Havasu Falls / Grand Canyon / Sedona Adventure

Supai Village / Grocery Store

Havasu Falls / Grand Canyon / Sedona Adventure

Please join me for an incredible week of never before seen sights, nature at its purest, climbing (sort of) emerald green waterfalls, the majestic of the Grand Canyon. Experience vortexes around Sedona. Hike the Cathedral Rock, stand on the Devil’s Bridge.

Itinerary:

Several Moderate to Difficult hikes … in total approximately 40 miles, including some portions of “scrambling”, scaling rocks, hiking in water.

NOTE: We will schedule several meetings to answer questions and organize ourselves (flights, rental cars, etc.) for this event.

Summary (detailed agenda see below)

Most of us will most probably leave Sunday morning from Atlanta to Phoenix, AZ where we will rent cars (4 people per car) and drive to our hotel in Sedona, AZ … about a two hour drive.

We are starting off with two days of hiking around Sedona which is also called "Red Rock Country" and offers history and archaeology; arts and culture; outdoor activities, as well the spiritual and metaphysical (check out vortexes) … imagine all this in a backdrop of some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. This picturesque city is surrounded by several red-rocks.

After our Sedona experience we will drive to Seligman and spend one night at a very unique hotel on the historic Route 66 before we ascent into the Havasu Fall Canyon early next morning.

Havasu Falls is known throughout the world.  It features incredible waterfalls and beautiful scenery. The vibrant blue water contrasts against the striking red rocks of the canyon walls as Havasu Falls plunges nearly 100 feet into a wide pool of blue-green waters.  As the creek originates from a spring, the water rarely deviates from 70 degrees Fahrenheit year round. We will be staying at the Supai Lodge … down in the canyon … an 8 miles hike from the trail head.

The next day (all day hike) we will hike from Supai Village to the Upper Navajo Falls, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beaver Falls and back to our Lodge.  This is a “technical” hike, meaning there is some scrambling involved, sometimes using hands or our rear end to scale rocks and waterfalls.

A good night’s sleep will prepare us for our hike (approximately 8 miles and 2,356 ft ascent) back from Supai Village to the trail head, called Haualapai Hilltop, from where we will continue our trip and drive (4.5 - 5 hours) to Grand Canyon Village where we will stay for one night at the Yavapai Lodge.

The next day the mighty Grand Canyon is on the agenda … hiking down the very first miles of the Bright Angel Trail until we have an unobstructed view to the east and west of the Grand Canyon.  Depending on the time we may explore some of the exhibitions in the Historic Village District before we have to say bye-bye to this this beautiful part of the world.  Our drive back to Phoenix will be approximately 4 hours where we will return our rental cars at the airport and stay for one last night at a hotel with shuttle service to the airport.

Next morning / mid-morning … flight back to Atlanta … depending on the flight booked the arrival in Atlanta is Sunday afternoon / early evening.

Agenda and Schedule

Havasu Falls / Grand Canyon / Sedona … March 9 - March 16, 2014

Notes: Changes because of weather and other circumstances are possible and likely. All times / durations are approximate.  Hikes are indicated in blue.

Beaver Falls

Sunday         3/9/2014       

Atlanta, GA to Phoenix, AZ

Driving by rental car from Phoenix to Sedona, AZ (~120miles)

"Meet and Greet" … discuss the next days

Monday         3/10/2014     

D3 Hike … e.g. Airport Loop Vortex

D2 Hike … e.g. Devil's Bridge Hike

Tuesday        3/11/2014    

D3 Hike … e.g. Bell Rock / Courthouse Butte Trail Hike

D3 Hike … e.g. Cathedral Rock Hike

Driving from Sedona to Seligman, AZ (~100 miles)

Wednesday  3/12/2014    

Driving to the trailhead of Havasu Falls, called Hualapai Hilltop (~ 100 miles) ...  park cars there.

