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I have seen pics of both of these places on the HAZ site and I'm dying to check them both out. They are on my wish list. Some of you that have read my posts or profile, know that I have never been on a hike as of yet. I want one of these places to be my first. What I am asking of the HAZ community is as much info. on these two areas as possible, i.e.- when the best time to go is, what to expect, appropriate gear and supplies, and is there enough at one or both of these places to keep me busy for 3 or 4 days. What hazards do I need to keep an eye out for and is anyone planning on a trip to either one anytime soon.
Thanks so much,
Carla

Hi there! I saw your post for info on the Jug. I was there last on New Years Day. I have a good set of directions if you need, let me know. First, the road in off the main highway is fine dust, dirt, and rock. A car will make it, but you should have a truck. From the trailhead, ( limited parking), the walk in is a gentle downgrade about two miles in length. You'll pass through a barbed wire gate with the canyon close on the right. Once through the gate the canyon is on your right, and very steep walled for about a half mile, then gradually becomes accessible. There is more than enough to keep you occupied for a few hours or a few days. A good reference for details is CANYONEERING ARIZONA ( book). Anyway, have fun, be safe.

cficken wrote:I have seen pics of both of these places on the HAZ site and I'm dying to check them both out. They are on my wish list. Some of you that have read my posts or profile, know that I have never been on a hike as of yet. I want one of these places to be my first. What I am asking of the HAZ community is as much info. on these two areas as possible, i.e.- when the best time to go is, what to expect, appropriate gear and supplies, and is there enough at one or both of these places to
keep me busy for 3 or 4 days. What hazards do I need to keep an eye out for and is anyone planning on a trip to either one anytime soon.
Thanks so much,
Carla

I'd recommend reading the HAZ trip reports of the hikes you mention to get a feel for the place(s). Check H and S above. Also, you might "google" these two places for other perspectives, as well.

The Jug is good when the weather is warm, but before/after the monsoon (The monsoon runs, generally, July 10th +/- thru Aug. 15th+/-) Short day trip but lots of fun water hiking/swimming. A small day-pack with the essentials is all that's needed on this one. There is a sketchy section near the big falls where caution is suggested. If that main pool is deep enough when you're there, a short leap gets you down the falls. Some rap it, but that seems like the long-way-around-the-barn to me, if the water is deep enough.
Bring good lungs and a mask to find river booty at the bottom of the pool.

Havasu is a zoo on weekends May thru Sept. In summertime I'd recommend an early start (heat) & avoid the weekend if possible. The "off-season" is much better for a quality experience, but sometimes reduced temps make one a little reluctant to do the swimming that is ALSO part of that experience. I'd recommend at least two days @ the campground, and possibly three, to allow for ample exploring. A trip down Havasu to the Colorado and back to the CG is a day-long adventure well-worth the time.
Standard backpacking gear is all that is required here, remembering to bring swimming attire & maybe Teva's or other appropriate water shoes..

Please excuse if I misunderstood, but if this is going to be your first hike, it is important that you are well prepared, so that you can have a great time.

Havasu falls is a long hike to get down (and back up of course!). For example, make sure your boots are broken in. Make sure you have blister blocks/bandaids/first aid tape in case you need to treat blisters. Getting those part way down would be awful.

Long hikes can entail some fatigue, pain and being uncomfortable (heat, thorns, scraped knees, etc). Best know this so you can know what to expect. Personally I would do some training. Last year (memorial day weekend- a ZOO) I was in great shape, but still had some odd, never-before knee issues to deal with from the hike down. I think it was from trying to keep up with my long-legged husband. I'm a quick recoverer so I was able to rest a while and go for the AWESOME falls below the campground, and beyond the following day.

That said, there is nothing better than sitting around cooking food in the evening, satisfied and maybe a little too tan, legs still achy and camera full of great pictures!

I gather that you are doing research and that's great! Good luck!

Carla....

I'm going to Havasu April 20-23rd. Will let you know of the trip when we return.

As much as you might want to do this trip, I have to caution you on biting off more than you chew doing this as a first time trip. You might want to do some other hikes to gain the knowledge of the landscape and seeing what you are physically capable of doing in this rugged terrain before you set off into the Grand Canyon.

I've dayhiked and backpacked close to 500 miles in the last 2 years over some diverse terrain and I stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon on New Years Eve knowing I was doing it this year. The Bright Angel Trail is a kicker on the way up, even for a seasoned hiker. I trained through some rugged stuff before deciding to do the Grand Canyon.

Sometimes you need to walk before you can run.

