I really wanted to hike the South Kaibab-Tonto-BA loop this weekend, but I was fighting off a low level infection Saturday, so spent the day grousing about how I hate being sick, and why does it have to be on the weekend?

So today we just went to Skeleton Point and back: six miles and 2000+ feet. Only two small grafittis in the coconino. Right next to one another, which supports the "broken window" theory. If there is a broken window in an abandoned home, vandals are more likely to break another. If there is writing on a rock, vandals are more likely to also write onthe rock.

Passed a Brit who bemoaned the fact that HE hadn't worn HIS hiking skirt. His daughter told him that no one wore them here, at least not males. I suppose in the country where they invented the kilt it is more acceptable.

Passed four teenage boys in the Chimney. They were cutting switchbacks, so Brad passed them at a run, informing them that cutting the trail doesn't save them any time. I caught them on the last switchback, and one of them turned a vido camera my way and asked: "anything to say?" I wanted to say, "Yeah, you've just been passed by a pair of geezers, one of whom is wearing a skirt," but I smiled and said, "Almost out!".

A very grey day, but it brought out the colors on the North Rim. Sometimes the Canyon looks so much deeper and wider than others. Today it looked very large indeed...