Friday, August 7, 2009

Havasupai

Congrats to all my smart friends who guessed where I was last week. Havasupai was an amazing experience - to say the least! My dad agreed to take a week long shift as the doctor in the little Indian town,and he got to take along some family while he was there. It was definitely the experience of a lifetime. -- So thanks to my mom and dad for letting me tag along!


It was a different culture- starting when the helicopter landed in a horse pasture...


Walking around, looking at all the buildings...



And houses...

And even just walking down main street, with the packs of friendly, but wild dogs roaming around. Ok there aren't too many dogs in the picture. But they were there, I promise.


But check out this scenery! It was truly amazing.


One morning, I decided to take a run up to Navajo Falls - about 1 mile and a half away from the cabin where we were staying. I was out the door by 6am.

One of the things I love about running in general, is that I get to see the world from a very different view at 6 am. Niagara Falls, Waikiki Beach, and even the city of Nauvoo all look very different at sunrise. It's just a little perk of being willing to get up, I guess.

Havasupai is no different. The way the sun comes into the canyon in the early morning is quite a bit different than in the evening, and I was excited to get going.

Right away I noticed that there were not many people were out and around, but oh, the animals.

Did I mention I'm NOT an animal person?

The wild dog packs that run through the town, and had been so friendly the day before, were downright agitated when I started running down the sandy street. They snapped at my heels and barked at me.

So I slowed to a fast walk, and the dogs soon lost interest. I rounded a corner, and started running up the canyon in the thick sand that makes the trail, only to look up and find myself in a herd of wild horses.

The horses were so completely indifferent to me, I'm not sure they really even saw me. But I was afraid to walk through them. And they wouldn't move. I'm not sure what I was afraid of... just because they were unpredictable, maybe. I mean, how would I know if I did the wrong thing and they would stampede and trample me, right?

Basically I had to climb over a little stream to get around them.

Once I got back on the trail, though, it was a glorious run.

Until I started obsessing about - "where the heck were those horses going to be on my way back?" and "what if a rattlesnake bites me out here in the middle of nothingness?"
And then the phrase
"where no one can hear you scream"
kept running through my head on a little loop.

And then I started wondering - if something happened, how long it would be till someone found my body in this huge rugged place? and would anyone even find my body? or would the coyotes get it first?

Cause I'm super rational like that.

But I did make it both there and back. I didn't time my run, but I'm pretty sure my return trip was one of the fastest miles I've run in a long time.


Here's the view from the trail that goes past it. Isn't it incredible?

And one last picture.

19 comments:

Dave said...

wow. and you say you're not the photographer of the family

i'm sure that if a rattlesnake had gotten you, one of jacob's werewolf cousins would have carried you back to town

Melissa said...

Wow. Amazing!! Sounds like a really fantastic trip! I'm hoping you've got more photos.... maybe? :)

Janell said...

"The way the sun comes into the canyon in the early morning is quite a bit different than in the evening."

I wish I lived on the opposite side of your world where the sun rises twice a day - than I could have two sunsets a day! I do love dusk and night.

Your pictures are pretty. That water is so blue compared to all that red rock!

Annette Lyon said...

That's purely amazing. Now I have to Google it and see where exactly it is.

goddessdivine said...

Where the heck is Havasupai? Obviously out in the middle of nowhere. Looks like a quaint little place though....and a chance to get away from everything. Glad you had a good time!

Celeste said...

What an amazing experience! I've never heard of this place, can't wait to hear more about it.

Stacey said...

That is a beautiful place! I love the last picture.

Emmy said...

That waterfall is amazing! What an experience!

Yvonne said...

What an incredible trip it must have been--such beautiful shots.

I agree--the world is a very different place early in the morning. (I don't see it much late at night ; )

mormonhermitmom said...

Beeeee-youuteefoool!

melissabastow said...

I'm glad you weren't devoured by a coyote...or wild dog.

RoeH said...

I've lived here way to long to not have experience that place. *sigh*

Becky said...

What an adventure! Wild dogs, you say? I'm glad you made it home. :)

Cynthia said...

Our family is planning to hike into Havasupai next spring. Up until now, I've been nervous about the hike. Now I'm nervous about the hike AND the wild horses and wild dogs and snakes and coyotes . . .

Heather said...

What a fun run...?? The scenery looks fabulous, glad you made it out alive!!

beckers said...

Beautiful pics, Randi. Thanks for posting them!!

Jennifer said...

Great pictures Randi! You are a great photographer. Love the colors and the variety! Don't worry...Gavin would have come out to find you...if he could "help" granddad with the gas pedal.....

Anonymous said...

That looks so cool Aunt Randi! Wish I could go!
*JOJO

Loralee and the gang... said...

wow! Beautiful place. You ARE a lucky woman!
:~D