Thanks guys for your input. I will be going with someone who is experienced we may even get a group together, and after talking to him, I think we are going to plan on an Oct. trip (early) I want to enjoy the water, not freeze my butt off. So, I should be able to go on some other hikes before this one comes around. definitely don't want to bite off more than I can chew. That's why I posted this, to see what I need to do before hand, and just like I expected, I got great advice from the HAZ community. So, what do you all recommend for my first couple of hikes and what do you think about the early Oct. timeline?
Carla

Hi Carla,

Someone else can answer your timeline question about Havasu, as I haven't been in the GC at all, so...

BUT, has far as pre-hikes go- sounds like if you are heading to Havasu in the early fall (October) that means summer hiking for you. Stay out of the Superstitions, unless you go REALLY early in the morning. Providing the whole state doesn't burn up by then, I would suggest Sedona hikes- it will get you accustomed to slick rock and you will be enthralled by the beauty! Start out easy- Westfork and maybe a couple of Canyons- like Boyton or Secret, and then start working those quads on Wilson's or Bear Mountain. You can't go wrong with Sedona hikes in the summer- get up there early enough and you'll be floating out of there before the crowds arrive.

Remember- whatever hikes you do-take plenty of water!! If you don't already, get in the habit of drinking drinking drinking, even when you are not thirsty. I'd start the habit soon, like...now. hee..hee..

You are gonna love living here!! I've been here for almost two years, and I have yet to see even a fraction of what this beautiful state has to offer!!

See ya soon!
Mike

Yeah, just a follow-up. I'm glad you got the respectful tone of my post.

In terms of training, the trip leader of my trip suggested I be able to do Piestewa peak twice before I go on this trip. While I didn't actually get to test that, it's probably a good goal. Although then, as above, you run into summer-time training. Don't discount gym time, but nothing can substitute for some good walking time on the ground.

The descent is steep, and then it's a long 8 (?) or so miles in a wash. I mostly used local hikes and my elliptical trainer. I actually disagree with above, in a way, that you should be used to some heat before you go. I'm not familiar with October temps up there, but it was definitely very warm on my ascent (luckily we started hiking at dawn).

I don't pretend to be the queen of hiking; I just hope this advice helps you. Good luck!

This observation is based off of my experience: If you go to Havasu in October, the water will be freezing cold. Even after the hot temps of the summer months, Havasu Creek is never warm...or even remotely comfortable.

In response to Matt Hoffman's reply: I was told when I was down there that the water temperatures remain the same year round, the only thing that changes is the air temperatures. It's cold, but refreshing. I had so much fun near my camp one year. I would get in near a small waterfall and let it take me down stream for a while and start all over again! It brought back childlike memories. Mary

I'm a wuss when it comes to cold water but I was there in Oct. (a few years ago) and it was fantastic!! We swam all day! :mrgreen:

Yeah, I'm a wuss to when it comes to the cold. I few people have told me that the water will be fine in Oct. I hope so, if not I will just suck it up. So, far, it will be Teton and I going. It's going to be AWSOME!!!

I notice in your bio you are living in Kansas? If so, and if you need to do your training in flat Kansas, may I suggest daily bike rides, stair climber machine (or just climbing any old stairs) and running. I would suggest working up to at LEAST an hour a day of this exercise, and to continue to push the envelope so that you get faster, and improve your wind. Lap swimming is also good if you are a decent swimmer--I mean serious lap swimming, not "water aerobics." I would suggest that once a week or more on the weekend that you aim for a pretty long run or bike ride.

This type of training will not totally refit you for hiking to Havasu Falls, but it will definitely help. If you are moving out to the mountainous West, like to Phoenix, then you can catch an early morning bike ride along the canals or you can climb Camelbak Mtn. or Piestewa Pk. before you go to work, or after work, and you should try to get in a two or three hour hike on the weekend. Using the stair climber, swimming, etc., also works in Phoenix.

To some this may seem extreme, but it is how I have lived my life for the past 35 years and it has tided me over during the times I couldn't go backpacking, like when I had two kids at home in diapers and another kid in the cooker! I still either swam a mile a day or walked several miles! I always have kept my eye on the pie, and for me the "pie" is always the next backpacking trip!

Thank you so much for the info. My plans to move that way have been pushed back indefinatly, but I still want to go on hiking trips 1-2 times a year, maybe even more If I can get away. But I already have started working out and I am pushing the "envolope" more and more. I will incorp. your suggestions into my workouts. Again, thanks for the info.
Carla