Day 1: Grandview Point to Cottonwood Creek

Day 1

March 21, 2010

Grandview Point to Cottonwood Creek

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Today's route stats:

Distance: 5.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 0 feet

Elevation Loss: 3800 feet

A few weeks ago, John Arnold offered us a ride to the trailhead, so early this morning, John picked us at the Bright Angel and drove us to the Grandview Trailhead. Many thanks to John for his generosity. John decided to hike do n the trail with us for a ways. The trail was covered in deep snow all the way down and part-way into the Supai. Brianna and I had Yak Tracks, which made the hike MUCH safer. I was surprised at how well Brianna handled the exposure.

We reached Horseshoe Mesa by mid-morning and headed over to see the Cave of the Domes, which is in the cliff-side below the west rim of the mesa. We only made it in as far as the registration box before Brianna freaked out and refused to go any further. It’s a mystery as to why some things frighten some people but not others.

After eating lunch we started down the trail the drops off the west side of the mesa and into the Cottonwood Creek drainage. We ran into a couple of other groups who were camped in the area. We continued down to the Tonto trail, then continued down the Cottonwood drainage for a few hundred yards where we found a nice place to camp. There was plenty of water flowing in Cottonwood Creek.


Finally Below the Snow Line.	Brianna and Ruins on Horseshoe Mesa.	Our Camp at Cottonwood Creek.


Grandview Trail.	Brianna on Grandview Trail.	Brianna on Grandview Trail.