Day-3

We decided to get a headstart before the guys, and hence were up by 5. Once dressed, with oatmeals in our belly from breakfast, and water filled up we head out around 6:45 to Cottonwood, a distance of 7.6 miles with an elevation gain of 1600'. The walk was very pleasant and we took frequent breaks. There was one odd snake who crossed our path. The guys were
not in sight, and it would be around 6 miles into the walk before we would spot them. The streams that crossed our path were always welcome since we enjoyed soaking ourselves with some water on our head. Saw a detour to Ribbon Falls. Were in two minds until a European gentleman suggested we drop the backpacks and go down there to see the beautiful colors, esp since Cottonwood was only 2km away. So we waved to the guys who were approaching us, and walked on to the falls. From a distance the falls looked normal and hence we just soaked ourselves with more water, and decided to continue on our trek. We did not seem to have learnt well from our mistake of the previous day, since the heat started killing us with our detour.

However we made it to Cottonwood around noon. Cooked up our Backpackers lunch of pasta, lasagna and rice. Took a nap in the afternoon, before we soaked our legs in the cold stream flowing close to the campsite. The guys went to the falls and told us that the view at the base of the fall was much better than from a distance. Oh well, next time! Cooked up some early dinner along with our hot chocolate. Got our bags packed, water filled and changed clothes so that we could head out around midnight. Went to bed around 9.