M i c r o s o f t
TOPOGEAR NEWS
V o l u m e 2 0 1 1 , I s s u e 0 5 - 06
M a y - J u n e 2 0 1 1
www.topogear.com
Supai, AZ Havasu Falls area: Photo Courtesy of Rick Beach
TANZANIA
By David Perez
Part 3 of a Multi-issue Article
HAVASU FALLS
BACKPACK TRIP 2011
By the Rick Beach
Photos by Rick Beach, Dustin Beach,
Brian (Gator) Johnson & Josh Houle
Bye-bye bush babies and off we went to
one of the natural wonders of the world,
Ngorongoro Crater.
This is a difficult location to describe but if
you can imagine a 100 square miles of flat
plains, located in the bottom of a stadium-like
ring. A ring created by the surrounding moun-
tains, forming in effect, stadium’s walls. The
peaks of those walls reaching up to 6,200 feet
above sea level with a small air strip located
near one of the summits… well, if you can
visualize that, you have a good idea of what
Ngoro looks like.
Now fill that stadium with savanna, desert,
shallow lakes, wet lands and streams to sup-
port a multitude of African big game, from
Babu
a 50ish solitary bull elephant that is be-
lieved to display the largest living tusks in
Tanzania, possibly all of Africa. To various
species of mongoose and wacky types of birds.
You really have to see this place to grasp its
vastness and uniqueness. There truly is no
place else like this on Earth.
To reserve your vendor booth or receive
more info contact Carrie at
702-346-7091
Our small group piled into a van in Las
Vegas, early in the morning on May 16th.
All of us were excited about the upcoming
trip. We had 5 hours of driving ahead of us
first.
Gator (one of the team) had worked the
night shift all night and was just getting off
work. We had the van gassed up, our gear
stashed, and sandwiches made up for the
road trip. Gator showed up at the antici-
pated time. We threw his gear in, said our
goodbyes, and started the drive.
We were a team of 4. Gator of Las Ve-
gas in his early 50’s, Rick of Las Vegas in
his late 50’s, Dustin of Ohio who flew in
to Las Vegas for the trip, and Josh of Las
Vegas. Dustin and Josh both in their 30’s.
We headed east into Arizona. Crossing
the Colorado River at Hoover Dam. Cross-
ing via the newly constructed bridge.
The Hoover Dam bypass bridge was the
first concrete-steel composite arch bridge
built in the United States. It is also the
longest concrete arch in the Western Hemi-
sphere. The bridge at 840 feet above the
Colorado River, makes it the second highest
in the US.
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Folks, it is that time of year again. Start
making your plans, and secure your reser-
vations. Bullhead City is expecting the
biggest and best year ever. Don’t miss out!
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Material, articles and images contained within this Newsletter publication including subsequent pages may not be copied, reproduced, or otherwise used
for other purposes without written consent of TOPOGEAR. All images are considered Copyright by TOPOGEAR or the images owner.
1
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Besides
Babu
(grandfather in Swahili) we also
got to see spotted hyenas very close, and in the day
light (they are normally nocturnal) . We observed
the relationship between a jackal (small coyote
looking animal) and a male cheetah. The jackal
actually snuck up and woke the cheetah up so that it
would go hunt. The jackal would then eat from the
scraps of its kill!
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Bullhead City River Regatta August 2011
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Havasu Backpack Trip
For some of us this was the first time trav-
eling over the bridge. The distance seems
like it is covered in the blink of an eye, when
travelling at highway speeds. It was disap-
pointing not being able to see anything be-
low. The sides are too high to view over.
Some of us have Kayaked/Canoed the
Colorado River just below the Bridge. It is
an impressive sight. Even more impressive
was to see it during its construction. Search
on-line for the many sites with photos and
info about the
Hoover Dam Bypass.
The Bullhead City River Regatta will be bigger this
year than ever before! This year’s theme is
Pirates
of the Colorado
. Not only do we anticipate the larg-
est number of participants, but the Regatta has been
stretched out to three days! Events include: Wake the
Plank wake boarding competition beginning Thurs-
day, Aug 11
th
. Kayak and Canoe racing on Friday,
Aug. 12
th
, the Ya Gotta Regatta Party Friday night
Aug. 12
th
, the Bullhead City River Regatta on Satur-
day, Aug. 13
th
… and, the Hafta Afta Party at Rotary
Park!
Wake the Plank
Wakeboarding at its most exciting! All ages, novices
and experts, battling for two days at Community
Park! Not a bad seat in the park! The event will be a
Pro and AMA wakeboard and wakeskate contest
along with a Pro wakeskate Pool Jam on Friday
night. Prize money is up for grabs for the Pros and
product for all the AMA Classes. Thursday: Qualify-
ing 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday: Championships 9a.m.
to 3 p.m. Pro Pool Jam: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Jackal waking ―Duma‖ (Cheetah)
Kayak, Canoe and Standup Paddleboad Race and
Float
An exciting 11-mile race on the Colorado River from
Davis Dam to the Non-Motorized Boat Launch at
Don Sullivan Memorial Park, just down river from
Rotary Park. Past winners finished in just over an
hour, final contestants crossed in 2 hours 45 minutes.
Racers start setting up at 5 a.m. at Davis Camp then
and drive their vehicles to Rotary Park. A shuttle van
will bring contestants back to Davis Camp. Awards
will be handed out at Rotary Park.
Photo Courtesy: Rick Beach
We soon left the Colorado River area
and Headed for Kingman Arizona. The
road had been recently widened to 4 lanes
with the new construction. We traveled
through the desert for about 2 hours.
