Spring Break

For spring break this year, Mike and I decided to go our separate ways to opposite ends of the country. Mike to Florida, and I to California to visit Annie. I was actually in Cali for less than 24 hours for we left immediately to Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon and Havasu Falls—our 5 year long backpacking vacation dream.

Grand Canyon
Grand…wow that is an understatement. It is so much more than that. After spending 3 days and 2 nights camping in Grand Canyon National Park, I must say that the view is absolutely spectacular. You’re looking out from the rim edge and the canyon abyss stretches on and on and is too “grand” to even fit into the screen on your digital camera. Minus the 30 degree nights, in which we froze our little butts off, we had a wonderful time hiking into and around the south rim of the canyon. We learned a bit of the geological history of the place (yes I am a science nerd) and enjoyed the guided tour bus shuttle when our legs told us enough was enough.


Havasu Falls
To the west of the Grand Canyon lies the Hualapai Canyon, and more specifically the Supai Indian Village. Annie and I backpacked down into the canyon for 8 miles through rocks, sand, switchbacks, and more sand to reach the small remote village. Here we obtained our permits, ate Indian Tacos, and fed the homeless dogs. We then continued our trek another 2 miles to the campground at which point we collapsed deciding it was a good thing we had 2 days before we had to do that all over again to get back out. While there we explored the falls, hiking through tunnels and down ladders to reach them. We quickly realized the painful hike down was well worth it for the site of paradise at the end. The beautiful crystal blue water falls and river is unbelievable and to experience it in such a far out of the way remote place like Havasu made it all that more amazing.


After 5 days of hiking, camping, eating Raman noodles, sleeping on the ground, and no shower it was time to head back to Cali and indulge ourselves with a huge meal at Denny’s. Mmmm….pancakes never tasted so good. All in all it was a great time to get away from the hubbub of the city, not to mention 7th and 8th graders, and enjoy God’s creation with some peace and quiet.