D3 Hike:  Havasupai Canyon from Hualapai Hilltop to Supai Village  Miles: 8.0; Descent: 2,356 ft

Thursday        3/13/2014  

D4 Hike: from Supai Village to Upper Navajo Falls, Havasu Falls,  Mooney Falls, Beaver Falls and back Miles: 11.0; Descent / Ascent: ~600ft / ~600ft

Friday             3/14/2014    

D4 Hike: Havasupai Canyon from Supai Village to  Hualapai Hilltop  Miles: 8.0, Ascent: 2,356 ft

Driving from Hualapai Hilltop to Grand Canyon Village, AZ (~ 200 miles)

Saturday      3/15/2014    

D3/D4: Hiking the Bright Angel Trail from Rim (6860 ft) to Mile-and-a- Half Resthouse (5729 ft), possibly to Three-Mile Resthouse (4748 ft)  Miles: 3.2; Descent / Ascent: 1,131ft / 1,131ft … respectively: Miles: 6.2;  Descent / Ascent : 2,112ft /2,112ft

Exploring the Historic Village District

Driving from Grand Canyon Village, AZ to Phoenix AZ (~ 250 miles)

Returning rental car

Overnight at hotel close to the airport

Sunday        3/16/2014     

Phoenix, AZ to Atlanta, GA

  Sedona

Grand Canyon

>>> click here to watch a video clip from the 2013 AOC Trip

Note: For best viewing watch it in HD mode

Registration Requirements

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT:

1. You must be either an AOC trip leader, be recommended by an AOC trip leader, or personally be known by me.  This requirement is in place to verify that you have the necessary level of fitness and, most important, that you are a sociable person that will get along with the rest of the group and will not engage in disruptive behavior.  Please put yourself on the waiting list.  I (Lemmy) will check whether you qualify, and, if you do, will move you to the list of participants on February 1, provided the maximum number of participants has not been reached.  People that put themselves on the waiting list before you will have precedence.

2. After I move you to the list of participants, and only then, mail me your deposit. If I don't receive your check by February 7, 2014 I will move you back to the waiting list.

DISCLAIMER: The Trip Leader for this event has elected either to personally collect the funds that event participants are required to pay, or to require participants to pay funds directly to a third party. No funds will be paid to the Atlanta Outdoor Club for this event. Therefore, by registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: (1) the monies paid by registrants will not be monitored, managed, or otherwise accounted for by the Atlanta Outdoor Club; (2) that the Atlanta Outdoor Club bears no financial responsibility for this event; and (3) you waive any and all claims against the Atlanta Outdoor Club, and hold the Atlanta Outdoor Club harmless for the loss of any monies you paid for this event.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any paying registrant may request directly from the Trip Leader, prior to the event, a breakdown of funds collected, estimated expenses, and deposits made in anticipation of the event. Following the event, the Trip Leader must complete his or her financial accounting for the event, with supporting documentation, within 30 days of the completion of the event, and a paid registrant may request a breakdown of funds collected, money spent and supporting documentation after that time. If you are unable to obtain requested documentation, please contact the Director of Paid Events.

Member Cost: $585.00 per person … double occupancy room.

Cost Includes:

• Seven nights at hotels / lodges including taxes
• Some hotels / lodges may provide continental breakfast
• All fees required to enter and hike the Havasu Falls

Cost does NOT include:

• Airfare: Atlanta/Phoenix/Atlanta
• Rental car expenses (to be split by four people)
• Meals, food and drinks

Payment Schedule:

1. A deposit of $300.00 must be received by the organizer by the Friday, February 7, 2014. Please make the check out to Wilhelm Lembeck.

2. The final payment of $285.00 is due by Friday, February 21, 2014. Please make the check out to Wilhelm Lembeck.

Some additional information about rental cars and flights:

All members (four per car) per each vehicle are expected to share evenly in the cost of the rental car, fuel, any parking fees and any other costs associated with the rental vehicle.

On 1/6/14 the rental cost for a full-size car is approximately $400.00 - $500.00 (incl. fuel), which calculates to about $100.00 - 125.00 pp

On 1/6/14 a flight ATL - PHX - ATL is approximately 400.00 pp

Cancellations and Refunds:

The deposit of $300.00 is fully refundable until February 21, 2014 provided that there are suitable*) people on the waitlist.

Refunds after the 21th of February 2014 are only possible if a suitable*) replacement person will take your place.

The deadline for replacing participants is March 1^st, 2014, i.e. someone (approved by the trip leader) replaces you from the wait list and pays in full. If you are replaced, you will receive a full refund.

To implement the change both the old and the new participant must send the tripleader an email confirming the change.

No refunds will be issued for cancellations after March 1, 2014

*) Suitable means: Be either an AOC trip leader, be recommended by an AOC trip leader, or personally be known by me.  This requirement is in place to verify that you have the necessary level of fitness and, most important, that you are a sociable person that will get along with the rest of the group and will not engage in disruptive behavior.