Havasupai Falls is product of Instagram and backpacking desires, and visiting it’s really an incredible expertise. To make sure you’re 100% prepped, be sure that to learn this information to Havasupai Falls after which go down this Havasupai packing listing.
As with all packing listing, there are private preferences and finances issues to bear in mind. This listing, based mostly on our late-Could journey, focuses on probably the most important gadgets and factors out what’s non-obligatory versus what’s not.
Earlier than I get to the gadgets, a couple of options for packing for Havasupai Falls:
- First, you’ll wish to map out shared gadgets reminiscent of tents and cooking gear. This helps you align on how a lot every particular person ought to count on to hold in shared gear and provisions.
- Then assist every particular person calculate how a lot private stuff they’ll deliver to make sure their packs aren’t going to be obese or outsized. As a common rule, the entire weight of what you carry shouldn’t be greater than 20% of your physique weight.
In the event you do the above, you’ll spend method much less time shuffling issues round totally different packs the evening earlier than you hit the path. We didn’t do a terrific job of this and misplaced quite a lot of valuable sleep time!
Tools for Havasupai Falls
1. Backpacking pack
backpacking pack is completely important. Ideally, it is best to have one thing that’s well-fitted to your physique. I take advantage of a Kelty 46L that I bought on sale for $90, however I’d additionally suggest one of many extra well-liked Osprey packs in case your finances permits.
No matter you get, be sure that it has padded and adjustable straps and hips cushions. It also needs to relaxation on the proper place to your torso. Certainly one of our mates acquired some unlucky (mis)steerage from a coworker and borrowed a pack that dug into her shoulders and made the burden really feel a lot heavier.
2. Backpacking tent (or hammock or tarp)
Why not an everyday tent, you ask? Effectively, when you must carry every little thing your self, you need the lightest and least cumbersome possibility attainable. Backpacking tents are roughly half the burden of tenting tents (for a similar variety of individuals), and I promise, two kilos could make fairly the distinction on the path.
I’d counsel shopping for an easy-to-setup backpacking tent. And ensure to have a rain cowl and a tent footprint. Each gadgets will assist preserve the within of your tent dry, particularly in case of rain.
In the event you’re extra minimalist, you too can deliver a hammock or perhaps a tarp tent (each with a rain fly for the unpredictable precipitation!). I’d go away the latter to extra skilled backpackers who’re much less afraid of the chilly (aka by no means gonna be me).
3. Sleeping bag and pad
As with the tent, you might deliver an everyday sleeping bag and sleeping pad with you. However backpacking variations of the 2 will save house and weight.
You’ll wish to be sure that your sleeping bag is rated for the suitable climate. No good displaying up in November with a 50-degree bag!
The sleeping pad is fairly vital for each consolation and heat, particularly should you go to Havasupai Falls in the course of the colder months.
4. Day pack
A smaller bag helps you deliver water, meals, and different necessities with you when you’re down within the canyon and are out exploring the waterfalls. I’ve this 20L Quechua day pack and completely like it.
5. Headlamp
It’s pure nature out in Havasu Canyon, so a supply of sunshine is completely crucial after darkish.
You’ll be able to select to deliver a flashlight or lantern, however I discover headlamps probably the most environment friendly supply of lighting since they preserve your arms free. (I’m an enormous fan of COAST headlamps.)
In the event you suppose you’ll wish to play card video games at evening or simply in any other case have extra mild, think about bringing a tenting lantern along with your headlamps.
6. Bear can or rat sack
Preserve your meals and drinks away from the critters! Get a bear can or rat sack to place all of your consumables and scented issues in. If in case you have a dry bag for watersports, these can work, too!
Imagine me, it’s not fairly when the squirrels et al get into meals sources.
7. Cooking gear
You’ll want some type of cooking mechanism. Our group introduced a PocketRocket and a pot. As a result of we additionally needed quicker entry to sizzling water for issues like our dehydrated meals, we additionally introduced alongside a Jetboil.
The campground typically has a wealth of partially-used propane tanks for issues like Jetboils and PocketRockets. I’d counsel bringing at the least one among your individual although since there’s no assure the kind of propane tank you want shall be out there.
8. Utensils and dishware
Everybody ought to have at the least one mug or bowl to eat out of and at the least one utensil. Sporks are nice for this.
9. Biodegradable liquid cleaning soap
For laundry your pots, pans, sporks, and so on!
10. Trash baggage
Pack your trash out!
I’d counsel bringing at the least 2 large trash baggage per particular person in case one will get holes in them.
11. Backup rest room paper
Typically, the loos in Havasu are stocked, however it’s good to have some simply in case.
If it’s worthwhile to go on the path, be sure that to pack out your TP, too!
12. Ziploc baggage
For packing the aforementioned TP or the rest. Additionally good as a simple various to water safety to your telephone.
13. First assist equipment
Optionally available, however helpful to your group to have at the least one simply in case.
14. Mountaineering sticks
Ever since I first used trekking poles on the Inca Path, I haven’t regarded again.
These are technically non-obligatory, however I’d extremely suggest them when you have any type of hip or knee points. They make the steep switchbacks a lot simpler.
You don’t have to spend so much on them both. I feel mine was round $25 for the pair.
