THE END OF A GREAT STAY AT PHANTOM RANCH. VERY SHORT DAYS THIS TIME OF YEAR. HAD EARLY BREAKFAST AND STARTED OUT IN THE DARK. MADE A LOT OF GREAT FRIENDS WHILE AT PHANTOM RANCH AND WOULD ENCOUNTER THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN ON THE HIKE OUT. VERY COMFORTABLE TEMPS AT THE BOTTOM BUT I KNEW IT WOULD BE COLD UP TOP. THERE CERTAINLY ARE NO CROWDS THIS TIME OF YEAR-NICE. SAW SEVERAL TURKEYS(VERY TAME) AND DEER GRAZING RIGHT ALONG SIDE THE TRAIL, YOU COULD REACH OUT AND TOUCH THEM, DIDN'T MIND PEOPLE AT ALL. MADE GREAT TIME OUT AND SPENT THE AFTERNOON ON THE RIM ADMIRING MY ACCOMPLISHMENT.