Havasupai Falls Backpack

Ever since i heard about Havasupai Falls in Arizona from one of the hiking posts or the viral video about a camper getting up in a tent with the falls right beside i have been itching to go. As usual someone in the local Boulder hiking group posted a 4 day trip the second weekend of November 2016 beginning on Wednesday. Being tough to get permits to go, space was limited. When i emailed the organizer he said it was already full. Disappointed i went back to routine life dreaming of such exotic places to visit.

Then randomly on Friday night i got an email form the organizer saying one spot had opened up. I was excited. The decision to go was easy. I emailed my manager on Saturday, and managed to get last minute vacation for 4 days and confirmed with the organizer and paid up. Then the packing and excitement began.We departed Boulder 530AM on Wednesday and picked up our third person a woman from Sweden on her first backpacking trip in the US near Denver, and set off on the long drive that was before us.We zipped through the mountain of I70 and past the red rocks of UT. En-route the topics of discussion were routine, talks about US election results, our respective countries and such. We ate near Moab, then continued driving on, past the exits for Grand Canyon in Arizona, we camped past Flagstaff, AZ for the night. Next morning we got an early start at 6AM and began the last couple hours of drive left to get to the trail head (The Hualapai hilltop). The signs (advertisements) on the road sure were interesting. The fourth member of our part was arriving from TX and was delayed.

the trail begins- in the dry desert landscape of AZ

Mules carrying bags

cactus

 We dropped our bags off for the mules, packed a small day pack with water and food and set off down the trail. The beginning was steep switchbacks, then mellow flat land though the desert wilderness. The next section were into the canyon which narrowed as we progressed further. We past a group of people heading out a pack of horses and then another group who had been camping down there and dint know the election result yet. We exclaimed its a boy and chatted about how unexpected it was. Passing down the trail we marveled at the red canyons all around us. The trail was easy and flat and we did our miles at a very good pace. Very soon we were at the intersection with the Havasuapi creek and turned left there. Here on we hiked along the creek. The blue green water was constantly flowing beside us. At around noon, we reached the Supai village. It was a quaint village in spectacular surroundings. Past the village we reached the office and checked in. The fourth member of our party getting delayed on the road had taken the chopper in and was already at the office waiting for us. All was well.

farms entering Supai village

fields in supai village

Havasu creek first look

Havasu falls first look descending down

perfect!

We got our wristbands and continued on with final 2 miles to the campsites, while chatting with other fellow hikers. We were constantly blown away by the blue green water following by our sides. Past the first small falls, in no time we were greeted by the magnificent Havasu falls or Havasupai falls. The first waterfall. It was a photographers paradise.Being the first ones there we managed to get a very nice camping spot on a small hillock past the stream away from the hustle of the trail. We ate a bit and went back to the falls and decided to pick up our backpacks on the way back in as they were expected at 3-330PM in the afternoon.  After setting up camp we strolled by the waters of Havasupai falls again and went in for a bit, back at camp we ate dinner under the moonlight and slept early,, it had been a long day.

The next day we breakfassed by the blue green water , and set off down the creek. Our destination was Beaver Falls, and if we could make it the Colorado river. The trail was amazing, with plenty of stream crossings. The water was pleasantly cool. First up is Mooney falls which took our breath away. The descend down to Mooney falls was definitely interesting and the highlight of our whole day.We criss-crossed cross the trail and the creek and reached Beaver falls by around noon. Here we relaxed. There were several other people. I bathed in the beaver falls for a while and explored the area. Further down from beaver fall there was an amazing spot to cliff jump into the water. It looked amazing but sadly i dint do it.

