Havasupai!

Last month I had the awesome opportunity to take eight of my Sunrise girls to Havasupai Falls, along with one of the therapists, my boss, and a female teacher. I was particularly excited to be involved because I’ve wanted to go there since I was a freshman in college. It’s a 7 hour drive from Hurricane (so about 8 hours for me), and then about a 10 mile hike to the campground. We stayed in Kingman, AZ and then drove the last three hours to the trailhead. We sent most of our gear down on mules and carried daypacks for the hike. It’s actually in the Grand Canyon so it was cool to be down there. I’ve always wanted to hike the Canyon but didn’t really know I had it in me. The hike down wasn’t bad at all, but I definitely got some blisters and a workout! It took us about 5 hours and the sun was just setting when we got our tents up. The next morning we hit the trails for Moony Falls, about 2 miles away from camp. We had to basically climb down the side of a cliff to get down. There were chains to hold on to and cave-like tunnels to brave. I put myself between a girl terrified of heights and one failed to mention claustrophobia. You’d think that’s a bad mix, but it was great cause it made me totally forget my own fear of heights! Win!

The water was the most clear, blue, cool water I’ve ever experienced! You could see right to the bottom of the river. I felt like a teenager again! I was climbing cliffs and exploring caves, swimming against the current to see what lurked under each waterfall, and jumping off rocks into the rushing water. I couldn’t have been happier! I spent most of our time at Moony Falls with one of the girls I haven’t been super close with before. We picked our way down the river, slipping on rocks and floating the deep parts. When we got tired we went back for our books and found the perfect little rocks in the middle of the river to plop down on! It was heaven. Pure Heaven!

Havasu Falls was a lot like Moony but much easier to get to. There were more caves to explore and the pools were deeper so we did more jumping and swimming. I also got to prove my swimming chops to the guys, which is always nice.

That night Krista (the teacher) and I slept under the stars. It took forever to fall asleep under that beautiful canvas.

The hike out was more painful because I already had blisters, but I ended up hiking with a girl who was hurting too and we agreed we just wanted to power through and go! We pulled way ahead of the group and held up our lead until the last 2 miles when the guys started running and came within view. She turned to me and said, “I’m tired, and I would love a break, but I am NOT giving up my first place lead! I will not be passed by the guys!” A girl after my own heart! Spurred by her conviction we booked it the next half mile until we hit the switchbacks. If you’ve ever done Angels Landing, you’ll get this reference. Those switchbacks are like the Wiggles from Hell! About halfway up I started to struggle and let my girl go ahead at her own pace cause I thought I might barf from exhaustion. I was so tired I had to stop every few steps and the guys passed me, but I finally made it! (I was happy to hear that my little hiking buddy got to the top first, even with the guys running!) It felt so amazing to realize I hiked about 25 miles in three days and had just reached the top! And I did all 10 miles in 4 hours 15 minutes! I felt so powerful, so strong, and so, so very sore! As I walked to the car to wait for the rest of the group I caught a look at my shadow. With my pack on and limping as I was, I looked like Richard III in a bandana!

Havasupai, with its lush green foliage and cool blue waters is strikingly beautiful, and I think is special because it isn’t accessible to just anyone. You have to want it. You have to earn it.

More pics to come!