Havasupai climbing?

Does anybody know if it's worth lugging my gear into havasupai? I really don't want to hike it in if I'm not able to climb.

Definitely not. I guided down at Supai for years and while there might be some ok bouldering or maybe even some route potential I think it would be fairly disrespectful and culturally insensitive to climb down there. It is tribal land and while some things you see own there don't seem "traditional" it is their home. There are plenty of hikes and awesome swimming to be done, not to mention just chilling! Good luck and have fun!

Ross.....the area is spectacular, but I'm sure the tribal council would take a dim view of climbing in Supai. Not worth packing the gear. Bouldering would be a better option.

Thanks for the heads up. Much appreciated.

It sucks cause there is 400 foot limestone that would be a bolters dream. Climbing is forbidden. I recommend having them hump the packs on mule for the $20.00 each way, its a 12 mile walk and a lot is in deep sand. Unless you are taking the helicopter for $180 each way.
You do not want to be climbing or starting fires or breaking rules. Remember that it is Native land and Native police. They don't mess around I am sure.
Have fun, awesome place.

Wouldn't it be great to bolt the grand canyon? Wow. Can't wait.

I recommend to anyone to go there. One o the best desert backpacking trips ever. No rock climbing though. We brought enough booze and the day hikes made it tolerable. Please respect there. This is Native land.

Bernadine Jones, Havasupai vice chairwoman, says tourism is the principal source of income for the 678-member tribe. Before taking office in January, she ran horse trips to the falls. She also supervised the elementary school's bilingual program.

Jones was eager to correct what she says is a common misconception of visitors. She says many outsiders, misunderstanding the shyness of the people, think they are not welcome.

"That's not true," she says. "Most of the people are kind of reserved. It's a cultural thing. I can yak all the time, but I got that from the time I spent outside."

As a young girl, Jones lived in Glendale with the Jack and Els Janus family, and in 1978, she graduated from Phoenix Indian School.

Just about every family in the tribe is involved somehow in tourism. The men find work with the pack trains or in maintaining the trails that are periodically washed out by summertime flash floods. Women generally work in the cafe, 24-room lodge or the tourism office.

Now, Jones and other members of the tribe are pondering ways to expand their people's only industry, tourism. One suggestion is massages for weary hikers.

"We're talking about maybe having rock-climbing trips," Jones said. "But we want to do things that don't disrupt the life we have."

Perhaps you should ask someone from the tribe directly instead of mis-informed but well intentioned MP users.

"If this canyon has walls that you can climb, then you should climb them." Simple but to the point, told directly to myself & my friend when discussing technical rock climbing in a certain canyon on the Navajo reservation by a Dineh Rancher standing on their land.

FWIW

R

Dean Hoffman wrote:I think it would be fairly disrespectful and culturally insensitive to climb down there.

I'm in! My thoughts lean towards the many arc. sites and the such that are all over in the canyon and easily missed by folks. If the tribes down to open it I say have at it and when you're lookin for a horse packer to hump yer gear in and out I know the man to call! Now about that beer....

I thought I could bend your ear... It'll even be followed by a smooth single malt... ;)

Whats a good night for you?

PTZ wrote:I recommend to anyone to go there. One o the best desert backpacking trips ever. No rock climbing though. We brought enough booze and the day hikes made it tolerable. Please respect there. This is Native land.

Dean Hoffman wrote: I'm in! My thoughts lean towards the many arc. sites and the such that are all over in the canyon and easily missed by folks. If the tribes down to open it I say have at it and when you're lookin for a horse packer to hump yer gear in and out I know the man to call! Now about that beer....

I would love that info if you’ve still got it!