808am - Esplanade Camp

I got up around 6am when everything started to get bright. I had a good Milky Way experience last night with the Mushroom rocks, and I think I got some good shots. I had to make my way back to camp by headlamp and only missed one turn, where I had to backtrack a ways to get back on the real trail. It's a bit hard to see where the trail really goes along some of the slick-rock sections. I got back to camp around 9pm.

I slept a little better than the previous night but still not great. I was thirsty all night but I did have a little water ration to sip on. I felt much better after having some breakfast this morning.

I've been thinking about that water that is supposed to be down in this side canyon next to me and wondering if I should go and look for it. I did not give it much thought when the guy told me about it yesterday as I was convinced I had enough to get by. I still think I do, but having some extra would make this whole experience a lot more enjoyable. I wish I had asked about exactly where it was, how far down the canyon. If I go in search of it and don't find it I am just wasting energy. Ah, well, it sure would be nice to have some extra water so lets go for a walk.

917am - Success!

I found the water just down below where two side canyons meet, just above a high pour-off. I could have gone no further. There is about 10-15 gallons, in a shallow pool in the rock, in the middle of the drainage. It probably won't last much longer in this heat. I filtered a quart and drank that immediately, it was so refreshing. I filtered another quart to take back to camp which should take care of any water issues. I had enough to "get by" for today but now I am two quarts up on that which is going to help immensely.

1023am - Back in camp

I got back about 20 minutes ago and used the texting feature of my GPS to send a message to my wife telling her that I had found some water. I am eating some trail mix and sipping on a but more of the water. I was going to have to make do with 2 quarts today and now I have 4. I am finishing up the second quart now and still have 2 more get get through the afternoon and evening.

I am not doing much else today, just hanging out at camp and waiting for dark. I am not traveling very far for photos tonight, just around the corner, to the other side of this ridge of rock that I am camped next to. It is so nice and cool here in the shade. The sky is mostly clear with just a few fair weather clouds off to the east.

430pm - Esplanade camp

I had a nice relaxing day and the extra water is really helping. I am not sure how the rationing for today would have worked as I was very thirsty many times yesterday.

I checked out the site for my Milky Way shots for tonight and now I am just hoping that it stays clear. There are a few clouds hanging over the north rim that will not be a problem if they stay there. The southern sky is nice and clear.

The plan for tomorrow: Up at 3am - set alarm in my phone. Have breakfast and break camp by 430am. The hike back to the Bill Hall Trail will be in the dark by headlamp but the sky should be starting to get bright when I get there. Hopefully back at car by 10am I am not looking forward to all of those switchbacks on the Bill Hall Trail but I should still be in the shade for all of them. I don't expect to see the sun at all until the final stretch back to the rim and it will still be pretty early.