There is little development through this
area. A couple small communities only.
In Kingman we topped off the gas and
jumped on an old section of Route 66.
Heading somewhat
North-easterly toward
the small town of Peach
Springs.
Catch David’s final chapter in the Next TO-
POGEAR Newsletter. He leaves Ngoro and flies
on to Zanzibar. Don’t miss it.
You may contact David through our email
We certainly don’t do David’s photos justice,
having to reduce image quality to meet publica-
tion memory issues. David’s phenomenal
photo’s are available, reproduced in art quality,
on canvas. Available framed or on canvas only.
Email TOPOGEAR and we will put you into
direct contact with David.
The images in this publication are low quality to
keep file size and downloading time to a minimum.
Standup Paddleboard Sprint Race
A 4-mile sprint Davis Camp to the south side of the
Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce building at
Community Park. Racing starts at 7.30 A.M. Ex-
pect the lead competitors to cross the finish line in
about 20 minutes. Staging begins at Davis Camp at 5
a.m. Shuttles will carry contestants and their boards
back to Davis Camp. Awards ceremony at Rotary
Park.
Along the way we
passed by an old filling station that must
have been at an important location in
General Store
‖
A great place to browse
and purchase memorabilia. A red and
white corvette parked under the canopy
shading the gas pump area, caught our
eye. All kinds of old iron, cars and parts
placed around the property. A must see
on the way home….but for
now….onward to the trip at hand.
Ya Gotta Regatta Party
When thousands of people meet in one place there’s
gotta be a party! So, while participants assemble
their floats for the big Regatta, there will be music,
food, beverages and fun! Come and watch as some
of the most imaginative… and outrageous!… float-
ing vessels ever conceived take shape on the Com-
munity Park and Davis Camp shoreline.
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interest stories. Please submit your story, trip
log, photos, recipes and humor. Subjects on
Climbing, Paddling, Cycling, Backpacking,
Horses, Search and Rescue, travel destinations
and more! Send material to:
(Continued on Page 3, Column1)
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2
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Bullhead City River Regatta August 2011
(Continued from Page 2, Column 3)
Havasu Falls Backpack Trip 2011
Home Depot. It is light enough to cut with scis-
sors. We experimented with several designs.
Normal hole punches work good for creating
vent holes. Simple or more complex they work
about the same. They need some air holes and a
simple half slit on both ends will allow you to
connect them to create a ring. The ring should be
slightly wider, diameter wise, than your pot.
Don’t make it too large though. A 1/4-1/2 gap
all around is best. The ring when on the ground,
stove inside and on the ground, should extend
above the stove base, about 1 to 2 inches higher
than the base of the pot.
Experiment at home before you leave. We
made ours so we could roll them slightly smaller
than the pot when not in use. My shield, beer
can stove and titanium spoon fits nicely inside
my pot. The shields proved their worth during
our trip. Several days were very windy.
Once your last meal is cooked, you can burn
any excess fuel. This eliminates nearly all the
weight associated with stove, fuel and fuel stor-
age container. You now have the weight of an
aluminum can and the empty platypus bladder.
Others might have a heaver stove, and metal
canisters to pack out. (
Don’t leave them behind
to lower weight
PACK IT OUT)
Most of us didn't carry matches. 2 of us car-
ried
“
Light My Fire
�
Magnesium Fire starting
tools. For around $13 including tax you can get
the one that includes an emergency signal whis-
tle. Even lights in the rain. Lightweight and you
can hang it on a dog tag chain, a lanyard, your
zipper pull, or carry in your pocket. They lit our
stoves up perfectly.
Two of us had
GossamerGear Backpacks
.
An older Mariposa, and a new one. I would like
to thank Grant from GossamerGear for the per-
sonal attention provided in fixing me up with the
correct pack. The Mariposa has 3 torso sizes and
a variety of waist belt lengths. It is important to
get them right.
On the first stint of the trip (down the
switchbacks) I wasn’t really convinced. I had
folded my Mattress Pad several times and
slipped it in the pocket that seemed to be made
for that purpose.
(Probably had instructions I
never read).
..anyway that proved to be a prob-
lem. It pushed the pack away from my back
moving the center of gravity too far back. I felt
like I had twice the weight, and the pull on my
shoulder from the straps was very uncomfortable.
(Normally I test gear before a trip but did not test
the pack in this case).
With only 2 miles to do, I grinned and bared
it not wanting to slow anyone going down the
switchbacks. Tomorrow I would
(Continued on Page 4, Column 1)
5
th
Annual Bullhead City River Regatta
Started in 2006, the Bullhead City River Regatta
has grown from under 1,000 participants to an esti-
mated 15,000 to 20,000 this year!
We arrived at the Hualapai Hill top Trailhead
early afternoon. Monday May 16th. The park-
ing lot was packed. Not an area to sleep over if
you would happen to arrive late in the day. If
you could sleep in your car that might be OK.
I wouldn’t sack out on the ground next to
your vehicle as some suggest. If parking along
the rising rock wall of the parking lot, beware of
falling rocks on both your vehicle and your head.
If you have 1 1/2 to 2 hours of light left, we
suggest making it down the switchbacks and
camping out ,up off the trail in the rock ledges of
the wash.
In fact we planned our trip with this in mind.
First we scheduled on a full moon week. Sec-
ondly we planned to trail camp on a high ledge
at the base of the switchbacks. Both decisions
worked out. Unfortunately there was cloud
cover that prevented us having the surreal moon
view we had the previous year. But there was
ample light to move around without a flashlight
once your night vision adjusted.
