Havasupai - Where to leave Camper?

[rowejd11]

Planning a trip out west in June and have reservations at Supai Village for 2 nights. We are pulling our 27' camper. I have talked to the people at Grand Canyon Caverns and it looks like that will be where we need to leave the camper and just drive in to the trailhead on the morning we will hike in. Any one have any comments on doing this? The operator at the lodge at Supai said there was room for the camper and a security guard 24 hours at the Hilltop. Any comments on where to leave camper?

Thanks

[renshiwo]

Just got back from Havasu Canyon. I don't know what the situation is like in June, but this weekend (May 14) there were cars parked literally half a mile from the trailhead. The parking lot itself was entirely full. I think it would be easier just to park at the caverns.

There is always someone in the parking lot at the Havasu trailhead, and I don't think security would be an issue.

[azbackpackr]

Have you hiked in AZ in June before? Or are you riding the horses down to Supai? The reason I'm asking is it can be very hot--June is often our hottest month. Please find and read all precautions. I will include some here, although for all I know you may have lots of experience. If so, maybe someone else will need to know this:

1. Wear a broadbrimmed lightweight or straw hat.
2. Wear sunscreen all over your body, and replace it several times.
3. Do not wear tank tops. Wear light colored cotton t-shirt. Some people also wear an old white dress shirt, cotton, with long sleeves, to protect their arms from sunburn.
4. Carry at least 1 gallon or more of water, and drink it all!
5. Put gatorade powder or other electrolyte replacement in some of the water.
6. Bring some salty snacks such as sunflower seeds, gorp, etc.
7. If you are hiking start very early in the morning. Some people even hike in at night but this would not be practical if you are staying at the lodge.

[Al_HikesAZ]

Have you hiked in AZ in June before? . . . The reason I'm asking is it can be very hot--June is often our hottest month.

You are absolutely correct about June. For the record:

Although Phoenix residents may feel that their city MUST be the hottest place around at times, top honors go to Lake Havasu City, where the mercury climbed to 128° on June 29, 1994. This bests the Phoenix mark of 122°, set on June 26, 1990.

I vividly remember June 26, 1990. Until you feel it, you can't even imagine it. 115 ain't no picnic either.

[azbackpackr]

I was living in Tucson then, and it broke its all-time record that day, too, at 117. It was sort of amazing. I went to the pool and it was fine when you were in the pool (I had a good tan so I wasn't getting burned) but when you got out of the pool to sit in the sun you were completely dry within less than 5 minutes, bathing suit and all. So you had to get back in the pool again!

Don't we Arizonans like to brag about who has the hottest days? I hear tell that Buckeye almost never makes the news, but is quite often hotter than Bullhead, Yuma or Lk. Havasu.

But hike in it? Not me! Been there, done that! It's one reason we moved to the nice cool mountains, at 7,000 feet elev. The other reason being we like the small town atmosphere.

[DesertDirtDog]

Have you hiked in AZ in June before? Or are you riding the horses down to Supai? The reason I'm asking is it can be very hot--June is often our hottest month. Please find and read all precautions. I will include some here, although for all I know you may have lots of experience. If so, maybe someone else will need to know this:

1. Wear a broadbrimmed lightweight or straw hat.
2. Wear sunscreen all over your body, and replace it several times.
3. Do not wear tank tops. Wear light colored cotton t-shirt. Some people also wear an old white dress shirt, cotton, with long sleeves, to protect their arms from sunburn.
4. Carry at least 1 gallon or more of water, and drink it all!
5. Put gatorade powder or other electrolyte replacement in some of the water.
6. Bring some salty snacks such as sunflower seeds, gorp, etc.
7. If you are hiking start very early in the morning. Some people even hike in at night but this would not be practical if you are staying at the lodge.

Good advice, but I would add this caveat to #3: cotton is not nearly as efficient as the newer synthetics in either mosture management or SPF.

[PrestonSands]

Start really early on the Havasupai hike, especially on the way back. The trail near the parking area, (specifically at the base of the switchbacks before you enter the canyon) has no shade at all. I'm getting heat stroke right now just thinking about it. #-o

[rowejd11]

Thanks for all the info. We are not experienced at desert hiking. We are used to Alabama humidity though. All this week we are at 90 with a heat index of around 100. Don't know how that works out to comparing but will see. We will be spending close to two weeks in Sedona and the Grand Canyon before going down to Supai, so maybe we will be adjusted (as well as we can by then.) Anyway thanks for all the feedback.

Jimmy

[Hoffmaster]

In response to DesertDirtDog's reply:

A lot of times, in the heat, cotton is the better choice. Because it doesn't wick moisture away from your skin, the shirt gets wet and keeps you cooler. This would be a problem when you're hoofing it up a snow covered peak. That's what synthetics were made for...keeping you dry, when being wet could cause a hypothermic situation.

[azbackpackr]

Yeah, I agree, but didn't want start an argument. The thing is, if it's really, really hot and dry you can wet your clothes (if there is enough water available to do so, say if you are walking alongside a creek) and the evaporation will help keep you cool. And this does work better with a cotton shirt. I have been in the habit of bringing one of each lately.

[z06man]

how far is it to Havasu falls from the Helipad that Papillon usestodrop us "lazy" hikers? they're claiming about 1 mi.

[Hoffmaster]

how far is it to Havasu falls from the Helipad that Papillon usestodrop us "lazy" hikers? they're claiming about 1 mi.

It's more like 2.

[big_load]

how far is it to Havasu falls from the Helipad that Papillon usestodrop us "lazy" hikers? they're claiming about 1 mi.

It's more like 2.

I think it's just under two miles in spring and fall, but five in the summer.