Havasu Falls: Spring '07

[seth_js]

Any one game?

I will be heading up Thursday (21st) after work and either grabbing a cheap motel room in Seligman for the night, then heading up first thing in the morning. Or just driving straight up to the parking lot and sleeping in my car. As of now I'm planning on taking the helicopter out, but if there ends up being a group, and some don't want to pay for the helicopter, I'm more than happy to hike out.

Oh, and for those who don't know what it is... it's 3 (havasu, moony, and navajo) INSANELY beautiful waterfalls located just outside the Havasupai town of Supai in the Havasu Canyon. It is an 8 mile hike to the town, and 10 to the falls. Supai has the last post office in the country that is dependent on horseback for their mail service.

http://images.google.com/images?q=havasu+falls&hl=en

[Hltoppr]

It is beautiful....but be prepared for 3rd world conditions at the village. If you're going solo, keep the same gut-feeling radar going, and be safe.

The view from the helicopter is really nice....

-H-

[Scott Brady]

I am interested.

[pskhaat]

If you're going solo, keep the same gut-feeling radar going, and be safe.

Can you elaborate?

[Brian McVickers]

I am interested!
Have always wanted to go.

If hiking in, are the falls another 10 miles past the village or just 2 miles past the village for a total of 10 miles?

Brian

[seth_js]

I am interested!
Have always wanted to go.

If hiking in, are the falls another 10 miles past the village or just 2 miles past the village for a total of 10 miles?

Brian

2 past the village for a total of 10 miles. Except for the first 1.5 miles, the hike is relatively flat. You just follow the canyon.

You can also pay for a pack mule or horseback if you'd like.

[Hltoppr]

Can you elaborate?

Sure, no problemo. Over the past two months I've spent several days in the canyon, and have hiked up from the confluence (nice ride in by the NPS helicopter, BTW.), as well as spent a lot of time hiking around the Village, above the falls.

Havasupai Falls (Beaver, Mooney etc.) are beautiful places, and well worth visiting; however, the Village has a relatively high crime rate, and a raging meth/alcohol problem. Additionally, we (SAR/FBI/Sheriff's Dept.) just pulled a Japanese tourist out of the river with 25+ stab wounds to the face and upper body...

There has been a pattern of assaults on tourists.

We do not have the killer in custody.

Personally, I'd go to Mexico if I had a few days off....

I don't want to alarm people...just be careful and watch yourselves.

-H-

[HongerVenture]

Wow... and I was wondering what prompted your comments. That's valuable information.

Not to make light, but it sounds just like DC right now... (http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/13/news/dc.php)

Back on topic:
I showed my wife pictures of the falls and she really wants to go... sadly Indiana is quite aways away for us to participate. However, it is now on our list of things to do in Arizona... and I think its on her short list. Make sure you take lots of pictures and post them.

[seth_js]

I showed my wife pictures of the falls and she really wants to go... sadly Indiana is quite aways away for us to participate. However, it is now on our list of things to do in Arizona... and I think its on her short list. Make sure you take lots of pictures and post them.

Most definetely. I'm quite the picture whore. :p

Also, if you plan on taking an AZ/Grand Canyon trip, make sure to add this to the agenda:

http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/skywalk.html

It's actually not far from Havasu Falls.

[crawler#976]

Hey Guy's

One of my tooling vendors stopped in and shared his experiance in Havasupai from last week. This was the 7th year in a row they've done a 4 day trip into the falls, so he's no rookie to the area.

They were treated very rudely this year, and were mildly threatend by a group of HS aged youths when leaving very early Saturday morning. They broke camp at 4:30 AM and there were kids waiting for them when they went thru the village at 5:30 AM. It was nothing physical, just a lot of verbal taunting.

He also mentioned that the place was dirtier than he'd very seen it, even tho they are now charging a "Environment Impact Fee" that's supposed to go towards clean up. In fact, all fees had increased from last year.

Anyway, he was quite disapointed by his experiance this year.

[Brian McVickers]

- Is there another route into the falls that bypasses town?
- Is safety of parked vehicles left behind a concern?

[crawler#976]

nope, the trail go's thru the village.

I wouldn't leave anything of value in your rig.

[edgear]

I last went to Havasupai 3 years ago, and had an amazing time. Beaver Falls is awesome, but a couple-mile dayhike from the main camping area:

http://home.comcast.net/~jeremyedgar/beaverfalls.JPG


I'm bummed to hear about the downfall of that area (uncleanliness, crime, etc.). I was hoping to head down there this fall (Oct. or Nov.), once it cools off. I went in mid-September, and it was still pretty warm. I would suggest hiking in & out super early, before the sun rises. And don't get run over by the mule trains!!

:campfire:

[seth_js]

I was hoping to head down there this fall (Oct. or Nov.), once it cools off. I went in mid-September, and it was still pretty warm. I would suggest hiking in & out super early, before the sun rises.

How warm was it in September? In looking at the average temperatures it didn't seem like it would be that bad. Maybe I'll wait till October. As the air temperature cools down, does the water temp get too cold to swim? I'm a total wuss when it comes to cold water.

[articulate]

How warm was it in September? In looking at the average temperatures it didn't seem like it would be that bad. Maybe I'll wait till October. As the air temperature cools down, does the water temp get too cold to swim? I'm a total wuss when it comes to cold water.
I've been in October twice and had cold water both times. I'm a pretty fair wuss about it too, but it's not freezing. So go. Jump in. :D

[edgear]

There's not a whole lot of shade anywhere on the hike in (except for in some of the slot-canyon areas), so that's why I would suggest starting to hike before the sun comes up. I think in the first 1.5 miles from the parking lot you drop about 2-3k feet, and it's totally exposed (and very dusty). The camping area has plenty of trees, so you should be ok there. I don't remember exact air temperatures in September, but it was definitely refreshing to go swimming in the cool water!! It's quite an oasis

[Boston Mangler]

Sounds good, i may be interested. :jumping: :camping: :clapsmile

As for rising crime rate, unfortunately it seems to be the trend everywhere lately! :(

Sounds like this would be a great excuse to go in a group! :D

[BajaTaco]

Seth, what is the status of this trip?

[Hltoppr]

Fall temps are probably nice 40-50s at night and 80s during the day. Summer it's a solar cooker in the canyon....any serious hiking should probably be done only if you have significant desert hiking experience....dehydration and heat illnesses are a real issue.

-H-

[seth_js]

Oh, sorry. I'm going to put it off till next spring (probably April or May).

[Ursidae69]

I'll watch this thread, I've always wanted to do that hike. A group would be great for discouraging bad guys, I hope..