Havasu Creek with its travertine colored water.
I had been on Havasu Creek before. Our son, Tony, who was on a break between flying helicopters for the Marines and flying helicopters for the Coast Guard, was flying helicopters for a private company that offered tours over the Grand Canyon and into the small Indian village of Supai. The town, which is located inside the Canyon, sits next to Havasu Creek.
Tony had flown his wife Cammie, Peggy and me into Supai as a treat. He was playing the theme from Star Wars full blast as we dropped over the steep edge of the Canyon and begin our rapid descent! We were greeted by the beautiful blue-green water of Havasu Creek and its interesting travertine structures when we landed A high concentration of calcium-carbonate is responsible for both the water’s color and the formations. The process of coating objects with lime is fast. Today’s downed limb in the creek may become next month’s travertine sculpture. Peggy and I were eager to see if the creek maintained its unusual color and interesting formations at its mouth where it flowed into the Colorado. As the following photos suggest, we were not disappointed.
The mouth of Havasu Creek is a common stop for rafters in the Grand Canyon. Our rafts look small beside the large commercial tour boat.
We hiked over this from the mouth of the creek.
And were treated to views like these.
Don caught this lovely view. (Photo by Don Green.)
And Peggy took this one.
One of the things rafters do for entertainment on Havasu Creek is to damn it up using their rears…
And then, people scramble out of the way, creating a mini-flood! Beth was having a bit of trouble with the scramble part. She was holding onto Bone and didn’t have her hands free.
A pictograph, left behind by ancient Americans, caught the group’s attention. Maybe they used to grow people taller. (grin)
Lava Falls is labeled a 10 in the Grand Canyon’s system of scary, the highest rating given to any rapids along the Colorado. The river drops 37 feet over a few hundred yards and guarantees a quick, gut wrenching ride that seems to last forever and might very well throw you out of the raft. We had been worrying about it even before the trip. It is considered one of the top ten challenging rapids in the world by river runners. Our boatmen parked their rafts above the rapids and carefully scouted a route. We could see a huge, raft-sucking hole in the middle. It seemed that slipping by on the right seemed the wisest choice. But what did we know. The river was going to do what the river was going to do. Steve agreed to carry us and away we went on our bucking raft… Ride ’em cowboy!
Back on the Colorado River, we headed for our appointment with Lava Falls. Eggin would be attempting the rapids in her kayak.
It was hard to imagine that Lava Falls was just around the bend. But we could hear its roar.
Everyone wanted a good view of the rapids.
They promised a quick but rough ride! Would that hole suck us in and tip over our raft?
With Steve at the oars, Peggy and I enter the infamous Lava Falls on the Colorado River, a perfect ten… that’s 10 as in rapids don’t get any more serious. Shortly after this we disappeared under the water! (Photo by Don Green)
Peggy and I are between the camera and the oars! Luckily we came out with our messy side up. (Photo by Don Green.)
Everybody made it through with the exception of Eggin, who managed to run the rapids upside down in her kayak. One of the boatman shot out to collect her and the kayak. Other than being a bit wet, she was fine. Meanwhile, her uncle, David Stalheim, had pulled over at Tequila Beach and was demonstrating why it was so named. If you manage to survive the rapids, you are expected to celebrate with a shot of tequila. Dave apparently wanted the whole bottle! The party continued after we reached camp…
Don demonstrates how he was feeling after running Lava. It’s possible that the lid was on, but just maybe.
Peggy and I just looked happy. We needed a T-shirt that said we survived Lava Falls.
Jonas had decided to celebrate with a little quiet reading in the river…
Bone declared that the trip had scared the pee out of him…
While Beth and Susan decided it was time to Party.
While Tom was just, um, Tom.
I will note that the party continued into the night and the natives were apparently having a heck of a good time!
WEDNESDAY’S Photo Essay POST: Flying over Kodiak Island. It was green enough to be Ireland before the glaciers started.
FRIDAY’S Blog a Book POST: Another in the MisAdventure series. Bob Bray and I are chased by a hobo and my mother chases fire trucks.
Wandering through Time and Place 
The force is strong in this one
Thankfully, Suan. 🙂 Peggy and I had grips of steel on our safety ropes. –Curt
Amazing art (and you got to see works in process) Odd people always wonder where abstract art comes from. Totally wonderful ( and you guys are having way too much fun…and smart to watch the river’s tricks among the beauty that lures)
Havasu Creek, along with the Little Colorado River, are wonderful examples of nature at work, Phil, in all of her glory.
The fun that boatmen have is definitely related to the challenges they face in rapids like Lava. It’s serious business. When I was filling out the paper work for the trip, the National Park was very interested in the experience of the boatmen and women. No or limited experience, no go. Larger rapids are always scouted, even if you have been over them several times. Conditions change. Water levels have a major impact, and rock falls are not uncommon, creating new hazards. –Curt
Love me some GC! Fun photos (but I’m guessing that bottle of cuervo was corked).
Glad you are enjoying the Canyon, one of the world’s most beautiful places.
Jose was corked, alright. Don isn’t much of a drinker. But it made a fun photo. We did have a little tequila in small cups. A celebration was definitely called for. 🙂 –Curt
Yes, very funny! Senor Cuervo isn’t for everyone lol.
Laughing. And the Canyon isn’t a place you want to hallucinate. –Curt
I once took a flight along the Grand Canyon which was wonderful except for the air-sickness!
You probably wouldn’t have liked Tony’s Star Wars plunge into Supai, Andrew. But the beauty is something else. I took two trips with Tony, one that gave us the overview and the other that took us down inside. You can’t fly into the Canyon proper but Supai is Native American land. –Curt
Great rapid, Curt. You all must have come out alive. I looked to see between the camera and oars but it looked so wet I had to dry myself just looking.
We were plenty wet, Gerard! It was over in seconds, but it seemed a lot longer. After that, it was a piece of cake. 🙂
Those do look like pretty serious rapids. Fun times, if you don’t mind white knuckles. The question is, would you do it again?
The Canyon is incredible, Dave. Going through it again would definitely be worth it. I was able to row through some minor rapids, which I confess, was a lot of fun. Overall, as a mode of travel, I still prefer backpacking. –Curt
Wow that white water looked like a blast!!
It certainly got our heart rate up, M.B.! 🙂 –Curt
Oh that blue water! Gorgeous! The white water- also gorgeous, but a little scary! Tequila Beach looks justified! 😀
It was, Anne Clare. It was! 🙂 –Curt
simply magnifique!!! ❤ btw, if ever come to France, I highly recommend our famous "Gorges du Verdon": https://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/le-styx-du-verdon-beaute-vertigineuse/
Checked out your post Melanie. The “Gorges du Verdon” does look quite beautiful. –Curt