September 1

   In 1991, Neil Jacobs and I did a neat looping hike down into Crystal and out near Pt. Sublime.  It was noon on our third day that we reached the river at Crystal Rapids.  It was surprisingly chilly and we pulled out our stove and had hot oatmeal for lunch before climbing up to the Tonto Plateau to the west.  Our third camp was on the Tonto level at Tuna Creek where we were treated to this sunset view of Mencius Temple.
   In 1995, John Eastwood and I did a hike down what I've come to call the "Old Dutton Route," to camp at Thunder River on the first night of a four day trip.  Here we had to cross a very old fence that still stands in the canyon off the south flank of Bridger Knoll that presumably would keep grazing cattle from wandering too far away.
   In 1996, the Eastwoods and I camped at the upper Nankoweap trailhead.  This day John and I hiked down to the lower terrace with our dogs, Peppyr (mine) and Annie (his).  The saddle behind John is where the trail starts down into the canyon properly.
   In 2007, Cara Lynn, Erik and I camped at the head of what I call the Big Saddle Trail near Crazy Jug.  This day we took a hike down the trail to the upper waterfall in the Supai.  The old trail switchbacks through an improbable break in the Coconino cliffs, only yards wide.  At the bottom of that descent the cliffs tower up on both sides of us.

September 2

   In 1991, Neil Jacobs and I did a neat looping hike down into Crystal and out near Pt. Sublime.  We were supposed to get out on this, our fourth day.  We got up to the Flint/Tuna saddle, where I snapped this pic of Neil, but got hung up in the Kaibab well after dark and gave up at 11 pm, when we found a spot to lay out our sleeping bags.
   In 1995, John Eastwood and I did a backpacking trip in the Thunder River area of the canyon.  On our second day we followed the hiker route over to Stone Creek, where we camped, passing over these cascading falls.
   In 2006, Cara Lynn, Erik and I camped at the head of what I call the Big Saddle Trail near Crazy Jug.  This is a view from our campsite looking toward Muav Saddle and Powell Plateau.
   In 2007, Cara Lynn, Erik and I camped at the head of what I call the Big Saddle Trail near Crazy Jug.  Here's a snake we saw, if I am remembering this correctly, in the Coconino layer.  It is not the well-known Grand Canyon Rattlesnake, and based on what I've found on-line it seems to be a Hopi Rattlesnake (see here and here).

September 3

   In 1991, Neil Jacobs and I did a neat looping hike down into Crystal and out near Pt. Sublime.  We were supposed to get out the day before but got hung up in the Kaibab overnight.  With the light of this morning we were easily able to see our way to the top where we were treated to this view of Mt. Huethawali, which is on the south side of the river.
   In 1993, Neil Jacobs, John Eastwood, Brian Maris and I started a backpacking trip down the North Bass Trail.  From the trailhead you get a nice view of Steamboat Mountain.  We got to the trailhead late the previous night and so got a reasonably early start, but still we didn't reach the creek as the heat took its toll on me late in the day.
   In 1995, John Eastwood and I did a backpacking trip in the Thunder River area of the canyon.  On our third day we hiked back to Tapeats Creek (from Stone Creek) on this nice wide terrace.  We had a permit for a Thunder River camp spot, but they were full when we arrived and so we camped literally on the trail.
   In 2006, Cara Lynn, Erik and I camped at the head of what I call the Big Saddle Trail near Crazy Jug and took day hikes down into the canyon.  This is a view from near the creek/upper waterfall looking up at where the trail comes through the Coconino.

September 4

   In 1983, Karen Herrera and I did a day hike from our make-shift camp along the Swamp Point road to the North Bass and down to Muav Saddle, stopping by to visit this old cabin.
   In 1992, Neil Jacobs, Brian Maris and I did a hike down the old Thunder River Trail in search for the Cranberry route to Deer Creek.  Along the way we passed the well-known "Ghost Rock" pictograph.
   In 1993, Neil Jacobs, John Eastwood, Brian Maris and I started a backpacking trip down the North Bass Trail.  We camped the previous night in the creekbed above the White Creek drop off due to my heat exhaustion.  I felt much better this day and posed on one of the stuck boulders near the drop off.
   In 1995, John Eastwood and I did a backpacking trip in the Thunder River area of the canyon.  This was our last day as we hiked up past Thunder River and back to the rim at the Bill Hall Trail.
   In 1999, I camped at the head of what I call the Big Saddle Trail near Crazy Jug and took day hikes down into the canyon.  I brought my dogs Peppyr and Rocket with me on this trip.

