SWF – Dark clouds over Havasu Canyon

Havasu Falls

After three glorious days enjoying the waterfalls of Havasu Canyon Jake and I made a hasty hike out with reported bad weather on its way.

We left the campground about 6:30am and made the two miles back to the Village for breakfast by 7am.

Then we absolutely hustled the remaining eight miles up as the clouds built overhead and it lightly rained on and off.

By the time I topped out six hours later, and about 45 minutes behind Jake, the wind whipped the sleet so hard I thought I might be blown back into the canyon. Then it snowed on the way back to Flagstaff. All in all, a great hike.

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Hiking Havasu Canyon Day 3 Part 5 Following the Creek

 

After the harrowing experience of climbing down to the base of Mooney Falls we decided to explore further downstream.

 

The trail followed along Havasu Creek for a bit going down canyon…

 

…then slowly climbed uphill for a different perspective of the creek.

Skirting next to the canyon walls we noticed a very long set of ladders to some caves. But we passed on by knowing we still had to climb up the way we’d come down.

The trail returned to the creek where we waded a while in search of a trail through the brush. Damage from the 2008 flood in evidence all around us.

Then we came across this awesome swing. I gave it a try but there’s no documentation, just these other hikers enjoying the fun.

 

As we continued downstream we encountered one waterfall…

…after another.

 

Until there really was no more trail so we returned for the treacherous climb back out of the canyon.

 

With stops for just a few more photos…

 

…of Mooney Falls.

 

And finally we could see light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Then we bid farewell to Mooney Falls from the very top at the point of drop.

The next day we hiked out of Havasu Canyon in a bit of a hurry as storm clouds built quickly. Look for that sight tomorrow for Sky Watch Friday.

MWT - Hiking Havasu Canyon Day 3 Part 4 Return to Mooney Falls

OK, so we chickened out the first day making the treacherous climb to the base of Mooney Falls. (Previous post) Hope you didn’t think we’d blow it off completely.

Jake climbing down behind me

We returned the next day to meet the challenge.

Top of Mooney Falls

Just wait until you see this.

 

Mooney Falls from the, trail

After walking down stone carved steps into the dim light of  travertine cave formations the sun shone on a narrow chain protected, shall we call it trail, for about 15 feet (4.57 meters) before climbing through another dark and slippery space.

Someone else where I was for the previous photo

Jake below me

I couldn’t decide whether to turn around and go backwards almost straight down very slippery carved stone steps with the assistance of chains and metal pegs or face my certain death straight on.

These folks chickened out

All this made the ladders seem easy, at least once negotiating getting on them.

And finally on the bottom looking back up where we just came from.

Was it worth it? You decide.

The water was 70F (21C) which felt nice but not for long.

We wandered downstream sometimes following a faint trail on dry land but mostly in Havasu Creek which I’ll post about soon.

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BTW, this is my 500th post!

Hiking Havasu Canyon Mooney Falls Day 2 Part 3

The trail to Mooney Falls winds across steep sandstone walls and is not for the faint hearted.

Parts of the trail feel like caving past travertine formations left behind by a different waterfall from the geologic past.

Mooney Falls pours over 200 feet (60.96 meters) of rock less than .5 mile (.8 km) beyond the Havasu campground. It suffered the least change when a significant flash food swept through the canyon during August 2008, but the pool was filled with silt.

Workers digging out silt

A sandbag wall has been put in place and already it is being calcified and covered by travertine. The pools will regain their previous shapes, as the process repeats itself like it has been doing for millennia.

Reservation dog & Jake, note natural arch

The overlook where we took pictures from…

…provided great views of the falls and down canyon.

Yet the continuing trail to the base of the falls requires climbing rock steps through the travertine, holding chain while negotiating slippery rocks and climbing two ladders.

Workers coming up from pool

Cloudy sky with possible rain in the forecast plus the treacherous looking climb to the base of the falls put us off for the day.

Did we return?