We returned to camp after spending some time at Mooney Falls on the way back. Back at came we had tea and snacks and gossiped. Late evening we went back to Havasu falls and had yummy fry bread the the local hut. It was pretty popular. We dined on gorgeous food and checked out Havasu falls again in the moonlight. and called it a night.

descending down Mooney falls

bathing in beaver falls

top view of beaver falls

 The next day each one did what we wanted. I went down to Mooney falls again and hung around in the waters. Being a Saturday, there was definitely more "crowd" that the previous day. I bathed in Mooney Falls and felt the raw power of the waterfalls. Then lounged about in the small steam in front of the falls right by the canyon walls. Behind the small stream falls there was a small cove/cave which was very cool. After more lounging in the waters i returned back to camp, changed and headed for some more fry bread. We then storlled around the small canyon just past our campsite, dined and slept in the moonlight.

final ascent back to base

The next morning we started at about 7:30am and had breakfast and coffee at the town/village and began our hike out. The hike was pretty uneventful and after the final climb up the steepest section we found ourselves back at the cars and heading back on the long long drive back to Boulder. After the overnight stop near Moadb, we were back in Boulder at around noon on Monday, with lots of pics, lifetime of memories and tales!

Fall...

Sitting at a desk
i gaze at the changes
both within and beyond
the window.

beginning this summer
lush green and inviting
sunshine streaming in...

now the trees glow
in natures splendid show,
brightly alit
the colors of fall

but passing on, leaves drop by
at great pace...
counting down to what seems yet another winter,
bidding their time
for the future in store

but for now, small talks...
Autumn equinox!

Backpacking the Winds: Titcomb basin

Mid August a friend from our hiking group planned a backpacking trip to Titcomb basin in the Wind River Range, WY for the Labor Day weekend 9/3 to 9/5 2016. I signed up immediately, pretty excited on reading about the area and looking at some (probably photo-shopped?) pics on google. A week before, my right foot got a huge deep blister and i was worried whether i'd be able to make the trip. I monitored it (frequent cold water washes, Vit-E caps and full rest) and by Wednesday it had crusted but still a little pain underneath. I decided to go. Over the week, the number of people signed up was also fluctuating- it started with 5 or 6 at the beginning, went down to 2 a couple days later, and then back to 6 but we ultimately ended up with 3 people going, me included.

We started the 7 hour drive from Boulder at around 3:30pm Friday. The drive was pretty uneventful we talked about the usual random things. Boulder news, little bit of tech, medicine and hospital treatment in the U.S and abroad and also reminisced about or last trip to the Wind River Range, exactly 2 years ago on Labor day weekend. We arrived at the road leading to the trail around 10:30pm and drove around a bit looking for an open camp spot. Finding one we setup and slept immediately. At around 1:30am each one of us was awoken by loud thunder and strong lightening and rain. It was one of the strongest lightening ive ever experienced. Some of the flashes were extremely bright and lasted for over 2 seconds. In our drowsy state it was easily confused with actual sudden daylight. In the morning, we woke by 7pm and got ready and drove 20mins to the Pole creek trail head in Elkhart park. The parking lot was already pretty full, lots of groups going fishing, hiking, backpacking and climbing. We parked, packed, i bandaged my blister, and were off by 8:30am.

The trail starts off gradually in pine forests. We covered the first 2-3 miles at good pace, and soon reached the junction of Miller Lake trail. Here we took our first break as it was the first open meadow after a long time in the pine trees. We could also see the peaks far off in the distance to our left then continued further and went through pine trees again.

first meadow near Miller lake junction

Our next stop was Photographer's point. Here we had a nice stop, took in the views and plenty of pics. 

view from photographers point

gorge lake surrounded by the winds

beautiful day for a hike

After photographers point the trail begins it rolling up and down nature for the rest of the day. It rolls down slowly from now for a while then opens out into a meadow and the climbs gradually again through pine forest. Our next target was Seneca Lake about 3-4 miles further. We stopped by a quaint stream crossing for lunch at about 1:30pm. Here it started raining suddenly and we had to take cover. After waiting for about half and hour we continued onward. The trail climbs again gradually and descends suddenly to hobbs lake, then is flat for a while and then climbs again through pine towards Seneca lake. We were soon approaching our 8-9 mile mark. Its only on reaching Seneca Lake that the trail actually "opens up" leaving the kind of boring pine forests behind.