September 5

   In 1992, Neil Jacobs, Brian Maris and I did a hike down the old Thunder River Trail in search for the Cranberry route to Deer Creek.  Carrying packs through the Redwall descent and we camped at a great spot nearby with wide panoramic views.  This day we did a day hike down the route to Deer Creek and back (bringing back needed water).
   In 1993, Neil Jacobs, John Eastwood, Brian Maris and I started a backpacking trip down the North Bass Trail.  We camped at the White/Shinumo junction.  From here we day hiked down to W.W. Bass' old campsite, where this big chimney still stood, and to the river beyond this spot.
   In 1999, I camped at the head of what I call the Big Saddle Trail near Crazy Jug and took day hikes down into the canyon.  Here's the view of the trailhead area on the rim from down on the trail.

September 6

   In 1992, Neil Jacobs, Brian Maris and I did a hike down the old Thunder River Trail in search for the Cranberry route to Deer Creek.  We had camped for two nights atop the Redwall and this day we hiked out.  Somewhere between the small spring and Ghost Rock we passed by this interesting pictograph.
   In 1993, John Eastwood, Brian Maris, Neil Jacobs and I did a backpacking trip down the North Bass Trail.  We had camped part way up the previous night and hiked the rest of the way out today.  We stopped at the park boundary on our way out for this photo.
   In 1999, I camped at the head of what I call the Big Saddle Trail near Crazy Jug and took day hikes down into the canyon.  This day I packed up, but before leaving drove over to Parissawampitts Pt. to look back at the Big Saddle trailhead area.

September 7

September 8

September 9

September 10

September 11

   In 2016, I did a looping day hike from the North Kaibab trailhead over to the Old BA Trail, down to the Manzanita bridge and back up the North Kaibab.  Hiking along the rim was great - easy stuff and nice and cool with a 5:45 am start.  There are brushy areas along the trail down through the Kaibab, Toroweap and Coconino, but I was able to hold the trail all the way.  [I think if you miss a spot you won't be able to walk for too long before realizing you need to retrace your steps.]  By 11 am I was at the Muav spring and waterfall (shown in the photo) and thinking I'd be to Manzanita by noon.  Alas that was not to be.  The route immediately got hard to follow and I'm sure I was often not on the old trail.  Getting through the next couple of bays was grueling and I overshot the descent.  I reached a point where I could see down to the creek and see the big rock where you cross - I had been there this past July.  Backtracking was a mess as was trying to follow next to the creek to get to the crossing point.  It was just after 1 pm when I got across the Bright Angel and took a long break.  It was nearly 2:30 pm before I continued on my way and the heat soon was getting the best of me.  Thankfully the route up from the Manzanita was all in shade, but I didn't leave here until 4:15 pm.  I was fighting nausea all the way to the rim, which meant I couldn't eat anything and I could tolerate only a little water from time to time.  I had the trail mostly to myself as night fell and dragged myself out at 10 pm.  It was a long day!  Once home, I found that I was down 9 pounds!!

September 12

   In 1994, I did a looping backpacking trip down Indian Hollow to Kanab Creek, then down to the river and back up to the rim via the Cranberry route.  Here is my pack at the bottom of the first barrier going down Indian Hollow.  I wrote up a fuller account here.
   In 2013, I was out on the North Rim to hike down the North Bass.  This day I checked out the road and was greeted with this obstacle.  I was able to hack a way around it and then surprised to find two vehicles parked at the trailhead!  I wrote a fuller account here.

September 13

   In 1981, I did a day hike out from the Buggeln Picnic Area around the Sinking Ship formation to look for some of the ruins out there like this one.
   In 1994, I did a looping backpacking trip down Indian Hollow to Kanab Creek, then down to the river and back up to the rim via the Cranberry route.  On this second day, I hiked down from the Esplanade to lower Jumpup.  Here is the "Obstacle Pool" that George Steck describes near the end of Indian Hollow.  Barely visible to the right is my rope that I used to lower my pack where it was dry.  I wrote up a fuller account here.
   In 2013, I was out on the North Rim to hike down the North Bass.  This day I wanted to hike out to Lancelot Pt., which involves hiking through the brush-choked forest.  Despite my best efforts, I ended up at a point to the northeast of the point, which you can see here in this photo (along with my Spot as I was able to see my route later).  Surprisingly, I had enough cell service here to send text messages!  I wrote a fuller account here.

September 14

   In 1994, I did a looping backpacking trip down Indian Hollow to Kanab Creek, then down to the river and back up to the rim via the Cranberry route.  On this third day, I hiked down from Jumpup Canyon to Kanab Canyon and down to camp near the so-called Scotty's Castle, shown in the photo.  To the right is Jack Hillers' 1872 photo of the same formation, which you can access here.  [Click on it for a bigger image.]  I wrote up a fuller account here.

