Adults were sleeping shamefully late, while Varya and Sanya woke up earlier. I wake up and emerged from the tent, frowning at kids, I don't know why. They don't pay much attention - playing at the table with candle wax or with rocks and horse hair. Then Sanya proudly announces: We went and brought water, and are making tea. All by themselves!!!
ShurikDespite Natasha's drive to rise early and go find Colorado River, we are waking up slowly and are not in a huge hurry to leave camp. The rest of us insist to go to the Beaver Falls, rest there and decide whether we can make it to the Colorado.
Today we pass Mooney Falls and going downstream of Havasu Creek. Quite soon we realize that we have to cross the creek and there is neither a bridge, nor shallow ford. Of course we've read canyon descriptions where people mention crossing the creek, but somehow we thought that creek isn't too deep.
So we decide to cross anyway, thinking to get wet maybe knee-high. Well, that knee soon becomes thigh, and then almost waist-deep. Later of course I realize that there are some logs in the water and although tricky it's possible to go across about knee deep. But this was later and only Princess braved to go on those logs. I take children across on my back to their delight and my own surprise for the sense of balance (bare feet on slippery and prickly creek bed).
Masha... And then, as Shurik saw me feeling the water with the tip of a toe and pucker from that feeling, he suggested to carry me too. I was so surprised and confident that I am to heavy to carry that agreed, partly from the curiosity. So I was even more surprised to find myself over his shoulders carried across the creek, safely to the other side!!!
ShurikWe have to go barefoot, since we have no means of drying out boots - campfires are forbidden in the camp, and we didn't take sandals with us to the hike. Well, bottom is rocky and slippery at some spots, but it's not that bad. Water is chilly, yet not numbing. We follow the trail further through mesquite and other thorny bushes and other, admiring blue pool in the creek. Then we see a perfect rope-swing. If it were only 5 degrees warmer, I would have swung, seriously!
Next ford is less than a mile away and it's shallower. I repeat my tricks with kids, Masha, however goes on her own, I only help her at the most slippery spot, where creek tries to tip your over with fast current. I pretend to be an anchor...Princess manages to get some water into a boot hanging from her neck. That's a trick! Rest of us make to the other side just fine.
What's next? Trail meanders through the valley where we see grapevines. No grapes though, it's strange. Also we see more cacti, mostly prickly pear, and somebody has those prickles in their fleshy parts already. Need to be careful!
Third ford is more than a mile away. This is familiar now - boots and pants away and go. On the other side of the creek we see Arizona as it's described in the books - lots of sand and cacti (prickly pear), mesquite and other prickly things. Havasu creek with it's blue water and poplar are strange for the desert landscape, but it makes the place unique. All of the sudden we see a palm. No idea why a palm will grow here. But it looks good.
Sanya and Varya suddenly become tired and weepy. And also hungry, they demand lunch and immediately, but Beaver Falls aren't found yet, so we try to ignore them. Maybe these falls? Or those? Passing by little plaque informing us of crossing from Grand Canyon National Park to the Havasupai Reservation. No, we are going the other way... Somewhere near Masha finds a small snake taking sunbath. Not a rattle snake, but a harmless snake of Garther snake family. Quite bright too. I guess all rattle snake are hibernating by the time, we didn't see any. Ok, these falls looks like Beaver Falls, let's stop and eat. Children are so hungry that try to each all of the noodles before us, not paying attention to prickly pears leaving their prickles in their legs.
Here we decided to go back, since everybody is tired. As soon as we start on the trail we see a group of people catching up with us. Hey, the made it to Colorado River. They look exhausted. Turns out that there is 5 or 6 more river crossings, so we are glad we didn't go. Three fords on the way back is piece of cake now. We are moving fast. Sanya is full of energy, not only keeping up with us, but also jumping and hanging from the branches where he can, unbelievable.
On the last crossing we catch up with the "group who made it". They look surprised with our mastery of crossing the creek, especially with Princess's balance over the log.
It's dark when we come back to the camp. When making dinner we realize that there are only couple of PowerBars and some Trail Mix for breakfast, so we'll eat that in the morning and hope we can eat at the village. Dinner's over - sleeping time. Night is cool and calm. I asked Sanya, who wakes up first, to wake us up in the morning if it's not yet dark. Trying to get good rest before 10-mile hike back.