740am - On my way down

I am just below the cliffchallenge in the Coconino. I should have brought something to lower the pack but I forgot how tricky this downclimb can be. I know I have been able to go up this thing with my pack on but just getting over the lip at the top creeps me out. I did manage to impovise something using my hiking pole. I was able to attach the loop strap on the pole to the handle at the top of the backpack and lower it down about halfway. Unfortunately when I let go of the pole the pack toppled over and rolled the rest of the way. Doesn't appear to be an damage.

I met a couple of guys coming up just above the cliff and it must have been their headlamps that I saw on the Esplanade last night. They also confirmed the "no water" status for the Esplanade potholes. One said that it had been 110F on the Esplanade a couple of days ago. I just need to find a nice shady spot next to the cliffs when I get down there and wait out the day. I have not been in the the sun at all yet but I know I will be before I get to the junction with the Thunder River Trail.

I did not sleep well at all last night. It was OK when I was on top of the sleeping bag but once it started to cool off I had to get inside and then there was just not enough padding between me and the rocks.

The Milky Way last night was more or less a bust as there were just too many slow moving clouds and all of them were hanging out along the southern horizon, right in front of the Milky Way. I gave up a little before 9am.

830am - Resting in some shade

I am resting in some shade below the bottom of the switchbacks, there is a nice big pinyon pine here. I counted 54 switchbacks on the way down. I still have half of a mile to get to the junction with the Thunder River Trail. It is about a mile as the bird flies to where I am planning to camp for the next two nights.

945am - Esplanade Camp

I made it to the the Thunder River Trail at 9am and then just about 45 minutes to here. I found a nce shady spot right off of the trail next to the cliffs and it should be shady for a while, I won't setup camp until later as I am not sure where I want to put the tent yet.

6pm - Esplanade Camp

I just finished dinner: mac and cheese with some vegan jerky added. I had a veggie chorizo scramble for breakfast. Both meals were very good but I've had both before on other trips and was not worried. Tomorrow will be the same. I finished off the other half of the pizza for lunch. It was still pretty cold when I took it out of the pack so I let it warm up a bit in the sun for a while first.

It has been a nice restful day. I did some short little hikes just to explore the surrounding area but also spent a fair amount on time just hanging out in the shade and reading my book. I lost the shade where I was at late afternoon and had to move to another spot not very far away. Luckily I had not set up the tent yet. Hopefully the new site works all day tomorrow.

I met and talked with a couple of parties both hiking in and out today. It is damned hot in the sun down here and has me rethinking my Clear Creek trip for next week as that will likely be even hotter. I do not want a repeat of last May.

Rationing the water is not enjoyable and I wish I could drink more but I can't. It is bone dry down here and no water ub the potholes at all. Too hot. The last group mentioned they had found water down in the side canyon next to me so I may go look for that early tomorrow morning. I have already gone through a little more than 2.5 quarts and I have about 3.5 quarts remaining. That is 2 for tomorrow and 1 for the hike out.

I took a short hike to the spot I want to try for Milky Way shots tonight. It is about 1 mile south of here. I will head back down there soon with the camera gear and tripod. There are a few clouds along the western horizon but I am crossing my fingers.