first of the small unnamed lakes

meadows along the trail enroute to Seneca lake

rainy clouds around lunch time

view of Seneca Lake

We took a photo stop on the seneca lake overlook and continued on the rocky trail alone the lake shore. Passing the final small section of the seneca lake we reached the lost lake trail junction. We continued on counting down the miles few feet at a time. Then past the small greenish lake, on the right, we continue then get past another small lake and ascend on the rocky unnamed pass. Up the pass the views in the distance are quite amazing. Just vast backcountry wilderness with a backdrop of pointy peaks.

first lake at end of seneca lake

on the unnamed rocky pass past seneca lake

 Phew! We still had 2-3 more miles to get to Island Lake, our destination for the night. We completed the miles in silence in the evening sunlight and breathed a sigh of relief on getting the first peek at island lake. We descended slightly down the trail, and began looking for campsites to the left, as we dint want to go too further so it would be easy for us to leave while departing. We setup our tent, laid out our sleeping bags, took our food stuff and went to the edge of the gentle rolling slope overlooking Island lake. We had a gorgeous view of the lake and the Titcomb basin beyond it. We ate in the setting sun and took in the views and relaxed. It was blissful and time flew by.. After sunset, i retired to bed by around 8pm.

first view of island lake

one of my best shots- Island lake, at about sunset

sweet camp spot

another view of island lake, right in front of our tent. doesnt get old.

Again overnight we had heavy rain and very light hail. Next morning we awoke to low hanging clouds surrounding all the peaks shrouding everything in fogginess. The weather looked thunderous and not suitable to head into the basin. I was sound asleep, and looking at the weather i decided to just stay at camp and chill and rest my leg. The other 2 left camp at around 11:30am and were hoping for the weather to  clear. By around 1pm the weather turned for the worse. There was an intense hailstorm, soon it was snowing. I was snuggled up in my sleeping bag thinking about the other guys stuck in this weather. By 2:30pm the storm had passed by and soon they arrived and shoveled the snow form around the tent. We decided on what to do. The weather was clearing, and to avoid a long hike on our last day back, we decided to pack and head out our destination being the campsites near Seneca Lake.

cloudy weather in the morning

colorful sight outside our tent after the storm

view of island lake after the snow storm

 In the clearing weather, we say snow capped peaks which yesterday were totally barren. The snow on the ground, on the peaks and the colors made everything look very pretty. We hiked on, looking back to the peaks and Island lake occasionally. Just before our assent to the rocky unnamed pass, it started to hail again.

ascending the trail looking back on island lake

final view of island lake from the overlook

Seeing no thunder clouds or lightening, we continued on bracing ourselves against wind and hail. Over the exposed pass, with no cover what so ever, and on the other side, we battled rain and hail and traced our steps back to Seneca Lake. The ground here was covered in a light layer of snow (1 to 2 inches easy) We setup camp, ate by the lake in the setting sun and slept.

Overnight again there was snowfall, much heavier than the previous afternoon. We awoke to many inches of snow around our tent. It was cold. We ate, packed and started our return journey. I stopped by the Seneca lake shore to refill water and continued on. The trail was snowy and easy. We covered the miles at a good pace, and soon were retracing our steps, past the downhill section after seneca lake, into the meadows, unnamed lakes, hobbs lake, and were into the pine forests again .Here the trail was very slushy, muddy and wet. After the last meadow our next stop was photographers point where we would have an early lunch by around 11:30am, but not being hungry and eager to complete our day, i continued on into the last leg of the hike, the gradual downhill section through pine forests. I covered the last 4-5 easy miles at good pace, and was at the trail head at 1:40pm sharp! The others arrived after a while as they had stopped for a break at Photographers point.

outside our campsite near seneca lake on night 2

leaving on the final morning. on the trail near seneca lake before filling up water

snow covered meadows, that were barren just a day before

amazing views of the winds on way back

view from photographers point on final day- snow covered peaks looking goregeous

Soon we were off back to Boulder. The return journey was ok too, we listened to some interesting podcasts on a variety of topics, and by 10pm were back in Boulder, feeling accomplished on having completed another awesome trip to the Winds, and like last time, got to experience a variety of weather.

Until next time...