We arrived on Saturday 2/15/96 and spent the next four days exploring the Canyon below Grandview Point. The adventure included two camp sites (Camp#1 & #2) and three hikes with specific objectives (Hike#1, #2, & #3). This view of Horseshoe Mesa was taken from the Grandview overlook. Once again, pictures fail to convey the breadth and depth of the scene. Horseshoe Mesa (center) is some 2500 ft down and three miles away.

1. Camp#1: Located on the lower right arm of Horeshoe Mesa, our first camp is in the midst of some mining ruins. Camp #1 was used on our first (Saturday) and last (Monday) nights in the Canyon. Closest water is a grueling half mile away and 750ft below... that's 750ft down and 750ft tough vertical feet back up.

2. Camp#2: Located on the Tonto Mesa (no Kimosabe, I still don't know the translation of Tonto. Suspect it heap good, though.) at the spring head of Cottonwood Creek is where we spent Sunday night. The spring is reliable and close to the camp site, a welcome change from Camp #1.

3. Hike#1: Our first hike is really a short day hike to the top of a prominent butte which guards the center of the horseshoe. It looks deceptively easy to climb except for one thing... the rock strata is taller than we are. Though there are many footholds and handholds, the footholds are typically 10ft below the handholds. Even Wilt Chamberlain would find it challenging. As is now typical with this crew, there is no trail and no explicit guide and any book as to how the feat can be safely accomplished.

4. Hike#2: Unfortunately, this picture is not wide angled enough to show the challenges of our second mini-adventure so you'll just have to use your imagination. This day hike took us straight up (literally) the red wall formation to the top of another unnamed mesa from a starting point on the Tonto Mesa. Only vague references in a guide book suggested it was possible to make the assault.

5. Hike#3: Definitely in the category of "don't try this at home, folks," this hike takes us off trail (so what else is new), straight down into Hance Canyon to the right of Horseshoe Mesa and eventually down to the Colorado River. Total vertical is about 1500ft down and 1500ft up. Bear in mind, this is only a detour on the days hiking activities. We still faced climbing another 1500ft vertical to our final camp site on Horseshoe Mesa.