We were at our spot about 2 miles down from
the Trailhead by late afternoon. We set up easily
before dusk, had our meal and laid around talk-
ing about the trip. We were outside our tents
laying on the warm sandstone watching the sun
go down. Sometime later we woke up…..great
nap! :-)
With the sun dropping behind the distant
higher canyon wall to our west, a slight chill in
the air started settling in. Time for that warm
sleeping bag already laid out in the tent and
waiting. I think all of us were dozing in a few
minutes. I know I slept straight through and
woke up to the early morning light starting to
illuminate the tent. It was tough getting out of
that nice warm bag, and slipping on my shorts,
in the cool of the morning. A turtle fur shell
jacket provided comforting warmth.
We opted to go light as possible. Our target
pack weight was 30 lbs including water and any
belt accessory and pocket item weight. I was
slightly over but carrying 4 liters of water since
we were doing an over-nighter on the trail. I
probably could have made it with 2 liters and
saved about 3 lbs.
We all carried the beer/soda can type home-
made alcohol stoves. In hindsight these proved
to be a great choice. Plans are on the internet.
You can also find construction methods in one
of our previous TOPOGEAR Newsletter issues.
Platypus makes a 0.6L/17 oz bladder. We
filled them with 16 oz (each person) of dena-
tured alcohol for our heating needs. 1 oz will
normally boil about 2 cups of water. We used
folded aluminum foil last year for wind shields.
This year we made more durable ones from Alu-
minum Flashing found at…………………….
But Wait! There’s More!!
Another recent and popular addition to the Bullhead
City River Regatta is the River Home Awards!
Homeowners along the Regatta route are encour-
aged to decorate their yards, shorefronts and docks,
hold parties and cheer on the Regatta floaters!
Prizes will be award to the best decorated Regatta
home on the river!
Hafta Afta Party
Saturday morning and into the afternoon, regatta
floaters will land at Rotary Park’s North Beach
where they will step ashore and into one, big, all-
day beach party! Food, beverages (of the soft and
beer kind) music and vendors of all sorts will greet
floaters and landlubbers alike. Party all afternoon,
then, the awards ceremony will announce the win-
ners in the different categories:
TEAMS (2-10)
MEGA TEAMS (11-20)
, SUPER TEAMS (21
plus), BEST OVERALL DECORATED FLOAT,
BEST DECORATED COMMERCIAL BUSINESS
FLOAT, RIVER HOMES CONTEST!
Come, celebrate the Colorado River at the 2011
Bullhead City River Regatta, August 11 -13
th
.
I n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e o n l i n e a t
www.bullheadregatta.com
,
or call:
855 YA-GOTTA
Ya Gotta Regatta!!
A TOPOGEAR SPECIAL
Compass w/ Light & Whistle Combo
Email us for a special bulk rate to supply your
scout troop or organization at little over cost +
shipping. Buy on an order over $75 and receive
free shipping.
TOPOGEAR is always looking for reader in-
terest stories. Please submit your story, trip
log, photos, recipes and humor. Subjects on
Climbing, Paddling, Cycling, Backpacking,
Horses, Search and Rescue, travel destinations
and more! Send material to:
3
(Continued from Page 3, Column 3)
Havasu Falls Backpack Trip 2011
experiment and repack my gear.
I repacked heavy items in the bottom and kept
the pack as thin as possible between my back and
the far rear vertical outside of my pack. I com-
pressed everything as much as I could using the
pack’s over the top strap, and the supplied light
weight shock cord. Oh what a difference! There
had to be instructions I never read.
I felt as if 20 lbs had been removed from my
pack. I still had 3 of the 4 liters of water so I know
that didn’t make the difference. This packing
method proved to be ideal for me. It only got better
because much of the weight was being consumed
over the next 5 days. The switchbacks on the last
day were bad as expected but the pack weight by
then seemed minimal…...what a Great Ultra-Light
pack. I can’t say enough about it I eliminated 5lbs
over my last years weight with just the pack
change.
The
GossamerGear Mariposa
will easily carry
your gear, extra clothes, and food. We went for 5
days and had enough food for six. The outside of
the pack is lined with 3 deep web pouches. Great
for your trail snacks, Water Filter, snake bite kit,
and any necessities you might want quickly without
digging through your pack. Both of us that used
GossamerGear Mariposa packs, purchased the
items. They were not a sponsored product. This is
a trip report recommendation from 2 of us that used
them.
Another great comfort and weight reducer was a
inflatable pillow by EXPED.
The EXPED Airpil-
low.
I had the Ruby Red. This item is 85 g/3 oz
and smaller than a fist when packed. They even
attach to the EXPED mattresses if you have one.
Alas I had another brand. These are comfortable
and don’t seem to move out from under your head
even when not attached EXPED did not sponsor us
either. This is a trip report recommendation from 2
of us that used them.
A couple of us carried Therm-a-rest sleeping
mats, another carried an EXPED. While I was com-
fortable on my Therm-a-rest I was jealous of the
EXPED that seemed to be 2 to 2 1/2 inches thick.
It also had an internal pump/valve. I have to check
these out further before my next trip.
More and more evidence of water is seen.
We drop down a steep part of the trail and
make a long sweeping turn to our left. About
a mile out of the village now, we come up on
the only sign marking the trail. Large green
trees appear down the trail toward the village.
We can hear the gurgle of rushing water.
