Havasu Falls, AZ March 2018

After a gentle downhill, ten mile hike we encountered the most beautiful waterfalls that I have every seen. We used Four Season Guides from Flagstaff Arizona to get permits (they are hard to secure) and to provide gear and guides. The guides were professional, helpful, and made the trip very enjoyable.

Backpackers: Carl Fisher and Lori Fisher

March 26, 2018 Miles 10 Our party consisted of Matt and Karne as guides and two other families. We were picked up in Flagstaff at our hotel at 6:50am and headed for the trailhead – about 2.5 hours away. We hiked with day packs starting at 10:15am. The remainder of our gear was packed in with horses. We had an immediate downhill for 1.5 miles and then flat until minor downhill to Havasu Falls. Wat is a beautiful blue, green color which comes from calcium carbonate in the water. The first falls we came to was Little Navaho Falls. At Havasu Falls two of us actually swam. I swam as did one your girl. Refreshing and not too cold. Guide Matt went ahead and had camp all set up for us.

March 27, 2018 Miles (?)

Trail to Mooney Falls which lead to a harrowing (and fun) climb down the face of the cliff which included a couple of tunnels, chains, and ladders.

March 27, 2018 Miles 7 We day hiked today which means we were able to leave our tents up and sleeping bags unrolled. A luxury for a trekking backpacker. After a breakfast prepared by our guides we began hiking to the ultimate destination which is Beaver Canyon and Beaver Falls. However, to get to Beaver Canyon we first had to go by Mooney Falls which is several hundred feet lower than the elevation at which we arrived at the falls. Getting to Mooney Falls required following a trail that had been carved into the side of the cliff. There was a line of people waiting to begin the descent as it was one person at a time. The trail at a couple of points moved into the hillside through tunnels. The trail was always on a knife edge and chains were embedded into the wall to keep folks from falling. The last 50 to 100 feet we straight down and ladders had been installed. When we got to the bottom we were greeted by a group of folks standing in the pool of water beneath the falls, their backs to camera, bending over, and “Mooneying” the camera. The hike to Beaver Falls required us to cross the Havasu River a number of times, sometimes in water up to our chest. Thankfully, the water was not flowing fast. At Beaver Falls our guides prepared a lunch feast of bagel sandwiches.

March 28, 2018 Miles 10 Uneventful hike out and shuttle back to our hotel.

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