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Havasu Falls A Spiritual Journey by Heather Timmons life, and all ages. The one thing they all have in common is a unique desire to experience the energy of the Grand Canyon in a personal and meaningful way; by becoming part of it. On foot, horseback, or helicopter, nature lovers seek out this awe-inspiring oasis in the desert. The journey into Havasu Canyon is a transformational one. A trip into this pristine, remote area can be a life altering experience in body, mind, and spirit. Surrounded by natural beauty, eco-tour enthusiasts travel into the home of the Havasupai, which means "people of the blue-green water". The trek begins at Hualapai Hilltop with a fairly steep and rocky first mile down into Hualapai Canyon. This canyon intersects with Havasu Canyon where Supai Village is located. The trail leads to a series of breathtaking blue waterfalls cascading down through the gorge. Cool mist rises from the two new falls, recently named as Fifty Foot and the Little Navajo Falls, that were born of the summer 2008 flood. They are located upstream from the now dry and mysterious Navajo Falls. Havasu creek continues on to Havasu Falls with great pools and picnic areas. Just past the campground is Mooney Falls, which is accessible by climbing through rock tunnels and down chains and ladders. Beaver Falls is downstream from Mooney, and is the last fall before reaching the Colorado River. Hikers need a certain amount of physical and mental stamina, as it is eight miles from Hilltop to Supai Village plus two more miles to the falls and campground. Adventurers and naturalists alike are awestruck by the geologic evidence of the forces of our Earth, and the penetrating life energy in this western arm of the Grand Canyon. Gazing across the vast expanse of what may first be perceived merely as desolate, magnificent beauty, an undeniable presence of life, history, and culture slices into the landscape driven by the fierce wind. The Canyon is rich in beauty and alive in spirit. One of the seven natural wonders of the world, The Grand Canyon is a place of awe, beauty, and power. It is truly a place of grandeur. It is a place that people from all over the world seek to experience. The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations on Earth, so magnificent that no art or poetry can do it justice. The South Rim is the most well known and commercialized. Along with the breathtaking picturesque views, amenities such as transportation, lodging, restaurants, tourist memorabilia, artwork, and Native American jewelry are available year round. The cool and quiet North Rim is serene and wooded. Settled in amongst the majestic conifers sit rustic little cabins, beckoning with charm. Phantom Ranch, now a haven for tired hikers, denotes an era of time when the west was still wild. There is yet another masterpiece of Mother Nature in the Grand Canyon; a hidden gem called Supai. The Havasupai Indian Reservation is located in northwestern Arizona along the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. The trailhead is more than 100 miles away from either Flagstaff or Kingman. The visitors that seek out this experience are from all over the world, all walks of Descending into Havasu Canyon heightens the perception of timelessness; of the Havasupai people, their ancestors, and of the Canyon itself. The sights along the way are stunning to the senses, as the trail descends from about 5200 feet at Hualapai Hilltop to about 2800 feet near Havasu Falls. Traveling back through time, hikers encounter layer upon layer of sedimentary rock including highly fractured Kaibab limestone, wind-deposited Coconino sandstone, water-deposited Supai sandstone, and the impermeable Redwall limestone layer, with travertine deposits covering the canyon floor. In the beginning, the area was covered by a sea. Prehistoric life forms were abundant as evidenced by the plethora of fossils that are found both at the rim and inner canyon elevations. The Colorado River started carving out the rock 600 million years ago and over time, the Grand Canyon was born. By human standards, the Canyon can be measured as taking eons of time to create, but is more like a passing season to our Mother Earth. Becoming a part of Havasupai evokes a new awareness in the senses. An appreciation for the people and their pristine sacred land is the underlying tone of the whole experience, a feeling that is not left behind. Immersion into nature and roughin' it for a few days has an amazing cleansing effect on the soul. It is truly a spiritual place of peace and tranquility and all that is real. A Moment in Time As I trudge back up the dusty trail, the pull of this place grows stronger. I can actually feel the Canyon holding on to me, as it has become a part of me now, homesick for it before I'm even gone. I pause to close my eyes and breathe deeply, not for a need to catch my breath, but to take it all in. At this moment I am overwhelmed by the pure, natural energy I feel in the core of my being. I can almost hear drums as the Canyon walls resonate with the heartbeats of the ancient ones and the forever pounding, pulsing blue waters. Heather Timmons is a Guide with A Moment in Time, www.grandcanyonhavasupaihikers.com