Bob wrote:

Ryan left early this morning and I am the only one left in the campground. I treated my toe with a antiseptic swab and left it open to the air to heal. Oh, by the way, I found that if I left the water in the sun, it gets hot enough to use to prepare the freeze dried food. I have a water bag that I use to bring up water from the spring. I try to bring up enough for the day. The trail to the spring is nearly vertical with large boulders to traverse. It's not a trip I want to make often to carry water. I place the water up on a boulder and step up. It takes a while and I don't want to aggravate my toe. When I leave, I will wrap the toe, but I don't want to use the supplies now. I think it will heal better open to the air.

Ryan gave me an extra pair of thin socks to use as a liner on the way back. It prevents sliding against the toe. The outer and inner layers rub together instead of rubbing against the toe. When I leave, I need to make it as far as Santa Maria Springs to refill my water containers. If that is as far as I can get, I will camp out there and make the ascent in the morning. Sue, I really miss you.

The elevation gain from Hermit Camp to Santa Maria Spring is 2,000 feet and from the spring to the summit is 1,760 feet. The distance from Hermit Camp to Santa Maria Springs is 4.6 miles and from the spring to the summit is 3.1 miles.

I really want to leave tomorrow, but I want the blister to have one more day to heal. It won't be completely healed, far from it. I have been taking Motrin and that relieves the pain. I am saving the Advil for the hike back. My feelings change hourly. I know I have a tough hike ahead. I have to make it to Santa Maria Springs for water. There is a small covered shelter with a branch for observers. I can sleep there if I need to. I'm sure many others have done the same thing. It is a nice day hike from the trailhead. The elevation gain from the trail head to here is almost as much as from here to Hermit Camp.

There were no hikers down today and I spent the day alone. I have been taking my sleeping mat outside and propping it against the low rocks. I watch the condors, lizards birds, shadows, trees, clouds. There are at least four or five different kinds of lizards. I saw one about the size of a iguana. They do not bother me. They are looking for ants and I say let them eat well. When the clouds pass over the Grand Canyon, the smaller ones dissipate and the larger clouds grow smaller. The moisture must be sucked out by the dry air. On the opposite wall, I have seen many sculptures, depending on the light and shadows. I saw a cello player, a sarcophagus, and a few others. When I looked for them later, they were gone with the new shadows. There is a parade of planes and helicopters flying over the canyon. Sightseers buy rides to see the canyon from above. I was wishing one of them would come down and take me back, but no such luck. I have enjoyed the solitude, but not as much as I thought. I guess I am finally used to being around people. I really miss Sue. Now I am sitting on a metal container used to store food. It's one of the softer materials around to sit on. The critters love to get into camping provisions. I bought a metal mesh bag at the backcountry permit office to hang from a tree. The ranger said they have removed the metal storage boxes because people were using them to leave their garbage instead of carrying it out. Everything that a hiker brings into the canyon must be carried out, including toilet paper. Evidently they missed this storage box. I have been trying to eat all of my food, but I am really tired of freeze dried and I won't take this on a camping trip again. Tonight I will have some oatmeal in stead of the dried food.