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Day 3 - Nankoweap Creek to Colorado River and Nankoweap granary

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Wednesday, September 27, 2000

02:00 Caught unprepared by sudden rainstorm. I was up around midnight and there was not a cloud in the sky and the stars were beautiful. Had to run out to put rain fly on but some stuff still got wet. Tent and rain fly are not taut enough and is sagging quite a bit. Sleeping bag is a bit damp.
06:00 Still drizzling a little. I will need to leave the rain fly on while I am gone today. There is some blue sky but lots of clouds. Rain was NOT in the forecast for this week!
06:35 More heavy rain. Not even going to be able to get things dried out today. Canceling Kolb Arch hike.
08:30 The rain not letting up. Just when it looks like it is going to clear another system comes through. I was going to try and head down to the river but I am not prepared for hiking in the rain. I can only hope the weather breaks for Thursday and Friday for the hike out.
09:00 Looks like a big break coming - head for the river.
10:05 Almost there, stop and rest in last bit of shade. The sky had cleared completely for a short while but now there are more clouds to the west. They don't look threatening yet. Pants and boots are a mess, covered with caked mud. Clouds are moving fast - need to get to the river.
10:25 At granary cut-off trail.
11:00 At Nankoweap granary. I almost forgot how tough of a climb it is to get up here. It is very hot now as well. There is no one else here and it feels good to have the place to myself.
11:45 Head back to camp. I still need to try and dry things out some more, especially the sleeping bag.
15:00 Back at camp. Stopped at Nankoweap Rapid first for a few photos, also at confluence of Nankoweap Creek and the Colorado River. Stopped for lunch in a nice shady spot along the creek.

Met some more backpackers, filtering water from the creek near my campsite. There are three of them and they are all National Park Service employees from the Grand Canyon Backcountry Office. They are all fairly new and are just checking out some of the trails.

Hung out sleeping bag to dry and air out. Washed bottoms of zip-off trousers to get rid of the mud. There is nothing I can do about the boots. The waterproofing seems to have worn off and the leather is wet. I should have reapplied the waterproofing between hikes but I didn't expect to need it here. They should dry by tomorrow. Washed myself up real good and did my hair as well. Hopefully the weather will hold and it will be a comfy night.

Refill my own water bottles.

16:30 Head up to visit with my neighbors for a while. They had major problems with the rain last night as well. Only one guy had a tent and he had his rain fly on and stayed warm and dry all night. One of the guys, Mike, did the Nankoweap Butte hike today. Some others went to look for an Anasazi ruin but didn't find it. I told them I think it is up near Mystic Falls, which is pretty far up the creek. They are planning to start their hike out tomorrow morning. I am now thinking of doing that as well and heading for Marion Point instead of Tilted Mesa. That would make the Friday a real easy day.
17:40 Back at camp. Eat dinner and read a little before dark.


Ferns and spring along Nankoweap Creek

Colorado River

Nankoweap granary

Nankoweap granary, Colorado River

Nankoweap granary

Colorado River, Nankoweap Rapid from Nankoweap granary

Colorado River, cliffs of Bright Angel shale from Nankoweap granary

Colorado River from Nankoweap granary

Colorado River from Nankoweap granary

Colorado River, Nankoweap Rapid

Colorado River, Nankoweap Rapid

Nankoweap Creek

Nankoweap Creek

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