Miles of trekking through an ever deepening dry
wash that heads gradually toward the Village of
Supai. 8 miles Trail head to Village, with a 3000
ft descent. Add 2 more miles to the Campgrounds
Day 2, now Tuesday we left our temporary
campsite high in the rocks, behind us. We have
about 6 miles (8 miles total Trail head to Village)
of fast paced walking to reach the Village of
Supai. Another 2 miles beyond that to the desig-
nated Campground just below Havasu Falls. The
Village leg of this trip would take us about 3
hours from our overnight spot.
We walk a dry wash for 4 miles of this before
we start seeing evidence of water and more green
plants. We meet on-coming, or are passed, by an
occasionally horse/mule train, and fellow back-
packers.
1 Mile to the Village of Supai
The last mile to the village is spent following
a fast flowing steam of clear cold water. The
trail is canopied with large trees. Irrigation
ditches split off from the stream in several direc-
tions, apparently skirting both sides of the village
on its travel downhill.
We drop down once again and enter a large
open valley. Vertical walls of red sandstone
towering above, in all directions. The main path
through the village is dusty and lined with fences
on either side. Homes and fenced in small pas-
tures carve out section after section. Horses in
some, and steers in others. Small homes, some
nice and fairly well kept, others not so well kept,
horses staked out just an arms length from the
door. Dogs everywhere,. The dogs all seemed
friendly and willing to take a free hand-out.
Feed them and they trot along side you on the
trail for miles.
Horse/Mule Train on the trail
These trains of pack animals are carrying
gear, mail, and goods between the Trail head and
the Village. There are no roads in or out. While
hiking you have to stay vigilant and make sure
you get out of the way. Often the animals are un
-tethered, and running full speed. Many times,
there are hard sided coolers lashed to their backs.
An unsuspecting person walking along listening
to an MP3 player could easily be cold cocked in
the back of the head and knocked to the
ground…..or worse.
The Main path through the Village
The trail winds through the different plots of
land and homes. Eventually we come to the
camp registration office in the village. Here
registrations are checked. We are signed in and
each given a tag to get us access to the camp-
ground 2 miles away.
This is a view of our trail camp with the first morn-
ing light. About 2 miles in from the trail head.
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interest stories. Please submit your story,
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packing, Horses, Search and Rescue, travel
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We broke camp early, after firing up the stoves and
brewing some hot coffee and instant oatmeal. The
air was cool, the packs felt good. Supai village was
6 miles to go, all downhill!
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4
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Havasu Falls Backpack Trip 2011
From the last home on the edge of the village
the trail meanders through large tree cover. The
rushing river leaving the village comes close to
the left side of the trail. Large bundles of chain
link fencing material and bound up rocks are
placed along the bank. Floods are common in
this canyon. We soon see evidence of last years
flood. It occurred after our 2010 trip. We would
soon learn the terrain had changed in many
places.
Main Part of Village –Facing Store and Post Office
The trail from this point starts descending,
and at several points rather steeply. We soon
reach the first waterfalls. At one time called
Navajo Falls, I believe. A previous flood had
changed it before we first saw it in 2010. Now in
2011 it again changed from what we had seen.
We believe this is now called Spring Falls? Still
stunning with the reds of the rocks, and the aqua-
blue color of the clear water.
In the village we visited the store, replenished
our water, had a banana, and downed an ice cold
Gatorade. Attached to the same building is a small
US Post Office. We all sent out postcards. We
understand this is one of two places in the US, that
the mail is still carried via mule/pack train. The
postmark on the mail says it all. We had to have it.
It made it home before we did!
Havasu Falls May 17th, 2011
Click image to view video from 2010 trip
Old Navajo Falls area, now Spring Falls?
Havasu Falls and the pool below have
changed once again. The pool area is much
smaller. It is natural for mother nature to make
changes. The water temperature here remains
fairly constant throughout the year at around 70
degrees.
The high mineral content and carbonate pre-
cipitate account for the formation of natural
dams. Up stream the water percolates through a
limestone layer and picks up a high concentration
of carbon dioxide. This in turn can dissolve
calcium rock in the ground water. Then the wa-
ter flows out of the ground the carbon dioxide is
released into the atmosphere. This allows the
dissolved calcium carbonate to precipitate and
form travertine dams and terraces, creating beau-
tiful pools.
Most of the terraces below Havasu Falls were
destroyed during last years flood. But as with
nature, it is ever changing. It also makes trips in
subsequent years a new experience each time.
The Canyon shown off the left in the photo
above of Havasu Falls, is Carbonate Canyon.
We will touch on that later in the article as part
of a day trip/hike. Throughout the area there are
old mine tunnels. Some are small and more than
likely did not produce anything. There is one up
Carbonate Canyon, with what looks like some
major excavation. Long tunnels, side tunnels and
iron rails that are still on the floor of the main
tunnel.
Last years Supai Village Postmark
We soon pass this falls and drop down to
stream level, crossing the stream on a foot
bridge. As we climb up the small rise on the
other side of the stream we pass a cemetery. No
monuments sticking up as you might expect. A
sign says “No Photograph’s Please�. We hon-
ored that and moved along the trail.
The canyon narrowed and you could soon
hear the next waterfalls. The trail is at the height
of Havasu Falls. Then the trail suddenly drops at
about a 45 degree angle. The overlook to the
falls is at the edge of a sheer drop of around
100ft. You are looking at the tops of larger cot-
tonwood trees, the aqua-blue pool of water be-
low. Standing there with a deafening roar of the
Falls. What a trip! What a view! The mist of
the falls blowing in our face.
