Grand Canyon Havasupai Hike

We reached the parking lot at the rim around 4:30 am. It was a bit worrisome that it had been snowing heavily the day before we drove to the Cavern's Inn Motel, and also that Cheryl had a high fever the previous night. However, there was no snow, and we were frequently asked by hikers coming out if there was snow on the rim. Everyone was aware of the storm front that had passed through and was inquiring about it.

Approximately one mile into the hike.

The hike was quite scenic, spanning 10 miles directly inward with a downward slope. Around mile 8, we reached the Supai village. This is the only location in the United States where mail is still transported by mules. Access to the village is limited to helicopter, foot, or mule. Visitors and hikers are prohibited from taking photos in the village.

10 mile hike in

The journey truly begins upon reaching Havasu Falls, an almost surreal experience. Once there, you can choose a campsite along Havasu Creek. These campsites are situated between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls. Continuing down the creek will lead you to Beaver Falls. The scenery exceeded my expectations, with limestone formations reminiscent of Semuc Champey in Guatemala.

Havasu Falls

This was our campsite. Departing at 5 am, we appeared to be the first to reach the camp, giving us the privilege of choosing from the vacant sites left by campers that morning. We were situated by a creek and had a nice picnic table. Bringing the hiking chair seemed a bit unnecessary since we had a table.

Campsite with a premium picnic table

Arriving at Mooney Falls.

Mooney Falls

Another angle of Mooney Falls

Another angle of Mooney Falls

What I didn't realize was that the ONLY way to continue with the hike is to descend Mooney Falls. I thought this was just an optional path to the bottom, but it's necessary. It took us around 45 minutes to get down because some people ahead of us were quite nervous.

Decent at Mooney Falls

Here's another perspective of the descent. It was also a bit wet from the mist of the falls.

Different perspective on the decent of Mooney Falls

Beaver Falls. This was an incredible spot. Although it was a bit cooler than usual, some people were still swimming.

Beaver Falls

Hiking out about 6am.

Hiking out at 6am a few days later.

The Return to the Grand Canyon

While I'm not typically the type to set New Year's resolutions, I've found myself reflecting on the desire to do more in 2025. The last two years have flown by in a blur, and I recently took a step towards a more fulfilling year by purchasing the Big A** Calendar from Jesse Itzler's site. My goal is to get back to traveling as I did over the past decade. During a recent podcast (the host's name escapes me), I was inspired by a discussion about Tim Ferriss and his intriguing idea that the anticipation of an event can often be more rewarding than the event itself. They shared how he once planned five years' worth of vacations, highlighting that the joy of anticipation is one of the best parts of the experience.

With this concept in mind, I'm diligently working on filling my calendar. It's quite surprising to see that even with what many would consider a substantial number of planned trips, the calendar still appears relatively empty when faced with 365 blank spaces.

My Big "ASH" Calendar - 48 x 36 for Ass-ured Clarity

The Benefits of My Big A** Calendar

• Yearly Planning: The large format provides a comprehensive view of the entire year, making it easier to plan ahead.

• Visual Clarity: With ample space for each day, you can easily jot down important dates, trips, and events without feeling cramped.

• Encourages Anticipation: By filling in your calendar with upcoming events, you can cultivate excitement and anticipation for the experiences to come.

• Goal Tracking: The calendar serves as a visual reminder of your goals and aspirations, helping you stay focused throughout the year.

• Inspiration for Spontaneity: While planning is essential, the large calendar also allows room for spontaneous adventures that may arise.

Overall, the Big A** Calendar is a valuable tool for anyone looking to make the most of their year, facilitating both planning and the joy of anticipation. However, I must admit that I actually hate planning trips. I prefer to just go with the flow. Still, I believe this tool serves a greater purpose in helping me organize and maximize my experiences.

Fast Forward

At the request of my girlfriend, I applied for the Havasupai Falls lottery, which offers the incredible opportunity to hike into the Grand Canyon and camp for 4 days and 3 nights. Initially, I didn’t think we would actually win the lottery, but I’m thrilled to say that we will be going this year!

A vibrant AI-generated depiction of Havasu Falls, showcasing cascading blue waters against the rugged canyon backdrop, bathed in warm sunlight.

It will be my second time back to the Grand Canyon since 2017, and I can't help but feel a sense of excitement as I anticipate revisiting this breathtaking natural wonder.

Grand Canyon in 2017

This will be my first hiking trip since my adventure in Patagonia last year, where I traveled to both Argentina and Chile. Although I don't particularly enjoy the physically demanding nature of hiking, I've been training since July in anticipation of my next hiking destination. I've been rucking daily with a 22.5lb weighted vest for a solid hour each day. My hope is that this preparation will make the experience more enjoyable, along with providing other health benefits, of course. I might be a bit dramatic, though, since I didn't even get a single blister while hiking in Patagonia! My hands were severely blistered from the sun/wind though. It was the one place I didn't manage to get sunscreen.

I do plan on posting some photos from the Patagonia hike in the future.

Website Resurrection

My website has been dormat for many years. Probably since around 2015-6 when I shot my last wedding.

I don't do wedding photography anymore. I haven't really used a digital camera in about 7 years.

I've always wanted to get the website up and running again. I recently bumped into two people I hadn't seen in over 20 years, and after chatting with them, I realized they have no clue what I'm up to these days.

So, I just committed to 3 or 4 years of website hosting, so there's no turning back now. A lot has changed since then.

I've done a ton of traveling and gotten into a lot of new tech. I hope I can share those adventures here once again.