15. Sleeping bag liner
Additionally non-obligatory, however a superb factor to have should you’re renting your sleeping bag or should you’re visiting in the course of the winter months and want some additional heat. I like my Cocoon.
Meals and water
1. Water! And water bottles/hydration packs/and so on.
You must carry at the least 1 gallon of water per particular person always. The common Nalgene dimension is 32 ounces, so 4 of these. Camelbacks and different hydration packs are additionally nice for this journey.
In the event you suppose you’ll wish to camp farther away from the recent spring, be sure that to deliver a collapsible water jug to chop down on the variety of water journeys it’s worthwhile to make.
2. Non-perishable meals
You’ve bought your tastes and dietary issues in addition to your preferences for simple versus complicated tenting meals. Both method, be sure that to plan your meals round nutritious and high-energy meals which are non-perishable.
We needed to maximise our time enjoyable and exploring as soon as we bought to camp, so we centered on easy-to-prepare meals. That included quite a lot of dips and spreads in addition to rehydrated meals.
Right here was our purchasing listing (no portions listed since that will depend on how a lot you eat):
- Peanut butter
- Jam
- Granola
- On the spot oatmeal
- Sliced bread
- Pita bread
- Path combine
- Protein bars
- Power bars
- Electrolyte powder
- On the spot espresso
- Powdered soy milk
- Hummus
- Child carrots
- Cocktail cucumbers
- Apples
- Jerky
- Salami (the type that doesn’t must saved within the fridge till opened…after which it’s nonetheless okay to eat for a day or two after)
- Mountain Home meals (we purchased this complete bucket)
- Sizzling sauce
3. Water purification tablets or sterilization methods
More often than not, water from Fern Spring is 100% secure to drink. Nonetheless, there are occasions when the tribe will situation a discover that it’s worthwhile to purify the spring water as nicely.
At any time when I’m out trekking, I prefer to deliver Aquatabs with me. Simply drop it into the water, let it sit for ~half-hour, and also you’re good to go. (That is for freshwater sources. I ended up doing this at Havasupai Falls anyhow as a result of my in any other case sturdy abdomen is delicate to water.)
If you wish to get water from sources aside from Fern Spring, think about bringing a Lifestraw or Steripen purification system.
Garments and private gadgets
1. Mountaineering footwear/boots
Whether or not you select to put on climbing footwear or boots or simply go along with common sneakers, you’ll want stable footwear for all of your climbing.
My accomplice bought me a pair of Merrell’s climbing boots for Christmas the opposite yr, and so they’re implausible.
2. Socks
For the above.
I just lately purchased these Pendelton wool climbing socks and am completely in love with them. They’re so smooth and silky. Nice for each day put on as nicely!
3. Water footwear
You’re gonna want these! The trail between Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls requires some creek crossings, which might be no enjoyable in your climbing footwear.
I’d counsel getting one thing like these Tevas sandals that can make it straightforward to take away any creek rocks that get in. I had closed-toed water footwear that had been good however required quite a lot of stops to take away rocks that bought caught.
4. Garments
Precisely what you deliver will rely on the climate throughout your go to. Right here’s a sampling of what I introduced for our Havasupai Falls journey in late Could, when the climate ranged from the excessive 30s to the low 80s.
- Longsleeve exercise tops, tank tops, exercise leggings, shorts, and sports activities bras (I purchase most of my stuff from Fabletics)
- Underwear!
- Windproof jacket (I introduced a Patagonia one like this one)
- Rain jacket (I vouch for this Marmot one!)
- One other hoodie/pullover
- Thermal high and leggings for sleeping (these 32 Levels Warmth ones are light-weight)
- A hat to guard your face from the desert solar
One factor I didn’t deliver that I ought to’ve introduced was a beanie to maintain my head heat at evening and within the mornings. I used to be undoubtedly jealous of mates who introduced them!
5. Swimsuits
For these waterfall days!
6. Sun shades
Desert. Solar. That’s all I’m going to say.
7. Toiletries
Pack travel-size variations of the requirements. Keep away from frills. You’re backpacking, not going out for an evening in town.
Face wipes and moist wipes are particularly nice for this journey.
8. Water resistant sunscreen and sunscreen lip balm
See #6 and add “waterfalls.”
Preserve that child smooth pores and skin child smooth and never lobster shell-y. Get some safety to your lips, too.
9. Hand sanitizer
Did I point out there’s no working water to clean in?
10. Fast-dry towel
You’ll be able to deliver an everyday towel as nicely, however a quick-dry towel packs simply and makes it straightforward to dry off after frolicking within the river and waterfalls.
11. Flip flops or sandals
Optionally available, however good to have if you would like one other pair of footwear that’s straightforward to slide on round camp and unlikely to be soaking moist.
12. Energy banks/moveable chargers
In the event you put your telephone on airplane mode, it ought to 100% be tremendous on battery life for a 4-day, 3-night journey. But when your telephone is older or if you wish to cost cameras and different electronics, it’s good to have one thing like this Anker energy financial institution.
There’s no electrical energy on the campgrounds, so ensure you reserve sufficient telephone juice to navigate you out of Havasu and to your subsequent vacation spot.
Past this listing, it’s actually a matter of private desire and what’s vital to you. Bear in mind, you’ve bought to hold it out and in, so should you don’t completely want it, go away it at house.
