Terry Blackburn on the Web!

Peach Springs, the closest accommodations to the Havasu Falls trailhead, is still nearly a 70 mile drive from the trailhead out the Hualapai Hilltop Highway, aka Indian Rd. 18. The trail is momentous. The lure of the beautiful waterfalls with their lush blue-green water, mineral terraced pools, and tropical canyons filled with greenery has enticed many a less than prepared hiker into this rugged wilderness. Far more people venture down into the canyon depths than one might ordinarily expect for such a demanding adventure. Those that venture forth generally return with polarized opinions of the experience that range from deep enthusiasm to utter damnation, with little middle ground.

Personal confessions: I am not in the prime condition I was 'back in the day' when I was backpacking and bicycling on a regular basis. I am, however, capable of walking many miles in a day. In my younger days I regularly carried a 70lb pack 7-8 miles with an elevation gain of 3,000 feet in the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon. That was half a lifetime ago, and my nearly 57 year old frame is carrying at least half of the weight of a pack from my younger days in superfluous body tissues.

Before leaving home I weighed my pack - 35 pounds with only the most essential photographic equipment. Add a couple changes of clothing, food and water, GPS and batteries, I'm guessing I was just under 50 pounds as I eased out of the parking lot and began the descent into The Canyon. I remember thinking 'this is not good...'

Navajo Falls. Havasu Creek in Arizona

Pictures from the trail

Pictures of wildflowers

Navajo Falls and some general scenery

On to Day 5 & 6

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