We set up camp, lunched, and took off in various directions to explore or relax along the water. Carl hiked towards Vaughn Spring and reported back that it was dry up-canyon as far as he got and looked like it had been that way for years. A number of people hiked to Deer Spring and the Throne Room. Several more went down to the River in search of trout. We took turns guarding the food since we experienced ringtail thievery on a previous visit there.
Ringtails are so polite.
The camp at Deer was again crowded. By the time Dave's group had arrived from their sweltering, laborious hike over Surprise Valley, another group of three guys had set up camp just downstream of us as well. The hike downstream went more quickly than expected and we reached camp before noon. The Fishtail camp is a Sahara Desert style brain-sizzler. We set up a couple of tarps, had lunch, and did our best to stay out of the sun during a long, blistering afternoon.