We got up at 6 am, showered, packed up the car with our gear and headed into the park. We went to the El Tovar Hotel for breakfast, which is always a special treat. I had the Sonoran Eggs, which is a simply fabulous breakfast, and Robin had some kind of French Toast. I didn't think Robin had enough to eat and I told her that she would need to eat something else before we start down the trail, or she would be simply asking for trouble.

After breakfast we headed over to the Recreation Center to attend the board meeting of the Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Association. The high point of the meeting was that Mike Coltrin resigned as president and Mary Simpson was elected as our new president. Mike did a fabulous job of getting and keeping the ball rolling during the first year and a half of GCHBA's existence and we all appreciate his hard work and dedication to the cause. The meeting ended around 12:30 and some people go over to the Maswik cafeteria for lunch while others begin the hike down to Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch.

Robin and I drove our car over to the Bright Angel trailhead, where we would be coming out of the Canyon more than a week later, and took the shuttle buses to the trailhead for the South Kaibab Trail. It seemed as though it took forever to get to the trailhead. We had to go to the Canyon View Information Plaza first and then get another bus from there to the trailhead. We finally got there and started down at a little after 2 pm, a little later than I would have liked.

We reached Cedar Ridge at 2:45 and rested there for a while. We took another rest at around 3:30 for about 10 minutes. We started down the Redwall descent at just before 4 pm and reached the last switchback at bottom at 4:15. We reached the Tonto junction at just after 4:30 and rested just below there for about 10 minutes. We began the final descent to the river ar around 4:45. Robin started to have problems with her feet and my right big toe did not feel quite right. We stop again after going a little while to readjust socks and boots.

After what seems like an eternity we can finally see the river and the bridge across to the other side. It is still a good distance away but at least we can see where we are heading. Robin sits down a few switchbacks above the bottom and says doesn't feel good. Her legs are shakey and she blacks out for a second. I know we have both been drinking enough and she did have some snacks on the trail but all-in-all she has probably not had enough to eat. Seems OK a little while afterwards and we start down the trail again. We continue down slowly and finally reach river around 6 pm.

It is starting to get dark and I leave Robin at river while I take my gear up to the trail crew cabin, where we will be staying. I plan to come back for her and her backpack in a little while. I met Mike Coltrin coming down the trail looking for us. I told him Robin is near the boat beach and he heads off to get her and her pack. I meet them coming back after I drop off my pack.

We get to Phantom Ranch at 6:35 pm - 5 minutes late for dinner but we made it. The dinner tastes fabulous. We head back to bunk house afterwards, unpack some gear, talk with other people for a while and then crash.