I arrived here just about 11am and had camp all setup by 1120. The awning is nice and by pushing the picnic table to one side I am able to get my tent under it as well. The morning has been nice so far with lots of clouds but some sun as well. It was supposed to start raining between 9 and 10 but nothing yet.

I was up around 330am and took my time to finish packing, adding the remains of the food (and the beer) and trying to get it all to fit. Yes,, I was a little crazy and actually packed down a six-pack of Mother Road Tower Station, about 4 pounds worth of beer. I will be able to enjoy it for the first couple of days while camped here and then it will be gone and I will just have some empty cans. I am looking forward to having one with my left-over pizza for lunch. It is cooling in some cold water in my wonder bucket now.

I was out of the house around 440am and up at the Canyon at 620am. I did not see any elk or deer on the way up, just a skunk scampering across the road at one point. I was at the El Tovar for breakfast at 630 when they opened. I ended up having their vegan breakfast burrito with a spinach tortilla and some Beyond Meat sausage and it was quite good. Also several cups of their fabulous coffee.

I had planned on parking at the Backcountry Office but there were some spaces at the Bright Angel trailhead so i left the truck there instead. No point in walked any further than I have to with the fully loaded pack. I started down the Bright Angel Trail at 745am and arrived at the One-and-a-Half-Mile rest-house at 845am. I rested there for about 15 minutes and guzzled some water. I made it to the Three-Mile rest-house by 950am and took another 15 minute break, drank some more water and also are a Kind bar. It felt good to get the pack off for a while, it was really starting to feel heavy.

By the time I got to Indian Garden my feet were really starting to bother me and I assume it was because of the weight of the pack. When I got to Indian Garden I took off my boots and put on my camp shoes and my feet felt fine. There were no blisters or sore spots on the feet.

Indian Garden Campground - 710pm

I did two short day hikes in the afternoon: one out to Plateau Point and another along the Bright Angel trail to the to the top of the Devil's Corkscrew. I had planned on trekking out to Plateau Point at night to try and get some Milky Way shots but it is very cloudy and that's not likely to work. That's some other things that are weighing down the pack: two wide-angle lenses for Milky Way shots and a backpacking tripod.

Dinner tonight was a mac & cheese dinner from Backpackers Pantry with some steamed veggie hot dogs, sliced up and mixed in, and some mustard. There was not enough mustard and I should have brought two packets for each night instead of one. I also chilled a couple more beers in some cold water as soon as I got back from the day hikes. That is probably my favorite backpacking meal and I will be having the exact same thing for two more nights. Well, I only have enough beer for tomorrow night. I am having my last beer for today right now as I write this. It was heavy to carry down but it was worth it.

The ranger who came to check my permit, Della, recognized my name. She has been here a long time and said that my ranger buddy, Chuck, was her mentor. It's no wonder this place feels like home.

Did not have any rain today at all, it was mostly cloudy but there were some nice sunny breaks as well. Sunset was pretty with the clouds lighting up. Tomorrow is the day hike to Phantom Ranch. I am going to read for a while and then call it a night. The crickets are making quite the racket - I love it!