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Published: April 11th 2006
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This trip was conceaved over an AIM conversation, which prooves that it does not take much to instigate Charlene into another adventure. It was also a good reason to visit REI on both of our accounts for a bit of pre-shopping.
Havasupai Falls is extremely popular place located on the Halupai Reservation, requiring advanced reservations. Based on travel schedules - one night down at the falls was all we reserved.
Charlene arrived at 10:30 am on Friday, after stocking up at Trader Joes and the required Vegetarian house followed up by Sonic Creme Pie shake stop we were enroute for the 5 hour journey to Halupai Hill Top parking lot.
A quick stop in flagstaff to check the sale rack at Aspen sports resulted in no new gear, however the G3 Tele skis were on sale, and shoes i liked had 2 seperate sizes. A bit of time on hwy 40 and we were then onto Route 66 heading through Seligman photographing roadside attractions.
Turn right and take the road to Supai (well to the parking lot for Supai). 60 miles of no services, nothing... plenty of elk and cows to bring back memories of that cow
Route 66 Pumps
No these dont work anymore, but roadside attractions are most of the fun i hit on the Navajo Nation years ago - I digress.
Pull into the parking lot around 8pm and WTF??? over 100 cars. Ok I know these are world renowned falls and reservations are needed months in advance (more than that if you want to stay at the hotel and not camp). Some hummus and Imperial IPA and we are laying down to sleep. Midnight comes around and a group of what could be boy scouts or other group decide that they should set up tents all along the open area by the car and one right near my head. Charlene had my back and chewed them out, and with that I had courage to say something. We eventually moved.
5:30am came around early and we had the packs loaded up to 30-40lbs (yes you read right for 1 night). Off we go, charlene worried about her bodily functions the whole way. Keep that thought.
A steep switchbacked descent off the plateu to the canyon. This is an off shoot of the Grand Canyon so all of the colors and canyon sights exist - it never gets boring in canyon country. Follow the canyon for 4 miles
past the switchbacks and hang a left for another 2 miles into Supai. Watch out for the mule trains being literally ran up the trail, some carrying USPS mail. The last mule train serviced mail is the USA. Supai is a little town complete with school, cafe, church, community center, 2 convience stores, heliport, hotel, tourist office and decorated with trash. There are no roads to Supai. Foot, horse or helicopter is the only way in. Helicopters were hauling people in and out, along with short hauling large items teathered below. Even the portapots for the camp ground are 'serviced' via helicopter. Imagine the sloshing when they haul out full ones to be serviced.
We pay our fees, get our tags, stop and buy postcards to send out via mule train, eat at the cafe and then head to the campground.
Passing Navajo Falls gives us a glance of a scene that one would think is in costa rica. Small falls comming out all over a cliff. Another mile and we are too Havasupai Falls, the ones you see in National Geographic. Quick photo opt, and we are on down securing the best campsite in the place. This
campground gets crowded and is about 3/4 mile long all along the river. Is it Teen Break? So many groups with what must be junior high/high school students. Which all were found 'sun bathing' and generally dressed like they should be at Newport Beach and not over 70miles from the nearest gas station and 180 miles to the nearest Gap.
Exploring the falls I will leave to the pictures. These beat the ones I explored in Kauai. Amazing.
eating, relaxing, jumping in the water, sleeping and taking in all of the falls was instore. We did not make it to Beaver Falls as it was another 3 miles - and getting to Mooney falls required a heinous steep 'stairs' and tunnel through a cliff with chains to hold onto.
Sleep by 8:30 and the best sleep i have had in months. Up and out by 6:00 am and we haul ass out of there, i was amazed it took us 4 hours to go 10 miles all uphill while batteling aches/pains. 4 miles into the hike, finally Charlene is relieved of was plagueing her from the beginning. Charlene was a virgin backpacker, born again camper and first
time doing her business in the wild. ;-) Todd - you are right about conversation always coming back to bodily functions - but it kept me entertained.
Out of there by 10:40am on the road and taking the 'scenic' route home. remember to look at a real map and dont go by the one that says 'not to scale'.
See more pictures on my flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/29singlespeed/sets/72057594104225099/
What a great weekend, and Charlene was a kick ass backpacking partner!
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Todd
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nice pics
Is it fair to say that I'm jealous??? This looks like it was a great time. Maybe a threesome trip sometime????