After a brief rest, we threw the packs back on and
headed through the village toward the waterfalls and
campground area. The building next to the store was
the clinic, then the school. At another turn, a small
church. We were passing several homes and the
irrigation ditch came to intersect the right side of the
trail near the last few homes. Up high, several hun-
dred feet on the right, we also see a couple of large
water tanks. We assume these supply the village.
Also seen are various kinds of antennas.
We had met a teacher in the village. He comes a
week each month. He hails from Colorado. He had
answered an ad and applied for the job. Months later
he was contacted. A likable guy who even offered
us access to his home should we need water, bath-
room, etc. We asked about cell phone service. (We
had all left ours in the vehicle) He said it was spotty
and depended on the cell carrier whether your phone
would even work. He had retired as a teacher and
stated to us, when asked why he took the job…:�I
felt like I still had one adventure left in me�. We
said goodbye and wished him well. Now in reflec-
tion I wished we had traded contact information. He
could probably pass on some really good life stories.
TOPOGEAR is always looking for reader
interest stories. Please submit your story,
trip log, photos, recipes and humor. Sub-
jects on Climbing, Paddling, Cycling, Back-
packing, Horses, Search and Rescue, travel
destinations and more! Send material to:
(Continued on page 6, Column 1)
Material, articles and images contained within this Newsletter publication including previous & subsequent pages may not be copied, reproduced, or other-
wise used for other purposes without written consent of TOPOGEAR. All images are considered Copyright by TOPOGEAR or the images owner.
5
(Continued from Page 5, Column 3)
Havasu Falls Backpack Trip 2011
We turned away from the beauty of Havasu
Falls and headed down a steep drop in the trail
leveling off with the river below. Walking through
ancient travertine dams (the deposited Carbonate),
long ago breached by floods from perhaps millions
of years ago? Now appearing as odd shaped
brown stone. But you could visualize how some of
the terraces must have looked. Mostly cactus cov-
ered now, with a lizard scurrying for cover, and
some type of ground squirrel popping it’s head up.
The cactus in bloom with yellow and red flowers.
We trekked the dry sand path. The smell of
years of horse dung inter-mixed with the sand. It
was hot now, out of the trees and in full sun. The
sand deep and churned up from thousands of hoof
and foot print traffic. At least this leg of the trip
was still down hill.
Soon we arrived at the campground check point
and back into the shade of the trees. Our tags were
checked and we proceeded into the campground.
The campgrounds being very primitive. Nothing
formal in anyway. The only convenience was the
picnic tables scattered throughout the area. The
Canyon walls here vaulting vertically hundreds if
not thousands of feet. The river splitting into multi-
ple flows through the trees. This narrow canyon
campground area was maybe 300-400 yards wide
and half a mile long..
Near the entrance we passed the only drinkable
water source in the area…�Fern Spring� Many
campers were set up in close walking distance to
the spring Mooney Falls is about a half mile down
stream. We opted to walk in further and carry our
water.
There was a wooden plank here and there...or a
log, across the rushing water. The only form of a
bridge to be found. We crossed over and found our
camping spot, furnished with a couple vacant picnic
tables. Tents were pitched, sleeping pads and bags
rolled out, and a meal prepared.
We all sat there enjoying the rest our bodies
needed, and the peace and beauty of the canyon
area. The only sounds were the birds, and the water
rushing by on its way to fall over Mooney Falls,
about a quarter mile downstream. You could im-
age how people over the millennium were doing
just the same thing. Not with the high tech gear,
shelters and sleeping material we had. They only
had what the earth and the animals would provide.
Years ago a way of life….now an experience to be
enjoyed by a group of friends.
We had a couple side trips planned for this years
trip. Mooney Falls and Cataract Canyon. We
walked down to Mooney Falls and took some pho-
tos. Our plan to descend to the base.
Mooney Falls is approximately 200 feet high.
The river makes a huge single drop, off a giant
step in the canyon. It falls to a huge pool below
with a roar that is difficult to talk over. There is
evidence of water flow at many locations, over
eons of time. Erratic veils of deposited carbonate
hang from the half moon shaped cliff. Testament
to the fact the water flow is ever changing.
The path from the top of the falls to the base
is a rather scary connection of narrow ledges,
chiseled tunnels, and chiseled steps in the nearly
vertical face of the cliff. You pass through 2
tunnels (Chiseled through the hanging curtains of
carbonate). Between the tunnels you are on a
balcony, natural or perhaps chiseled into one of
the hanging curtains of carbonate. From below
you realize the balcony juts out with only air
beneath it. The trip down is not for the weak of
heart, or those with a fear of heights.
way slowly down. Maintaining a 3 point contact
at all times. Meaning you never let go with both
hands at the same time...even for an instant.
I have technical rock climbed before, and
have done 200 foot repels. The rush of climbing
down this wall ranks right up there with those
past experiences. Add to the fact that once you
drop out of the 2nd tunnel and you are on the
cliff face, everything is wet and slick from the
mist blowing off the falls.
Taking it slow and being safe you proceed
down. Some of the anchor bolts are half way
worn through. If you pause to think about it you
will really make your mind start playing with
you. I am 6 foot tall and a few of the foot hold
are nearly out of reach. The crazy thing is, you
see people from all age groups making the trip.
It really is a must do...just so you can brag about
it.
When you think it can’t get any worse you
encounter a short wood ladder pitched at a weird
angle...but you still have chains to hold on to.
We made a joke that the ladder “looks like a
bunch of termites holding hands�. A line
plucked out of some old movie. It seemed funny
at the time...well sort of! Off that ladder you
then hit the top of a longer aluminum ladder
standing nearly vertical. All wet and algae cov-
ered...but it touches the bottom...almost there.
