Arizona Road Trip

In preparation for Kilimanjaro, I thought I better get my butt into gear and do some major hiking.

April 29-May 1, 2014: Havasupai Indian Reservation, Grand Canyon.

Day 1 started at the Hualapai Hilltop.

8 miles down into the the canyon you come upon Supai, a small Native American village that can only be reached by foot, horseback or helicopter, and their very scenic outdoor basketball court.

Then another 2 miles to the campground passing Old Navajo Falls

 

and ending at Havasu Falls where I enjoyed an afternoon of much deserved rest and relaxation swimming in the falls.

Day 2 was spent exploring down river. At the far end of the campground is a treacherous descent to Mooney Falls (not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights).

 

And a few miles further is Beaver Falls, where I rewarded myself with some more swimming in the crystal clear pool at the bottom.

Day 3 was the grueling 10 mile climb back to the Hualapai Hilltop through the heat of the desert. The pack mules passing me every so often provided desperately needed breaks on the way to the top.

 

All in all - Highly recommended!!!

May 2-3, 2014: Kachina Peaks Wilderness, Flagstaff.

Two excellent days of camping and hiking just north of Flagstaff. Humphreys Peak drew me to this area, but to my surprise the other trails are just as breathtaking.

The road to the Inner Basin trailhead was still closed for the winter, so instead of an easy 5 mile jaunt, it turned into a 10-11 mile round-trip hike.

An excellent shot of Sunset Crater National Monument on the way down.

The climb along Humphreys Trail to the highest point in Arizona (at 12,633 ft) is roughly 9.6 miles round-trip and 3,500 ft of elevation gain. Really not too bad as long as you aren't in a hurry. However, when you add slushy, slippery snow for almost 3/4 of the trek, it becomes a little more difficult.

The last 100ft or so before you get to the peak

and then you've made it. And these views are your reward!

Would do it again in a heartbeat!

May 5, 2014: Santa Catalina Mountains, Tucson

Just driving up Sky Island Parkway to Mount Lemmon is rewarding, but get out and explore a little to see even more beauty.

The Butterfly Trail up to the summit of Mount Bigelow offers a wide range of sights.

Click here to see more photos of my Arizona Road Trip.