   In 2013, I was out on the North Rim to hike down the North Bass.  This day I started my trek down the North Bass Trail.  I had hoped to camp at Shinumo Creek, but the heat took its toll on me and I camped in the dry bed of White Creek, near a nice little pool of water, with a great view of Bass Tomb, aka Holy Grail Temple.  I wrote a fuller account here.

September 15

   In 1994, I did a looping backpacking trip down Indian Hollow to Kanab Creek, then down to the river and back up to the rim via the Cranberry route.  On this fourth day, I did a morning day hike up Scotty's Hollow a bit (shown in the photo) and then packed up and moved my camp down Kanab to the area near the Slide of Susurrus.  I wrote up a fuller account here.
   In 2013, I was out on the North Rim to hike down the North Bass.  This day I finished my first day goal of getting to Shinumo Creek to set up camp.  That turned out fine as in lower White Canyon I was able to find Bass' old route out to the north, which hikers today use to start a long contour into the Merlin area.  I was able to follow a bit of a path and found a large cairn atop the Tapeats.  At this point White is fairly wide and on the south side I found an old camp, used by the ancient Indians as well as by Bass (in all likelihood).  Near the rock walls outlining some room areas I found this granary wedged into the cliff.  I wrote a fuller account here.

September 16

   In 1994, I did a looping backpacking trip down Indian Hollow to Kanab Creek, then down to the river and back up to the rim via the Cranberry route.  On this fifth day, I did a morning day hike up to the Slide of Susurrus and then packed up and moved my camp down to Kanab Rapids, shown in the photo.  I wrote up a fuller account here.
   In 2013, I was out on the North Rim to hike down the North Bass.  This day I did a day hike from my camp at the White/Shinumo junction.  I was able to poke around Bass' camp down the creek as well as go over to the site of his cable tram that crossed the Colorado River.  I had brought along some old pictures and was able to put together this cool comparison photo - on the left is Bass' picture of his son and wife and on the right the picture I took, separated by more than a hundred years.  Nailed it!  I wrote a fuller account here.
   In 1983, I did a hike out to Pt. Sublime to see the ruins there.  In the early evening I had someone drop me off at the old, closed, road near the North Rim entrance station and I camped along that road for the night.  [No photos for this day.]

September 17

   In 1983, I did a hike out to Pt. Sublime to see the ruins there.  I had to walk in on a closed dirt road from the highway (and back to the lodge) and camped my first night along the road.  This day I arrived at Pt. Sublime in the late morning and hung out for a bit at the picnic area.  The key to finding these ruins (at least, back then) was to wait for a helicopter tour to fly by, check out where they were hovering and then make your way back down the road and through the woods to find the break leading down through the Kaibab.  Well, that worked for me and here is a shot I got of me at the main ruins site.
   In 1994, I did a looping backpacking trip down Indian Hollow to Kanab Creek, then down to the river and back up to the rim via the Cranberry route.  On this sixth day I only packed up from Kanab Rapids and hiked to Fishtail Rapids for my next camp.  It was very hot and all I did was hang out in the shade all day, including what I could create with my poncho tied up in a tamarisk as shown in the photo.  I wrote up a fuller account here.
   In 2013, I was out on the North Rim to hike down the North Bass.  This day I did another day hike from my camp at the White/Shinumo junction.  I went back to Bass' camp and did a more thorough tour of his garden area and then located the route out that leads to his old mines in Hakatai Canyon.  I had thought to follow this route for some distance, but it was so hot that I retreated back to a shady spot along the Shinumo where I spent most of the afternoon.  While on my way down the creek in the late morning I got this great view of the canyon with a partly cloudy blue sky.  I wrote a fuller account here.

September 18

   In 1981, I did a day hike out to Jicarilla Pt. to see the many petroglyphs down below the Kaibab.  You have to get down at a spot where there was a big dead tree wedged in to help me and then there were glyphs on both sides of the little sky island here, with a steep dropoff on each side.
   In 1983, I did a hike out to Pt. Sublime to see the ruins there.  On my third day I returned to the lodge by hiking along the dirt road past this rather new road/trail sign.  I'm pretty sure that at this time all these dirt roads were closed to traffic, unless you managed to come in from the national forest.
   In 1994, I did a looping backpacking trip down Indian Hollow to Kanab Creek, then down to the river and back up to the rim via the Cranberry route.  This was my last day.  I packed up from Fishtail Rapids and the steep slope leading up to the Cranberry route looked so foreboding that I decided to take the real long route out via Deer Creek.  But, when I reached the spring along this river trail I changed my mind and up I went.  What a slog.  This shot is looking back down to the river from about halfway to the top of the Redwall, where things get easier.  I wrote up a fuller account here.
   In 2013, I was out on the North Rim to hike down the North Bass.  It was quite hot during this trip and I decided it would be wise to allot two days to the hike out.  I hiked down from my camp at the White/Shinumo junction to exit via the bypass trail, which is in great shape but took me a while to find the previous day.  This shot is from near the top of the bypass before it heads over into White Canyon and you leave Shinumo for good.  Bass' camp is further down stream around the bend to the right, while my camp was further upstream around the bend to the left.  I wrote a fuller account here.