This looks like a ladder that came from Home
Depot and maybe came over the falls...joking.
Yah joking.. until you get down about 5 rungs of
the 15 rungs?. Opps...didn’t see that rung since I
was still looking at the white knuckles of my
hand still gripping the chain above me.
That rung, yes the broken in half rung. A
rung that someone repaired with a short section
of tree branch and some bailing wire wrapped
around it. I did a double step to keep my weight
off that one. After that it was simply a short trip
to the bottom rung of the ladder. Going up
seems easier. You can at least see where your
feet are going without looking through your
crotch!
Mooney Falls
After passing through the 2nd tunnel on the
way down, you are greeted with a nearly vertical
drop. Foot holds chiseled into the face at irregu-
lar intervals. Chains anchored on either side,
handing downward. You have to back out of the
tunnel while literally hanging on for dear life.
You feel around for a foot hold and start your
See blowup
image on the
next page with
notes of points
mentioned.
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(Continued on page 6,)
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6
(Continued from Page 6)
Havasu Falls Backpack Trip 2011
Mooney Falls trail to base of Falls
Upper Trail that drops down some switchbacks
on the face and backside of the cliff.
Tunnel access hole: The top of the upper tunnel.
Un-seen here. Behind a ledge.
Tunnel access hole: The bottom, of the upper
Tunnel
Tunnel access hole: The top of the lower Tun-
nel. Unseen. Hidden behind overhang
Tunnel access hole: The bottom of the lower
Tunnel
The balcony : A 3 fool ledge about 15 to 20
feet long that connect the bottom of the upper
tunnel to the upper end (not seen here) of the
lower tunnel.
Chiseled foot holds and hand chains area.
Those are people in blue, on the way up!
Wooden Ladder
Aluminum ladder
Images below Mooney Falls
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(Continued on page 8)
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7
(Continued from Page 7)
Havasu Falls Backpack Trip 2011
We messed around below Mooney Falls, hiking
downstream a short distance. The terraced tra-
vertine pools are beautiful. Having never been this
far in the past I couldn’t tell you if the 2010 flood
had damaged this area. A small falls coming off
the side into the main stream cascaded beautifully
into small terraced pools. The water color, that
stunning blue color. We are told this canyon con-
tinues to the Colorado River, and continues to take
your breath away with its beauty found along the
way. We weren’t prepared with proper foot wear
for walking in the water. The river bottom equates
to crushed pieces of tile. Too sharp for bare feet.
Most people stop at this point so the path is less
defined and river crossings happen often. Maybe
another time, or another lifetime perhaps?
We made it back up the ladders, chains and tun-
nels. Now standing at the top looking down the
canyon it was difficult to turn and leave. Some-
thing about it draws your senses to it.
Hiking back to the campsite we discussed the
climb, the waterfalls, and the fact that Mooney falls
is named after a prospector that fell trying to make
it to the bottom sometime back in the late 1800’s.
We couldn’t imagine how anyone could make it up
or down without the route provided today. That
route is scary enough. The call of gold, silver or
other valuable minerals must be a powerful driving
force.
During our pre-trip research we found that there
are numerous old mines in the area. The largest
being one that is up Carbonate Canyon. Carbonate
Canyon is adjacent to Havasu Falls. Ironically we
found articles indicating the very campgrounds we
are in, used to be the site of an old mining camp.
We did find, and briefly explore, the entrance of
several tunnels just above the campground. But
we wanted to hike Carbonate Canyon.
side tunnels. Timbers, and old iron rails still on
the floor. Not a place I feel comfortable enough
to proceed into. If something ever happened you
would never be found. But it was very interest-
ing. Upon coming home and researching a little
it was found to be quite an extensive mine.
The mine extends 3 levels. Lead (Galena)
was mined here for the last time during World
War II. It is amazing that anyone would attempt
to mine here with no easy form of transportation.
There are many articles found on the internet
outlining attempts from the 1800’s thru even
present day. The Havasupai people seem to
have constant conflict with others that wish to
take their lands or what lies beneath it. The cur-
rent concern is Uranium. That concern might
well be shared by many others outside their tribe
that fear contamination of the Colorado River.
After briefly checking out the mine, we left
and headed further up Carbonate Canyon. It
eventually branched in two. We could see the
left branch ended a short distance in. We trav-
eled off into the right branch to see where it
would go. The rocks became larger and we had
to rock scramble several times to continue on.
The rocks were interesting and the canyon walls
had layers of different colors.
This branch of the canyon eventually ended at
a dry slick rock waterfall. The steep narrow rock
chute ground slick over eons of time. During
heavy rains the water fighting for its way down-
hill would surely thunder down through this nar-
row passage. Near the bottom, in the solid sand-
stone, was a hollowed out pool or “tank�. This
tank was about 10 feet in diameter, and perhaps 5
feet or more deep. It was full of brackish water
so it was difficult to see the bottom if the
sunlight wasn’t just right. All kinds of critters
were fighting to survive in this short term oasis.
A baby toad had made it through its cycle of
being a tadpole. Its tail was gone and it was
traveling along the rocks.
Our adventure over that last 4 days had been an
awesome experience. We did have lots of wind
and it rained off and on for 2 days of it. A couple
times during the night it was a fairly good down-
pour. I laid there wondering I I could tell if a flash
flood might come down upon us? It might be
raining harder up the giant wash we had hiked
down. In fact on Wednesday we were at Havasu
Falls and saw the water turn from the beautiful
blue, to ugly brown. But it cleared up rather
quickly once the rain stopped.
