I got everyone up early this morning, at 5:30, to start packing up camp. We did good and made it out of camp by just a little after 7:00 and were up and through the hardest part of the trail and into Surprise Valley before the sun hit us. It was a little warm coming up from Deer Creek but not so bad and on the cool side in Surprise Valley. There was even a little cool breeze from time to time.

We made it to camp on the east side of Surprise Valley by around 11:00 and had camp all setup before noon. We had lunch at camp and then started the hike down to Thunder River, arriving there just a little after noon. We hung out next to the waterfalls and in the shade and had a nice relaxing afternoon.

Around 2:00 John asked about doing a day hike down to Tapeats Creek. I was up for it and so was Max but the gals hemmed and hawed and finally decided to stay put at Thunder River. It was supposed to be a hiking trip after all and I personally was up for doing as much hiking as possible and there are some great views of Thunder River from the trail going down to Tapeats Creek. And Tapeats Creek is pretty impressive in its own right. John, Max and I had a nice hike and were gone for about 2 hours. After we got back Pam and Alysia took a much short hike down the first couple of switchbacks so at least they got to see some more of Thunder River.

Once everyone was back at Thunder River we start making our various dinners so we could eat, clean up and head back up to our camp up here in Surprise Valley before it got too late. We were back up here a little after 6:00 and just finished watching the sunset and some of the stars come out. The cliffs are not nearly as high up here as they were down in Deer Creek and the moon was up less than an hour after the sun set. John, Max, Alysia and I stayed up to watch the moonrise again and then headed off to bed.

I am toying with the idea of going down to Thunder River again later on tonight to get some shots with moonlight. I spotted a nice overlook that is only about 10 minutes or so down the trail, about halfway between our camp here and where we spent the afternoon. I am not going to try and stay awake and it just depends if I will wake up at the right time and can make myself get out of the comfy sleeping bag and hike down there. I think midnight would be about the best time since the moon would be just about due south and lighting up the falls nicely.