim campsite - East View will work. Nice night. Somewhat cool. Threat of rain. Actually got a few snow flurries to go with the patches still left in the shade. Lots of talk. We camped right next to a portion of the Arizona Trail (Kaibab route). I managed to hike a bit of it - do when I can. Nice place. More deer. Good z's...

Friday, 5-05-06: Happy Cinco de Mayo! We protest because of the protest on 1 May: no Mexican food today. Up and out to Jacob Lake for breakfast. Saw the turkey hunters out. Stopped at Lee's Ferry Anglers for auto fuel. What a tremendous fly fishing supply store! If you forgot it, they have it. Stopped at Marble Canyon / Lee's Ferry Navaho Exxon for showers [pic]. Stop at Cameron for people fuel and gift buying as always. Buhrman's wife can tell he's alright when the Visa online shows his purchases! Our Ultimate Consumer. On to Phoenix, our hot oasis of syphilization. After some stops and some minor traffic, we arrived around 17:30.

Overall: What a great get-away! Definitely forgot about the day-to-day grind of everyday life. Some general commentary is in order. The operative word for the week was "hmmmm". Seemed like everytime a situation or something unexpected would occur, there was a collective "hmmmm".

Yes, we changed our itinerary. As Bob said, "we're always changing Larry's plans." Good deal! I personally am glad we all like to be together and that we all respect each other. We all like adventure and seeing new and uncommon things, but we're on vacation for crying out loud. Stress we came to avoid. Wise people can change their direction when required or desired.

I saw a great contrast between Grand Canyon and Coyote Gulch of last year. Maybe I got spoiled, but the flowers and vegetation of last year's trip seemed to add a lot to the scenery. The Shinumo and surroundings are in some serious metamorphic rock beds. I almost hate to say this, but, aside from the crystals, Schist rock is hot and fairly dull - and I love rocks! Getting up on the plateaus was practically a treat for me. Once we got up canyon a ways, things prettied right up. Maybe it was still too early yet for much fauna. There was definitely much more rain last year that this. Although, once away from the water's edge - zilch on the vegetation.

We sorely missed Rex and Marty along on this trip. Both had personal issues arise at the last moment that prevented their attendance this year. Each always adds their special dynamic to the group; although, with any more humor in the group, we may have been "disturbing the peace."

I've got to say this (I hate to but...), Bob Buhrman (a.k.a. Short-meister, Buster, Handsome, Mongo, Mr. Moderation, and Ultimate Consumer) takes some of the most fantastic pictures I have ever seen. His camera is good quality and he has a fairly good eye for catching the essence of a scene. He also takes 10-zillion-gigabytes worth. And I think Gary's quality is right there with him. Looking through their pictures after the trip made me laugh and made me miss our time all over again...

We all really enjoyed this trip. It was quite strenuous - period. It pleased God to grant us a safe and enjoyable trip that we will remember for a lifetime, and we thank Him for it.

Rough Animal Inventory: Bats, deer (several on rim), lizards (skinks, ring-necks, chuckwallas?), frogs (galore), buzzards, ravens, lgb's (little grey birds), covey of doves (unusual), big horn sheep horn, kaibab squirrel, turkey hunters (no turkeys), various fish in streams, very quick snake (indiscernible), and one big yeti (a large hairy humanoid creature).