We did not get a very early start today but we really didn't have that far to go. We were packed up and out of camp around 7 and started climbing up towards Bourke Point. I was totally ad-libbing it on this one since we were not camped where I was expecting to be camped. We were about a half mile or so downstream from where I wanted to be and I didn't think it would make that much difference but apparently it did. It didn't look like we were climbing so high from the south side and it was actually pretty easy going on the way up but when we finally got to where I could see down into the canyon on the other side I was horrified. The other creek bed as at pretty much the same elevation but the descent from where we were off of the north side was a lot worse than the more gradual we had come up. There were lots of small cliffs to work around and lots of loose rock in between.

We managed to get a final view of the Kolb Natural Bridge shortly after leaving camp and we topped out on a flat area below Bourke Point around 9am, taking a short break or two on the way up. We took a longer rest at the top before starting down and we were at a nice shady spot in the other creek bed a little after 11am. It took just about the same amount of time coming down as going up but coming down was a lot more work.

We took a long break at the shady tree before heading up the creek bed in search of a camp site. While we were waiting Gordy checked out the creek bed coming down from Mystic Falls and reported there was water in it. He didn't actually see it but he could hear it. We followed the creek for probably a little less than an hour before we got to the point where it split and the north branch headed up between Marion and Seiber Points. Along the way we passed a few small waterfalls and deep pools and lots canyon tree frogs sunning themselves on the rocks.

I was very happy to find the exact same camping spot that I had used on the previous trip and I found a place to put out my tarp between a couple of junipers. I was looking forward to some shade from the moonlight that had been getting more and more intense since the start of the trip. The following night was going to be the full moon and it was also a super moon (full moon at closest approach to the Earth) so it was the brightest that a full moon could possibly be. After picking our camping spots and doing a little setup of camp we had ourselves some lunch and then took off up the creek in search of Mystic Falls and the granary ruins that were also up there.

We started up to Mystic Falls around 2pm and we got there a little after 330. The first mile or so of the hike was not that bad and we just followed the creek for the most part, hopping from one side to the other as needed. There was a trail to follow... more-or-less. The closer we got to the falls the denser the vegetable became though and at times it became a little difficult to get through. We never got really close to the falls as with all of the vegetable that would have been very time consuming. We saw it fine from the bank of the creek and even a little better from the other side of the canyon once we started climb up to the ruins.

I was worried about being able to find the way up to the ruins since they cannot be seen from down below (unless you really know what you are looking for). I headed up to where I thought I remembered them being from the previous visit and after a little searching around at the base of the cliff I found the crack in the cliff that allowed access. It was a steep scramble up a very narrow chute and Pam wanted no part of it. I know she had probably done similar stuff in the White Mountains on occasion but I guess she had just had enough of climbing. I went up and Rob and Gordy came up as well.

It was all pretty much just the way I remembered it except I remembered seeing some small corn cobs in one of the granaries and this time I did see any. There were still some dried corn husks but that was about it.

We spent maybe a half of an hour up there checking out the ruins under the overhang before heading back down, and then back to camp. it was just a little after 5pm when we started back and we arrived at camp around 630 or so. The late afternoon sky was a beautiful shade of blue and the almost full moon had just risen over Nankoweap Butte in the east.

I was hungry but sadly not impressed with dinner at all and I had to force it down. It was something I had not tried before, an Indian dish called Chana Masala that was a mild curry over chick peas and rice. It smelled good enough but I really did not like it. I forced myself to eat about half of what I should and ended up packing out the rest. Pam had talked about making some chocolate cheesecake that has with her but I think it just got dark to fast and she lost interest. I ate some more of my peanut M&Ms to get my chocolate fix.