The Tonto Trail in Grand Canyon National Park is an
amazing hike and a very dangerous one as well,
especially in July. After a month of heat training
in the Phoenix heat, we ventured into the canyon in
July 2001. Rebecca packed in her 4X5 view camera
for a 5 day journey. Along the 11 mile stretch of
the Tonto Trail between Indian Garden and Monument
Creek, there is only one place where there
may be water in summer months - at Salt
Creek. Thankfully, when we got there, there was
water. The Salt Creek was running but was less than
the width of my shoe and trickling ever so slightly
between algae-covered puddles housing hundreds of
tadpoles. We filtered the water, drank it, and wet
our shirts for the remainder of the hike. Without
this trickle of water, we could have been in some
trouble. This image brings the beauty and the
challenges of that trail back for me. It also
reminds me of the harsh terrain and the things we
all take for granted... like water! --Keith |
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