09:17 pm - Grandview hike

I got side-tracked for about 15-20 minutes by some chickadees along the rim, near the El Tovar, and didn't get to the trailhead until just before 8. I started down the Grandview Trail at 805, reached the Coconino Saddle around 845, and arrived at Horseshoe Mesa around 930. I didn't even stop there and continued down the Page Spring Trail (East Grandview spur) and arrived at Page Spring at 1020.

I also stopped at one of the mine entrances a short distance above the spring for a few minutes to take some photos and wander back into the mine a short distance. I had no flashlight with me and was just using the strobe on my camera to light the way with occasional flashes.

I hadn't planned on stopping at Page Spring but it looked cool and inviting and the morning was already starting to get warm. It was also very shady and there were numerous redbud trees in bloom. It was quite pretty and very tranquil in there with only the sound of dripping water and a couple of canyon wrens singing for me. Ahhhh! It was certainly a very pleasant respite from the mad dash down the trail. I soaked my washcloth and it was wonderful to feel the cool of he water on my face and arms.

At Page Spring I was already through the Redwall and the Tonto junction was only a little further beyond. I think the spring is actually right on the break between the Redwall and Muav rock layers which would make sense.

Right below Page Spring I started having serious problems with my right leg. I actually noticed it getting uncomfortable about halfway down from the rim but hoped I could walk it off---I couldn't. Since it was only really bothering my on downhill segments I tried to ignore it knowing that the Tonto would be relatively flat. Then even after being on the Tonto for a while it just started bugging me all the time.

When I got to the junction for the Cave of the Domes Trail, which goes up between the arms of Horseshoe Mesa, it was decision time. Initially I blew it off and said I could make it on the planned route but the pain finally got to me and I turned back after only a dozen steps or so and started up the Cave of the Domes Trail. I knew it would shave of some distance but I didn't know exactly how much. I was hoping it would be a mile or a mile and a half at least. I still completed the section of trail that I wanted to for today so I was not losing anything in taking this short-cut. I would have liked to claim a circumambulation of Horseshoe Mesa but I've done that before anyway, just not as a day hike.

I topped out back on Horseshoe Mesa at just after 1pm and looked for a place to have lunch. I took some small breaks on the way up the trail and noticed this helped with pain. After a short rest I was able to walk for a short distance with no pain at all before it would finally start to return.

I could not figure out what was up with the leg but it was definitely the same problem I had late in the day on Tuesday, it just started a lot earlier today. Today had a lot more downhill and was a lot steeper so perhaps that had something to do with it. It was mostly on downhill only but after a while it just hurt to walk on it period. It didn't hurt when I wasn't walking on it and didn't hurt to just stand on it as long as I wasn't walking. I have had problem with the right knee in the past but that has not bothered me at all on this trip, this is different, it's above the knee and to either side.

So anyway I started eating my lunch and taking a good rest knowing that I had a long fairly flat stretch ahead of me. The weather had deteriorated over the past hour or so and the clouds thickened to a blanket which almost completely covered the sky. The temperature had dropped and the wind picked up as well. I could see sheets of rain sweeping across the sky in the distance and then after a while I noticed flashes of lightening on the rim. Not good. I was out in the open with no cover around... it was time to get moving... I had to cut lunch short. I had enough of a rest luckily that the leg felt a lot better and I headed straight for the first ascent section to get closer to the cliffs and trees that would make better targets than I. The weather looked really threatening but the only rain that found me was a short sprinkle near the ruin of the old miner's mess hall at the south end of the mesa.

I took several rest breaks on the way up and that really helped. I stopped for a longer break at the Coconino Saddle, between the upper and lower switchbacks, and about halfway up and had a second lunch.

I was back on the rim at 410 and I originally planned for 4 so it wasn't so bad. I had to cut some miles to pull that off but still...

After changing out of my hiking clothes I headed back to the village for ice cream. The Canyon was very dark and not very picturesque so I did not stick around long. I stopped at We Cook Pizza and Pasta in Tusayan for dinner on the way home. Pizza and beer.

I got back to the house in Flag a little after 8. The leg doesn't hurt much at all right now after sitting in the car for an hour and a half.

Photo map