Day 15 - The Great Grand Canyon Hike
Trip Start
Jun 26, 2005
1
16
51
Trip End
Aug 14, 2005
Supai,
Arizona,
United States
Sunday, July 10, 2005
We got an early start this morning, saw a coyote cross the road in front of us and headed for the local Grand Canyon laundromat, right at its 7 AM opening. We charged in with our laundry-mates and started washing. While our clothes were washing some took a trip to the Visitor's Center which was unfortunately closed. After all had folded their clothes, we organized our needed belongings for the big Grand Canyon hike. We bought souvenirs at a gift shop before starting to drive to our Grand Canyon trail's beginning. Using Bro. Nigel's handy GPS guided computer atlas, we found our dirt road we needed to drive on to get to our destination. A near-empty gas tank caused us to turn around for the nearest gas station. With ample fuel, we got back onto the dirt road. A bumpy, dusty ride was a different experience for all. The road in parts was lined with deep ruts that threatened to tip over the buses. After driving, safely and slowly, for an hour in the 100+ degree heat, we stopped 'in the middle of nowhere' for lunch, our last meal...before the hike that is!.
After loading up again, we drove more on the dirt road that seemed to stretch into nothingness. At one point, we even had to open up this ranch's old steel gate, drive through and close it behind us. Thankfully, the GPS guided map actually had mapped out these dirt roads and we could figure where to change our route slightly, and finally made it to the highway, the paved road leading to the parking lot in the Indian Reservation where we were going to start our journey. Bro. Nigel had decided that he was going to skip this hike, which in the end worked out OK, because one of the buses got a flat on the drive to the lot. Over the course of the night and next morning he took the van to be repaired.
Everyone was filled with anxiety to start the longest hike of the trip in terms of time. It would probably be about 10 miles down to the bottom, sleep overnight and then the ten miles back out tomorrow. Once arriving at the trail head, our food for the night and next morning was distributed and Mr. Troy showed us how to tie our sleeping pads to our day-packs. With everyone set and ready to hike, we headed down the switchbacks of the beginning of the trail. Breaking for water along the way briefly, we continued for hours, hiking relentlessly down and down, farther and farther, until 8 miles later, we reached the Havasupai Indian Village, Supai. The village store was one of the first things we encountered. It was a small store, but its supplies of water and Gatorade were enough for all of us. Once we replenished our thirst, we hiked more through the Indian village. We were greeted by two little girls and a little boy in the village who ran up to us and were happy to see other kids in their village. With only two more miles until Havasu Falls, we all knew the end was in sight.
Meghan Schiffer and Liz Perrotta said "We drove through hell, walked through purgatory, and had a little piece of heaven at Havasu Falls." The crystal blue water of the falls, to everyone, was so much worth the strenuous hike down into the canyon. Everyone celebrated finishing the hike by jumping into the water at the base of the falls. Since it was getting pretty dark, everyone grabbed their packs and walked down a little bit to our campsite for the night. Before setting up our camp, we sang Happy Birthday to Mr. Troy. The USA Study Tour members gave him a new watch because his old one was M.I.A. He said that this birthday was one of his most memorable ones. With everyone set to go to sleep, we had a friendly visitor. A dog had strolled into our camp and kept Brian Luger's sleeping pad warm for a few minutes. After his temporary time of comfort, he exited our campsite. Then, everyone, with a great sense of accomplishment, went to sleep, ready to conquer the hike back up the canyon tomorrow.
Journal Crew
Link to today's photos
