Havasupai Weekend

Friday after work Kenny and I jumped in the car, picked up Jereme and Melodi and headed out on our weekend adventure. We stopped in Prescott for dinner at Cracker Barrel and ended up arriving at the Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs, AZ after 9PM. We joked that Peach Springs is actually Radiator Springs from the movie Cars, because it is off old route 66. Since we were too awake and maybe excited for the hike no one could sleep and we ended up staying up till almost 1 AM laughing and playing games like "I have never" and Truth or Dare like a bunch of preteen girls!

Bright and early the next morning we woke up, the only problem it wasn't bright out! It was stormy with lots of lighting. We had read many warnings about flash flooding in the Canyon and contemplated what we should do. We knew we had a little over an hour drive to the Havasupai Hilltop so we hoped it would pass by the time we got there. We loaded up around 6 AM and Kenny drove us the 60 miles on Indian Road 18... and it rained (actually poured) on us the entire time. It was reassuring to find a very full parking lot at the end of the road, but not many people were around. We tried to prepare our packs, but the rain continued and we were all getting soaked. We sat in the car for about an hour and just hoped and prayed that the storm would pass. Finally about 8:30 the rain lifted. We could hear the helicopter coming out of the canyon and saw a few mule trains head out.

We geared up (including plastic garbage bags over our clothes and packs) and headed into the canyon at 8:41 AM.

Us- a whole new definition of white trash

Melodi and Jereme

It was absolutely beautiful out! Although, we didn't know what else mother nature had in store for us at that point it was cool, well actually cold since we were all dressed for 90-100 degree temperatures. It smelled fresh and damp. The trail started to buzz as people, mull trains etc started coming up out of the canyon. It was reassuring to see so many other people coming out, although not many people were going in.

The first mile and have was rugged and rocky like many of the online reviews had promised, but no worse than Piestewa Peak in Phoenix. We took a small break and regrouped at the bottom of the trail knowing we have 6 1/2 long miles left on the flat land (which included sand and deep gravel-not fun). The canyon walls were remarkable and I stopped to take pictures at least every 5 minutes.

just a hole in the wall along the way

"mule" train

This was Kenny and my first backpacking type trip and we really didn't know what to expect although I was mostly warned to "PACK LIGHT". Jereme had suggested we take a backpack and daypack and 'share the load' so that is what we did. Since I was carrying the heavy pack for the first 4 miles I felt a sense of hope... my trip would only get better as my body got tired (knowing we were helicoptering out the next day helped too!). We switched packs at the 4 mile mark... but at this point we were all getting tired. Conversation lulled and the picture taking became less important. The mull trains, stray dogs and other hikers became less and less frequent.

When we arrived at the wooden "Village" sign I almost wanted to jump for joy, but my legs were too tired. Little did we know we still had a nice long mile and half to go!

We trudged along and finally reached the village!

We thought we were done at this point, but the Lodge was on the far side of the village so we continued.

Finally we made it, checked in, paid and were sitting on our beds in our room by 2PM. Everyone was exhausted.

We tried to decide if we had another 6 miles in us to make to the falls and back that afternoon, but decided against it. Instead we sat around and rested, showered and went to dinner at one of the 3 cafes (another 1/2 mile plus of walking) and had dinner with some locals.

They actually lead us back to the hotel. It was kind of bizarre that they knew right where we were going. It was still light out but we went to bed about 7PM!

Our day started early again on Sunday. We were all sore of course and when I went to stand up I almost fell down! Honestly, I wasn't sure I would make it through the hikes but couldn't have come this far to miss out on the main event ; the Falls. So we took off before sun rise. Once we got going everyone's muscles seemed to warm up and the pain faded. The first falls we saw were the new falls... I don't think they even have names yet... just the new falls. They were caused by a destructive flood in 2008-- They were beautiful!

We headed up the trail further toward Havasu falls and the campground area. Turns out someone (won't mention names, but this is the same someone who misguided Bev and I to New Mexico instead of home!) misguided us and we walked at least another 1/2 mile out of our way. Finally we reached Havasu falls... to be honest when I first saw it I though it couldn't be it! It looked bigger in the pictures! We decided to keep on going to the Mooney falls and swim if time permitted on the way back... We walked through the campgrounds (which was super cool and I would love to try sometime)

and got to the top of Mooney Falls- totally amazing! We gawked for awhile and then I followed Kenny down the mountain to the base of the waterfall.

The trip down was no easy task, but really fun, challenging and scary! You have to go through 2 tunnels and then down a rock staircase with chains as railing, then down a shaky wooden ladder, more rock stairs and finally a 8-10 foot metal ladder... it was nerve racking, but exciting.

We made it to the bottom and it was probably the most beautiful, amazing, serene things I have ever seen! We were the only 4 people around and with the rush of the water being so loud you really couldn't hear much. The water was cold and the mist from the fall was cool and smelled fresh. We took lots of pictures and took a rest.

Then we headed back out for some a picnic lunch. Kenny and I hadn't planned for lunch (since we thought we would just buy food) so we ate left over snacks from the day before and conserved as much water as we could.

Us at the top of Mooney Falls

After lunch we started our hike back to the village, but still had Havasupi fall to explore. Since you are allowd to swim there were had brought our suits. The water was cold so I decided not to swim, but just splash around, explore and take pictures.

Kenny was the first in the 'pool' under the fall. I was shocked as he swam under the fall! He said it was awesome, then Jereme joined him and then Melodi went in too. They were all having such a great time I decided I just couldn't let this moment pass and ran up the hill to change into my suit.

. It WAS amazing! Although the water was ice cold I guess our adrenaline really kept us warm. We had to walk backwards into the fall because the water was pushing so hard against us.

Kenny had to actually drag me into it because it pushed so hard I couldn't get underneath! It felt like being power washed and all at once I was pushed back in the pool area again! What a great experience.

Top view of Havasu falls

We changed and got back on the trail. It was getting warm and I was thankful for my wet hair at this point. We all really trudged uphill, but I was the caboose huffing and puffing.

Finally we made it back to the lodge and picked up our packs (we just took our day packs to the falls) and headed over to get our name on the list for the helicopter ride out. Once our 'reservation' for our ride out was secure we had lunch at another one of the cafes and waited.

We ended up waiting another hour after lunch, but finally it was our turn and we boarded the copter. The cost was $85/per person, but SO worth it since we got out of the canyon in just 5 mins and it took us 5 hours to get in!!

Kenny, Melodi and Jereme on the helicopter

The whole ride went so fast, but I was thankful it did since I got a little motion-sick which I wasn't expecting... The view was amazing and it was a totally different way to experience and view the beauty of the canyon.

We climbed up yet another hill and loaded our gear into the car and started our 4 1/2 hour drive home. The Indian Road 18 is free range so it wasn't uncommon that we saw horses passing on the road.

The storm never hit on Sunday that was supposed to, but I enjoyed watching the clouds as we made our way home.

Since we were on old route 66 we saw 2 sets of these old Burma-Shave signs. They are staggered signs kinds of telling a joke or a riddle. My grandma remembered them from the 1940s when they drove out here on route 66!

The trip was so amazing and I am thankful we could share it with good friends. It felt like we were gone a week, but it was just 2 days... one heck of a way to spend a weekend!

OTHER THINGS ABOUT THE TRIP:

We hikes about 16 miles the entire weekend

The Lodge at the bottom of the cabin was $140/night

Our packs/shoes/etc cost $300

I didn't fall ALL weekend!