Wednesday night we started preparing our
packs to start our hike out. Our plan was to hike
to the base of the switchbacks on Thursday. Make
camp at the same place we did on they way down.
Then hit the switchbacks early on Friday morning,
back to our vehicle at the trailhead. One of our
party was opting to hike back the 2 miles from the
campground to the village. Then catch the Heli-
copter from the village to the trailhead. The trip
down had been hard. H had the heaviest pack
weight. Pack weight takes its toll on the hip, knee
and ankle joints.
Thursday morning we were up as the sun came
up. It had rained in the night. Our friend that was
catching the Helicopter was already gone. We
met up with him in the village later in the morning
and found out he had left hours ago, worried he
might miss the flight. That is another story….we
hope he will write it in another issue.
We visited in the village for a half hour or so
before putting our packs on at 8:45am, and the 3
of heading up the trail leading out of the village.
We certainly weren’t looking forward to the “all�
uphill trip. As we trudged up the canyon, through
the rocky trail, the helicopter passed over the first
time around 9:30am. I am sure all of us now
wished we were flying out. We still had 7 or 8
miles to the trail head.
We made very good time from the village. By
11:45am we were near the base of the
switchbacks, and at the location we had planned to
camp. We took a unanimous vote to scrap camp-
ing and continue on. We hiked the switchbacks in
another hour and 15 minutes arriving at the hilltop
at 1pm.
Looking back over the breathtaking canyon
below we wonder when we will be back again.
Rick can be reached at
rick@topogear.com
We hiked up Carbonate Canyon after we
forded the river just below Havasu Falls. We
saw the mines tailing pile from a distance. It was
easy to spot. The size of the pile indicated this
was a large mine that had moved lots of material.
We poked our head in and saw tunnels and
TOAD - Carbonate Canyon
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wise used for other purposes without written consent of TOPOGEAR. All images are considered Copyright by TOPOGEAR or the images owner.
8
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
TOPOGEAR’s
May—June 2011 Recipe
No entries this month for contest
This is a handed down recipe
Cedar Plank BBQd Salmon
Soak Cedar plank submerged in Water a minimum of 1 hour
Planks available in BBQ section of Home Depot and other stores.
Hold submerged in glass baking dish of water with cups full of
water for weights
1 Whole fillet of salmon (about 2-3 lbs)
6 Tbls of Olive Oil
3-4 Fresh Garlic cloves minced
1/4 Cup of minced Fresh Dill
2 tsp of ground sea salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp grated fresh Lemon peel
(Slice up the lemon and grill the last 5 minutes for garnish)
1/2 tsp Paprika
Mix oil and seasonings except the Paprika.
Coat salmon on all sides with mixed ingredients. Lay in glass bak-
ing dish and dump any remaining mixture on top. Cover with plas-
tic wrap or foil and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.
The TOPOGEAR Outdoor Recipe Page
Outdoor Cooking Recipes
Cooking Tips & Tricks
(Send them to us!)
Heat covered BBQ grill on high until very hot. Preferably you have
a 3 burner. Once hot turn the center burner to low and the outside
burners to medium.
Send us your recipe and photo of your prepared item to
appear on this page. See rules off our Home page at
Place the salmon on the soaked plank. Sprinkle with paprika. Place
the board in the center of the grill and cover. Cook approximately
18 to 20 minutes. The boards will blacken around the edges. The
technique cooking times may change based upon your grill.
Dutch Oven Heat “Three Up-Three Down Rule
This recipe can also be done in your kitchen oven set to broil. The
cedar taste comes out much better on the BBQ though.
It is better to place more coals or briquettes on the lid of
the Dutch oven. Many Dutch oven cooks follow a simple
three up, three down rule
. Measure the diameter of your
Dutch oven and add 3 to estimate how many briquettes to
place on the lid. Take 3 away from the diameter measure-
ment and this is the number you need to place under the
Dutch oven.
If you have a 12 inch Dutch oven. 12 + 3 = 15. Place 15
briquettes on the lid of your oven.
12 - 3 = 9. Place 9 briquettes underneath your oven.
This should give you an approximate oven temperature of 350°
F. Each two additional coals will give you about 20° F more heat
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submit your story, trip log, photos, recipes and humor. Subjects
on Climbing, Paddling, Cycling, Backpacking, Horses, Search
and Rescue, travel destinations and more! Send material to:
9
Visit Hackberry General Store, just outside Kingman, AZ. A collection of roadside
memorabilia relating to historic Route 66. Metal signs, Model T flatbed truck, and
many vintage cars. Featured in TV Commercials for Harley-Davidson, United Air-
lines, and television shows in Holland & Germany. They even ship to US Addresses!
TOPOGEAR
is carrying a new line of Fine
Jewelry.
We are specializing in new 925 Sterling
Silver and Semi precious gemstone Jewelry.
The photo above is some current examples.
We wish to offer something affordable to
all. We hope to find and offer items under
the $200 retail range, with many under the
$100 mark.
Hackbery General Store.
11255 E HWY 66 Hackberry AZ 86411
Phone: 928-769-2605
Email:
RT66SW@gmail.com
Owners John & Kerry Pritchard
Manager: Thurston Pritchard
We offer a selection that will be ever chang-
ing. We are able to buy direct from our
distributor and many of our items are indi-
vidually hand selected when being pur-
chased.
These items will soon start showing up on
the TOPO site so check back often. We also
have large selections of used and vintage
Jewelry. This stock is also changing con-
stantly. Currently we have a large stock of
vintage Rhinestone jewelry.
