Saturday, May 26, 2012

Feet Extrodinair - Havasupai Hike -


Chance and Tara went hiking (this may already be a mistake, considering Tara's aversion to the "recreational activity")

We went with Chance's brother Cody and his wife Laurie.  Chyelin and Mike were able to come too.

Just a quick overview of what this hike entails.  It is up at the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona.  When you finish your long drive up to the trail head, you begin the hike by going down a bunch of steep switch backs.  Then there is a descent into the actual canyon which is not too tough, but it does have a small incline.  Finally, the Native American village is reached where you check in and pay for your camp site.  What is not said is that the hike is supposed to be 8 miles in and 2 more from the village.  Those numbers are a LIE!  Realize that it is more and then the frustration on length is not as great.
Once we finally got into the camp site, we were exhausted.  We still had to set up camp and eat something.  Cody choose the camp site.  It turned out to be a great spot.  We were on a bit of higher ground which was good because occasionally, there are flash floods in the canyon.  We were next to a stream.  Thank Goodness!  We waded in and soaked our feet and calves.  The water was COLD.  But the numbing factor was delightful.  After we ate a little, we went to the closest of the four waterfalls.  It was Havasu.  We waded in and cooled off.  Some guy told us that we could get behind the waterfall and dive through it.  So of course that is what had to happen!  Tara did not go (no water shoes and the bottom of the water hole was like sand paper).  But some awesome shots were taken of some diving through the falling water.  Check them out.


Chance diving through the waterfall.
Victorious Chance


Four adventurers Scalling the rock to get to the waterfall.


Laurie Diving through the falls

Mike Diving through the falls.