Well, it turned out to be my fastest Kimball turn-around time to date. This despite needing to stop a few times on the way down along the stretch between the TH and Spring to let slower groups go by on their way up, etc. All-in-all, it was a fitting way to say goodbye to 2008. There was a little snow up there to greet me, which was a fantastic surprise. There are a few trees down on the upper reaches of the trail, now. Other than that, the trail is just as it always is...hiding back there waiting to kick you in the seat of your pants.

As I was approaching the spur trail to Kimball I remembered what writelots said about newbies getting lost, I now see what she was saying. There used to be three large cairns there, two on the track marking the continuation to Pima and a smaller one marking the spur to Kimball. Not only were they all gone, but the rocks are completely gone, as well. Looks like some elitist tore them down and chucked the stones down canyon. Maybe I'll replace them next time I go up...