If you are looking for a specific item that
we do not show, please
email us
for a list of
the latest inventory.
PREPARE
Then
SHARE
Prepare Then Share provides delicious,
high-quality food storage, preparedness
products and information that helps pre-
pare individuals, families and communities
for the unexpected. We then provide op-
portunities and avenues for them to share
with others. Our nationwide network of
humanitarian entrepreneurs educate cus-
tomers on emergency preparedness, while
helping them identify their food supply
needs – whether that’s 72-hours, 3 months
or even a year’s worth of food products
.
RECIPE CONTEST
We have a winner for our Monthly News-
letter RECIPE Contest. The Monthly winner
is sent a FREE Gift. Contest is extended to
future issues. Have your entry submitted by
the 15th of a month, for judging/publishing/
winning consideration in the following months
newsletter.
A FREE ―gift‖ is going out to our winner.
See the TOPOGEAR rules and submission
form at the
TOPOGEAR Home Page
Find it
in the left menu
Contest Win Free Stuff
.
Also
join our
FACEBOOK Dutch Oven
g
roup if
you aren’t already a member.
We are changing some of the contest rules
starting with subsequent issues. The Contest is
now open to recipes for both Dutch Ovens and
BBQ/Outdoor Cooking.
There are now a choice of 2 prizes. A Mey-
erco G10 Tactical Folding knife, or a 9 inch
Dutch Oven Lid lifter. Winner gets to select
their choice of one of these two prizes.
USA “Ship To� addresses only.
Meyerco Tactical Folder
G10 Tactical Folder (MATCMDH)
*440 Bead Blasted Blade
*Easy One-Hand Opening
“MAIR� Dutch Oven Lid Lifter
Prize size is 9 inch only
10
UPCOMING EVENTS
JUNE 2011
Month/Year June 2011
Event: Crossroads of the West Gun Shows
Costa Mesa, CA
Jun 4th and 5th
Las Vegas, NV
Jun 11th and 12th
Mesa, AZ
Jun 25th and 36th
Trail Sherpa
was created to
chronicle the hiking and back-
packing adventures that I have
with my friends. Follow us as
we tackle some of the country's
epic trails.
Visit their website for details and directions
Visit our Website
Month/Year: JUNE 2011
Event: South Dakota State Dutch Oven Gathering
Location: Fairgrounds in Huron South Dakota
Date: June 11-12, 2011
An action packed weekend of FREE fun at the South Dakota
Expo. Dutch Oven Cooking Contest Saturday, and a South
Dakota Wild Game Cooking Contest during the weekend.
Expo is FREE. Camping is FREE.
FOR INFO
AMIGO Metal and Iron Work
1233 Calle Cherokee
Rio Rico, AZ 85648
Cell (520) 440-2469
Fax (520) 761-1776
Email:
amigo_metal@hotmail.com
Or Call 605-353-7340
Contact Person Cassandra Swanson 605-743-5270
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11
UPCOMING EVENTS
JULY 2011
Event: Crossroads of the West Gun Shows
Paddling Festival
Hosted by SOUTHWIND
KAYAK CENTER
Newport Dunes, California Visit
site for latest info
1-800-SOUTHWIND or
1-800-768-8494
Visit their website for details and directions
www.camp-cook.com
900 + Members
Desert River Outfitters is located in
Bullhead City Arizona in Northwest-
ern Arizona on the lower Colorado
River. We provide kayak and canoe
sales, rentals and guided river trips
around the tri-state area of Arizona,
Nevada and California
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12
UPCOMING EVENTS
AUG 2011
Folks, it is that time of year again. Start making your
plans, and secure your reservations. Bullhead City is
expecting the biggest and best year ever. Don’t miss
out!
WEATHERED WONDERS
Creations by Artist Dave Bruce. Utilizing materials recycled from
abandoned buildings and alleyways. One-of-a-kind birdhouses and
furniture. These creations can be found through various stores and
specialty shops. Each piece is handcrafted with pride and signed
with love, from Dave’s heart to your home.
Cell: 602 576-7376
Shade USA
is a national distributor of comfort and conven-
ience related outdoor products that are perfect for the beach,
camp grounds, soccer field, baseball diamond, parks, and
lakes or any vacation destination (including your own back
yard). We specialize in unique and innovative products
which feature portability, comfort and value.
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13
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
Bullhead City River Regatta - Pirates Of The Colorado
Date:
August 12 (Regatta Party Night)
August 13 (River Float & Hafta Afta Party)
This is your official invitation to the world's largest tube
float! We launch from Davis Camp at 9:00am and from
Community Park at 10:00am. More information at:
Place your upcoming events here
Place for FREE
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By popular request
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In advance
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14
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15
TOPOGEAR
TOPOGEAR SPECIAL(S) OF THE
MONTH
Meyerco G10 Tactical Folder
&
Smith & Wesson Military Police “Magic As-
sisted� Opener. One hand opening. A great
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16
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17
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merous winners. We have extended this for subsequent issues too! Enter before the 15th of
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expenses at a minimum. This allows us to support the non-profit organizations that depend us to provide no cost advertising to
promote their organizations and events.
TOPOGEAR has proudly sponsored numerous Outdoor events in the form of Free advertising, TOPOGEAR Booths at events,
monetary support, and donations of material goods and time, to non-profit organizations.
Media material, and any monetary donations, may be emailed or snail-mailed to:
TOPOGEAR LLC
8628 Surtidor Dr
Las Vegas, Nevada 89117
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