Two weeks before this trip I received an invite asking if I was free to join some friends on this overnight trip. One person couldn’t make it because a work conflict and the spot was mine for the taking! I don’t know if you’ve heard about getting a reservation for Havasupai, but its almost impossible. It was me and photographers Stephen Denton and Johnny Jaffe for two nights in the canyon. We left Phoenix on a 5-6 hour drive to the trail head where we slept in the parking lot and woke at 3am to start our hike in at 4am. The hike to our campsite was about 11 miles in from the top with switch backs, washes, and beautiful canyons before reaching Supai Village where you hike through fields that help feed the small community.
We set up camp and took a breather in our hammocks to cool down and start to enjoy our time. After the break, Johnny’s knee was super stiff and in pain but we decided to go to Mooney falls and chill out in the cool turquoise waters. On the way down to the fall was a treacherous decent of slippery wet clay and anchored chains as guide ropes to use as grip. It was one of the sketchiest climbs I’ve ever encountered. At the bottom we hung out in the water, took pictures, and enjoyed watching the social media modeling commence. It was not that busy at the time, and Stephen said it was a night and day difference between his last trip to the falls.
Climbing up the path to go back for some lunch it was apparent that Johnny’s knee was turning into a major concern. We made some lunch and I passed out for a moment being woke by the boys staring and laughing that I wouldn’t wake up from them saying my name. For those who don’t know, I’m deaf in my left ear and have partial hearing loss in the right as well, so I’m not one to wake easily. It is pretty humorous at times, especially when I hear something completely wrong. We set off to see Havasu Falls and Johnny was walking like he had a peg leg… it wasn’t far and we chilled there for a while. Me and Stephen tried swimming into the fall as hard as we could but with no success from the extreme current of the running water. We headed back to camp and set up for dinner. After eating Stephen went back to Havasu Falls to grab some images before the night fall and me an Johnny rested and bullshitted at our picnic table before returning for the night after Stephen returned.
The next morning Johnny’s knee still felt terrible, but luckily a ranger came by during breakfast and told us that if we need there are flights that day otherwise we need to stay until Thursday for the next flight out. We questioned leaving at first but decided that the hike out will definitely hurt Johnny more and we voted for a departure. The 3-mile hike to the helicopter was terrible in the mid day sun with over 100-degrees F. Stephen carried three packs while I carried two and set off before everyone to make sure we could get on a flight. I ran back after dropping my bags and securing our flight. I found Stephen not too far from the helicopter and in decent shape, but when I got to Johnny he was so relieved to get his bag off his back. We flew out of the canyon and headed home after having some cold lemonade we froze and left in the car.
It was a defeat for the trip to head home early but we knew that with Johnny’s condition we couldn’t have made it out without bad damage to his knee. That next Thursday, the day of our next flight I get messages from Stephen and Johnny about flash floods in the canyon Wednesday night and all campers being evacuated by helicopter. I was so glad we choose the plan that we did and did not stay till Thursday. According to reports, no one was seriously injured and everyone was accounted for.
This was a great trip despite the bad luck, but I’m so happy I was able to go and enjoy the falls for a day and spend some time with some quality dudes. I can not wait to try and get a slot and try my luck at another trip one day. But for now I’m glad we made it out soaked in our sweat instead of flood water.
