I recently got married (the second time) and my wife and I decided to go to Havasu Falls on a hiking trip in the South-western area of the Grand Canyon for our honeymoon. Both of us are forty something and in fair shape. I am originally from the east and not too familiar with the desert climate.
I would like to post a few observations from a "novice to the desert" point of view. Along with some info on a great trip~!
I am very thankful that I listened to my savvy wife or it may have cost me dearly. She preached that we had to carry what I considered too much water...it wasn't. She was adimant that we wear big brimmed hats instead of baseball style caps. I was glad of that. She insisted that we use lots of sun block. I am glad we did.
We drove to the Hualapi Hill Top parking lot at night and slept in the back of the pickup. She suggested that we leave on the hike at 5:30am. The first mile or so is nothing but switchbacks that take you quickly down into the canyon. After that, it is mostly a path that goes through the canyons until you reach the village (8 miles from the parking lot). We arrived there at 9:30am. If we had left much later than 5:30am, we would have done lots of walking in the heat. As it was, we spent much of the time in the shade. Carry lots of water!!
Most of the hike was like walking in a deep gravel driveway, or along a very sandy beach. That was murder on the backs of my legs!
The village has a little diner. We ate there twice. The food was good and the prices were not as bad as one might expect in an area as remote as that. I found that the village people were not too friendly...Some say it is because they are shy. I think it is because they don't want tourists coming to ruin their peace. The falls are about two mile beyond the village. There is a camp ground with drinking water available.
There are four major falls in the area. The first you hike past is Navajo falls. It was my favorite because it was less turbulent. Havasu falls is next. It has a beautiful little beach and is easily accessable. After you hike through the campground you get to Mooney falls. In order to get to the falls, you have to decend on chains and pinions through tunnels and down the face of a rock cliff. It is very dangerous and scared the jeepers out of me. I noticed that there were few kids there and few older people. (My wife and I were two of the oldest there that day) I know that a lot of young guys will laugh at my saying that it is dangerous...but it is!! The guy that it was named after fell to his death there. I guess I have lost my spirit of adventure. Below Mooney falls is Beaver falls...which we did not reach.
On the hike back out, my wife insisted that we leave at 4:30am at the latest. I didn't see why, but after hiking out, I understand. Take lots of water!!! The last 500 yards or so got me to the point of thinking that I was not going to make it. But I did. And a local native was selling ice cold gatorade at the top for $5.00 a bottle...She got $5.00 from me.
I talked to two twenty something couples who had started the hike at noon...They told me that they almost didn't make it.
I saw two older couples (50s or 60s) starting the hike at 9:30am. That is too late in my opinion. They were wearing sun visors and carried a small bottle of water like they were on an afternoon visit in the mall. I hope they made it!
Hiking in the desert is certainly a lot less forgiving than going for a national park hike in the Appalachian mountains of the east. The desert will kill you and FAST! Sure you can die in the east, but it is not quite as quick in my opinion.
I have gained a new respect and love for the desert south-west.
I know I have left out lots of things, and I am sure that many of you will scoff that I think that the Havasu hike is difficult. I met lots of young couples that were plenty sore and beat up from the hike.I am not twenty something and I am sure that there are many out there that may read this in the same shape that I am in and may find some of this interesting or at least humorous. By the way...I am planning to go back next year!
Seikan1
I would like to post a few observations from a "novice to the desert" point of view. Along with some info on a great trip~!
I am very thankful that I listened to my savvy wife or it may have cost me dearly. She preached that we had to carry what I considered too much water...it wasn't. She was adimant that we wear big brimmed hats instead of baseball style caps. I was glad of that. She insisted that we use lots of sun block. I am glad we did.
We drove to the Hualapi Hill Top parking lot at night and slept in the back of the pickup. She suggested that we leave on the hike at 5:30am. The first mile or so is nothing but switchbacks that take you quickly down into the canyon. After that, it is mostly a path that goes through the canyons until you reach the village (8 miles from the parking lot). We arrived there at 9:30am. If we had left much later than 5:30am, we would have done lots of walking in the heat. As it was, we spent much of the time in the shade. Carry lots of water!!
Most of the hike was like walking in a deep gravel driveway, or along a very sandy beach. That was murder on the backs of my legs!
The village has a little diner. We ate there twice. The food was good and the prices were not as bad as one might expect in an area as remote as that. I found that the village people were not too friendly...Some say it is because they are shy. I think it is because they don't want tourists coming to ruin their peace. The falls are about two mile beyond the village. There is a camp ground with drinking water available.
There are four major falls in the area. The first you hike past is Navajo falls. It was my favorite because it was less turbulent. Havasu falls is next. It has a beautiful little beach and is easily accessable. After you hike through the campground you get to Mooney falls. In order to get to the falls, you have to decend on chains and pinions through tunnels and down the face of a rock cliff. It is very dangerous and scared the jeepers out of me. I noticed that there were few kids there and few older people. (My wife and I were two of the oldest there that day) I know that a lot of young guys will laugh at my saying that it is dangerous...but it is!! The guy that it was named after fell to his death there. I guess I have lost my spirit of adventure. Below Mooney falls is Beaver falls...which we did not reach.
On the hike back out, my wife insisted that we leave at 4:30am at the latest. I didn't see why, but after hiking out, I understand. Take lots of water!!! The last 500 yards or so got me to the point of thinking that I was not going to make it. But I did. And a local native was selling ice cold gatorade at the top for $5.00 a bottle...She got $5.00 from me.
I talked to two twenty something couples who had started the hike at noon...They told me that they almost didn't make it.
I saw two older couples (50s or 60s) starting the hike at 9:30am. That is too late in my opinion. They were wearing sun visors and carried a small bottle of water like they were on an afternoon visit in the mall. I hope they made it!
Hiking in the desert is certainly a lot less forgiving than going for a national park hike in the Appalachian mountains of the east. The desert will kill you and FAST! Sure you can die in the east, but it is not quite as quick in my opinion.
I have gained a new respect and love for the desert south-west.
I know I have left out lots of things, and I am sure that many of you will scoff that I think that the Havasu hike is difficult. I met lots of young couples that were plenty sore and beat up from the hike.I am not twenty something and I am sure that there are many out there that may read this in the same shape that I am in and may find some of this interesting or at least humorous. By the way...I am planning to go back next year!
Seikan1
