Havasu Canyon pictures

“we survived the too-short trip into Havasu Canyon. way too short.

on Day 1, i waited at the parking lot until the mules got there - LATE. Dan, Paul and Guy got on the trail by 8, but i didn't get walking until after 11. blechh! 5 hours later, i pulled into camp, after the mules finally passed me with less than 1 mile to go. double blechh!

at least the guys had some fun while i was walking in. we set up camp, ate dinner, and Paul fell asleep. we adults played uno until we couldn't see straight, and went to bed (we'd slept maybe 4 hours the night before).

the next day, i woke up before sunrise and walked to Havasu Falls. it was beautiful and cool, and i appreciated the time to myself. after an hour or so, i walked back to camp and we geared up for our day trip down to Beaver Falls. well, we got about halfway down to Mooney Falls (a very, very steep descent down an ancient travertine fall) and came to a spot where Paul's carrier wouldn't fit through the small gap in the rocks. so i let Dan go on and have fun with Guy, while i took Paul back to camp. we visited with other campers, played and tried to nap, and after a few hours i got tired of that and loaded up to take Paul over to Havasu Falls. the guys got back just as i was leaving, so i was able to take my wetsuit over to the falls and get a little swimming in. alas, it was too cold ang i got a headache rather quickly. the guys were tired and wanted to go back to camp so i made them take Paul while i went up a side canyon to take pictures of an abandoned mine. the miners had chipped their names in the rock outside the cave ("PETE 1935")and i wanted to take some pictures of their graffiti.

i also took the time to wander around the petrified remains of the ancient waterfall terraces, from some long-forgotten epoch when the waterfall was 200 or more feet wide. there were leaves turned to stone and great long holes where ancient trees had been encased and then rotted away. i saw my first scorpion (in the wild) crawling along one of the terraces, but couldn't get my darned camera adjusted in time to get a good picture of him. curses!

we went to bed not long afer sunset and Paul hogged everything - the sleeping pads and the pillows. that kid's a nightmare, i tell you.

the next day, we had to leave. so unfair! we packed up and left our things for the mules, then spent a little time at Havasu and Navajo Falls. i couldn't take many pictures at Navajo falls, as the spray was too persistent. but Guy had a waterproof cover for his camera and got some very good shots.

we ate breakfast in the village, and foolishly, stupidly trudged out in the middle of the day. most of the hike isn't too bad, but the last 3 miles out to the Hilltop are almost shadeless. we suffered and eventually made our way to the top, although i offered up several prayers that we would make it. the bags were already there and by 4 pm we were in the air-conditioned car on our way to club sandwiches and cold sodas.

i'm still working on my photos, but Guy has his up at Ofoto.

here's the link, but you have to sign in”

“glad you had fun tarry. I want to see the photos but Ofoto is mining addresses and telling me to give my email addy. That I can't do. :( I guess I have to wait till yours are up :)”

“Me too. :(”

“here, try this and see if you can view the pictures under my account. depends on if they've left that loophole open or not.”

“Nice pics. Great waterfall scenery.

What was the water temp where Dan was swimming?”

“the water is usually around 70 degrees, year-round. but this time of year the sun doesn't shine on the bottom of the canyon for too long, so the good swimming hours are short.”

“Thanks. The water pictures from Havasupi always look so blue. That awesome.”

“That lizs gal should see these pics. This is great scenery.”

“Nice pictures and trip report. Thanks”

“awesome pictures!”

“Nice pics!!! Is that the teepee tent you made?? Looks good!!! Streamweaver”

“Real nice pics, Mrs. Bubble. Havasupi Falls is spectacular! I like the fast shots in the alcove behind the falls, that's neat! The tree rope looks like alot of fun, how come no pics of you swinging from the rope?

Someday... someday, I'll get out West to meet yas!”

“I wanna get there one day...for sure. Thanks.”

“Very nice shots”

“they are good pics - Im really going to have to take a camera out with me one of these days”

“Amazing photos Tarbubble..How's baby boy? Your taking him on the hikes working out ok?”

“Great pictures. I look forward to visiting there someday. That swing looks like fun!”

“Great pics and trip report! Glad the bubble family had a good trip! When is the trip up to Oregon going to happen? I'm waiting....”

“wow, thanks everybody. those pictures weren't mine, they were Guy's. i'm TRYING to get my photos uploaed on Webshots, but it's taking forever. no pictures of me on the rope swing 'coz i was back in camp being domestic and taking care of the baby.

Paul usually does very well on our hikes, and this was no exception. i dred when he starts demanding to walk on the trail with us, as that will be the day we have to cut back on mileage.

Phil, the water looks so amazingly blue because it has a very high mineral content. it leaves a white deposit on the streambed and bottom of the pools, so the natural tendency of water to look blue is amplified by the light reflecting back up off the white base. it's totally amazing. i have pictures of the ancient falls that don't flow anymore, with leaves petrified right into the stone and long holes where trees were caught in the mineral deposits and then rotted away.”

“OK, i finally have my first album up. it's all shots of Hualapai Hilltop and Cataract Canyon - the approach to Havasu Canyon & the waterfalls.”

“OK, album number 2

camp, Havasu Falls, a hike down to Mooney Falls and some swimming back up at Havasu.”

“incredible pics”

“thank you, jmitch!

here is album #3, the last in the series. old miner's graffiti, more waterfalls, petrified leaves, blue water, and the hike out. please enjoy, i put a lot of work into these albums.”