September 19

   In 2013, I was out on the North Rim to hike down the North Bass.  This was my last day as I hiked back up to the rim from my camp below the Redwall.  I missed the trail out of the bed in here and dead-ended at a large pool of water.  I backtracked a bit and then saw a way to climb up to a place where I thought I'd find the trail.  Well, that not only worked, but I found myself on some older trail, with very clear signs of trail construction as you can tell from the photo.  A few years ago a trail crew was in this canyon completely rehabilitating the North Bass trail.  Either they missed this section or it was something that Bass abandoned in favor of a better route.  I wrote a fuller account here.

September 20

September 21

September 22

September 23

September 24

September 25

   In 1999, I did a day hike down the New Hance trail with Neil Jacobs.  As we neared the saddle with Coronado Butte we had a great view to the west of Sinking Ship (aka the "Three Castles" in G.W. James' time).  We went as far as the top of the Redwall and then contoured a bit to the west before turning around and heading back.
   In 2009, Cara Lynn and I did a three day hike down Grandview and over to the South Kaibab.  Even through it was the end of September it was very hot on this trip.  We camped, on this first day, at Cottonwood Creek.  On our way down we stopped and made an extended visit to the Crystal Forest Caves below the Redwall.  The arrow points to a wooden door at one of the caves up above Cara Lynn.  Cottonwood was bone dry but another group was there and they graciously gave us enough water so we could get to Grapevine the next day.  I wrote up an article about this hike for the local paper here.

September 26

   In 2009, Cara Lynn and I did a three day hike down Grandview and over to the South Kaibab.  Even through it was the end of September it was very hot on this trip.  On our second day I got this nice shot of Cara Lynn hiking along the Tonto Trail in the early morning with Angels Gate, Wotans Throne and Vishnu Temple in the background.  We would make an extended stop in Grapevine to get water and wait out the worst of the heat before pushing on and camping in Boulder Canyon for the night.  I wrote up an article about this hike for the local paper here.

September 27

   In 2009, Cara Lynn and I did a three day hike down Grandview and over to the South Kaibab.  Even through it was the end of September it was very hot on this trip.  On our last day we hiked through a dry Lonetree Canyon (shown in the photo) although later I learned that there is a reliable spring just a short ways down the canyon.  The heat drove us into a shady overhang in Cremation Canyon for over three hours.  Even so, we were just totally exhausted, breaking often on our very slow hike up and out the South Kaibab - we didn't reach the rim until after 3 a.m. the next morning!  I wrote up an article about this hike for the local paper here.

September 28

September 29

   In 1995, I did backpacking trip down the South Bass as far as the Esplanade with a few objectives in mind.  On the hike in, I dropped my pack where the faint trail heads west and I did a hike out to find Mystic Springs, a water source used by Bass in his early days at the canyon.  I had some photos with me from G. W. James' old book and I was able to find the spring and replicate the photos.  Here is my picture of what James called "Seal Head Rock" taken from about the same angle as his.  [Note that there is someone in the background of James' photo.]  I wrote up a fuller account on this trip here.

September 30

   In 1995, I did backpacking trip down the South Bass as far as the Esplanade with a few objectives in mind.  I camped for two nights on the Esplanade.  On this second day I day hiked over to try and find the route up Pt. Huitzil, armed with notes from Harvey Butchart.  I had earlier been unable to find the route down from the rim and thought I might have more luck going up.  It was not to be, although later, when I did find the route down, it turns out that I was very close!  One of the markers for this route are two towers in the Toroweap, circled in the photo.  I wrote up a fuller account on this trip here.
   In 1981, I did a day hike down the South Kaibab with June Stengel as far as Phantom Ranch.  She was going to spend a couple of days hiking to the North Rim and then hike back.  I took the opportunity to do an interesting route - I followed the "old miner's trail" from the silver bridge up to the Tonto and then up a bushwhacking route (shown in the photo) that put me on the South Kaibab near the top of the Redwall.  Great day hike!
   In 2006, Erik Drake and I did a rim-to-rim hike, down the So. Kaibab and up the North Kaibab, with a night at Cottonwood Campground.  We were facilitating a key exchange for a group that was going to day hike north to south on October 1st.  Here is Erik on the South Kaibab Trail just before Panorama Pt.