We left our hotel at Grand Canyon with the idea of heading south, although we had no particular destination in mind. At what would be the final canyon overlook –Grandview trailhead—we met Greg climbing out with full pack and not really breathing very hard. Since this trail is said to be the steepest of all that go below the rim, he piqued our curiosity. So we welcomed the chance to give him a ride back to the Village area even though it meant backtracking 15 miles or so. He had completed a nine day hike in the inner canyon and would return for more next April. He is about Bob’s age.

With the morning going fast we decided to just go to Flagstaff and visit several local attractions over the weekend. The first of these was Walnut Canyon National Monument. Having already been to Mesa Verde and the Grand Canyon is a distinct advantage at Walnut. The small scale of the place has an intimate, very human feel. The cliff dwellings are modest as well, at most several rooms. The area was inhabited off and on for several hundred years and then abandoned at about the same time as Mesa Verde. Only a few others were on the main canyon trail; hence a much more peaceful place than the South Rim.