May 7, 2018
Eric Fisher
Taken on the Canon 7d Mark ii with the Canon EF 16-35 F/2.8 ii USM Lens. Dolica LA600 Tripod and Ice 82mm ND Filter. Minor Lightroom adjustments by increasing the saturation, clarity, vibrance and use of the dehaze tool. Camera settings were 16mm f/7.1 at ISO 400 for 10 seconds.
The Havasupai Indian Reservation, near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is a truly magical place - no one will question that. Simply getting a permit to hike the 10+ miles to the campgrounds is similar to winning the lottery. If the stars align though and you are lucky enough to visit Havasupai, it will be an experience you aren’t likely to forget for the rest of your life. I found myself staring at an endless blanket of stars, lying in the back of a strangers truck bed, hoping they weren’t returning anytime soon. Not exactly how I pictured the start of our hike into the land of the Havasupai but with temperatures in the desert that day expecting to hit 115 degrees, leaving at 3:00am in the morning is your only option with a 10 mile hike ahead. Its safe to say I didn’t sleep at all but I’m not sure if it was the mosquitoes keeping me up or the pure excitement I had for what was to come. As the clock hit 3:00 am me and 7 of my closest cousins headed into the darkness with heavy packs and head lamps leading the way. The hike itself was fairly straightforward, a clear and flat path through the desert, surrounded by beautiful red canyon walls. Around the 8 mile mark we reached Supai, members of the Havasupai Indian tribe live there and it’s the only town in the US where mail is still carried by mules. We stopped for a quick water break and eagerly headed on for the final two miles. As the path became less rocky and more like a walk on the beach, we started to hear the sound of a waterfall. A couple hundred yards later and we were presented with a view I don’t think any of us were prepared for. The most turquoise water we had ever seen was flowing off a set of waterfalls and cascading down to a pristine swimming hole. We all stood there in awe, not wanting to break the silence and the beauty. This first set of falls is called Navajo Falls and is simply a teaser for what was to come. The sun was starting to get up in the sky so we anxiously moved on towards the campground. A half mile down the path and once again we all found ourselves speechless, staring at the splendor and magnificence that is Havasu Falls. These are the falls that receive the most attention and they more than exceeded any expectations that we had. They stand close to 100ft tall, and carve through a stunning canyon before rocketing the turquoise water into the depths below. It was 8am and fellow hikers had already started to swim and relax in the plunge pool. As if the pure splendor and beauty of everything wasn’t enough, the waters of Havasu River are spring fed and stay approximately 70 degrees year round. Pure magic. The rest of that day was spent setting up camp, relaxing, and swimming in our slice of heaven. There were quite a few others camping in the area but everyone we met was full of smiles and laughs – how could you not? The following morning, we headed another mile down the path to a set of falls called Mooney Falls. As you might have guessed, the first time we laid eyes on these majestic and powerful falls silence overtook us all, yet again. The path to the bottom isn’t for the faint of heart though. The first half involves crawling through a cave etched into the cliff side. The last half isn’t easier as 50 feet of slippery ladders lead to the bottom. It’s more than well worth it when you finally look up to see what the view from the bottom offers; 200 feet of water shooting off a cliff side that looks like it had been formed by dripping red and orange wax from a gigantic candle. We spent the rest of the day on a rope swing, enjoying the water and simply standing in awe of Mooney Falls. As the sun started to set, the harsh shadows of the day disappeared and the light turned a beautiful golden. I saw my cousin standing alone at the base of the falls and knew that this was the “shot”. I switched the settings on my camera to take a long exposure of the scene. I wanted the water to have a wispy, surreal look to it. I yelled to my cousin to sit still and pressed the shutter. 10 seconds later, the scene that unfolded on my LCD screen was perfect – Mooney Falls magic. It was one of the moments you wish could last forever.
Eric Fisher
I'm an amateur photographer currently living in Washington, DC. I have a strong passion for fishing, wildlife and the outdoors.
Website : ericfisherphotography.com
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