Havasupai - Grand Canyon: Living Fearlessly August 15-20th, 2009 Led by: Dr. Sheri Rosenthal Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Toltec Wisdom & Banish Mind Spam!

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On this adventure you descend into one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, into the heart of the Grand Canyon at Havasu Canyon, where we will hike and explore this incredible landscape, swimming in travertine pools of turquoise blue, enjoying the evenings at our comfortable permanent camp (with exclusive arrangement with the Havasupai tribe) searching for stars, having great meals and sharing our experiences during our adventure. It is this spiritual energy that forms the basis for our 5 days of heart-felt transformation and personal expansion.

The focus and intent of this journey is to transcend any fears we have about what we can and cannot accomplish in our lives and within the depths of the canyon and the heart of the mother earth we will find our answers. Some say you haven’t lived until you’ve taken a journey through Grand Canyon. This journey takes you through the heart of the canyon and will leave you with a sense of accomplishment, awe and a true appreciation and love of the grandest place on earth.

What is Havasupai? Havasu Canyon is one of over 600 side canyons forming the 280-mile long Grand Canyon. While over 5 million people per year visit Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim, very few venture to the remote Havasupai Indian Reservation deep in the heart of Grand Canyon. Home to towering 200-foot waterfalls, beautiful cascades, and tropical blue-green pools this lush oasis is considered the “gem” of the Grand Canyon. The Havasupai or Havasu Baaja currently has 650 tribal members of which approximately 450 live in the village of Supai. All members speak their native language, a northeastern Yuman dialect that is a division of the Hokan linguistic family. It has been a written language for almost 25 years. Pai means people and Havasupai means “people of the blue-green water.” By working closely with the Havasupai Tourist Enterprise we strive to show you their majestic land with the respect and reverence due to these proud and resourceful people.

As is typical for a Journeys of the Spirit retreat, you will experience class time daily, time for sharing with the group, reflection and meditation time, and one-on-one personal time with your group leader (along with fun and shopping time too of course!). It is our intent that you return home with an open heart and mind along with the tools you need to make the changes in your life you desire.

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Day 1 Saturday, August 15th - MEET AT THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS OLD TOWN, SCOTTSDALE, AZ (-/-/-) Whoever is flying into town the first night and staying at the hotel will gather up around 6:00pm to meet each other and gather for dinner. Our hotel does provide complimentary airport shuttles.

Day 2 Sunday, August 16th - DEPART PHOENIX, THROUGH SEDONA, TO THE GRAND CANYON CAVERNS INN (-/l/d) Depart Phoenix early in the morning and travel north through the Sonoran Desert and onto the high elevation plateaus and red rock canyons of north central Arizona. As we gain elevation, we will pass through 4 distinct biological life zones and your guides will discuss the natural history of each. Soon we will arrive in Sedona, Arizona, featuring absolutely sublime red-sandstone formations, the beauty of Sedona rivals many national parks.

In the late morning we will hike along Oak Creek and across a spectacular ridgeline with 360-degree panoramas of the entire Sedona area and the Verde River Valley. As you hike, your guides will introduce you to the unique flora, fauna, geology and cultural history of the area. After a picnic lunch near the creek, we will drive through Oak Creek Canyon, home to lush riparian vegetation and towering red-rock walls, this is one of the most scenic drives in America. Once we have attained the Mogollon Rim at over 7000 ft. we will continue across the Colorada Plateau to the rustic Grand Canyon Caverns Inn. After dinner we gather together as a group and get to know each other and share our intent for our week. Total hiking 2-5 miles.

Day 3 Monday, August 17th - DESCEND INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE GRAND CANYON (b/l/d) After an early breakfast, we will drive the short distance the the trailhead, which is perched on the edge of the canyon. It is called Hualapai Hilltop (pronounced “Walapai”). This is the only land travel access to Havasupai. Starting at 5,400 feet, the trail begins with switchbacks until we reach a dry stream bed where the trail begins to level out. At no time are you exposed to sheer cliffs and those with a fear of heights need not worry. After a trailside lunch, the canyon walls seem to grow around you as you descend deeper into the labyrinth of red sandstone.

At mile 8, the canyon begins to widen and the vegetation turns lush as you enter the village of Supai. Here at 3,200 feet, after a welcome rest stop, the Cottonwood-lined paths will lead you through the village and into the canyon’s backcountry. An easy two-mile hike to our base camp will take you past 80 ft. Navajo Falls and 100 ft. Havasu Falls. Stopping to swim beneath each is a must! As you walk, your guides will discuss the cultural history, geology and unique biology of the canyon. Just down canyon from Havasu Falls, you will find our private and exclusive base camp waiting for your arrival. Estimated arrival time is between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. You will have free time to explore the area while your guides set up camp and prepare dinner. Sleep under the stars or retire to your spacious tent for a peaceful night of slumber. Total hiking: 10 miles.

Day 4 Tuesday, August 18th - ADVENTURE AND RELAXATION IN THE “GEM OF THE GRAND CANYON” (b/l/d) We awaken in our base camp, nestled along a stream, beneath towering cottonwood trees and adjacent to enormous waterfalls. You will find fresh brewed coffee and a hearty breakfast waiting in the camp kitchen. Today, after breakfast we will embark on one of the most exciting and beautiful hikes in North America, crossing tropical blue streams and wading through lush meadows of wild grapevines on our way to Beaver Falls the last in the chain of waterfalls in Havasu Canyon. Total hiking: 2-18 miles.

We have the option of taking two routes to Beaver Falls - the “wet route” or the "dry route. If you choose the wet route, there will be the opportunity to swim to the “green room” an under water air pocket accessed by swimming beneath the first tier of the waterfall! Once you emerge from the green room the thrill of discovering this canyon secret will help you steel your courage to JUMP off the main fall (18’) into the frothy pool below…once at the base at the falls you will reunite with the members of the group who decided to stay high and dry – WOW – Now turn around and look up the Canyon at the 80ft. cascading Beaver Falls, standing in awe of your accomplishment! An incredible opportunity to move past your fear and expand what you believe about your capabilities in life. Tonight we will celebrate the day with drinks and appetizers followed by a wonderful dinner and sharing.

Day 5 Weds, August 19 - ADVENTURE AND RELAXATION IN THE “GEM OF THE GRAND CANYON” (b/l/d) Another day in canyon paradise started with a great breakfast followed by two very different and unique hikes. This morning we will walk up canyon to a hidden side cleft in the cliff wall where you will be expertly guided to the Tonto Platform, a broad rocky terrace between the Supai sandstone and the Red Wall limestone. Reaching this bench affords views missed from below including classic sweeping Grand Canyon vistas all the way to the North Rim and bird’s eye views of Havasu and Mooney Falls.

Before returning to base camp your guides will leave you to swim at Havasu Falls while they prepare lunch. After you have had time to digest we'll hit the trail for another hike to Carbonate Canyon a narrow side canyon where miners from the early 1900's found precious minerals within the canyon walls. You'll be amazed to find the fossils of sea creatures that once occupied this area of now dry land - over 300 million years ago. Tonight we gather again to share experiences and a wonderful meal. Total hiking: 2-18 miles.

Day 6 Thurs, August 20st - ASCEND FROM PARADISE (b/l/-) Enjoy a final breakfast in our canyon oasis before our hike to the rim. While always tiring, the exhilaration you feel after conquering the canyon and your fear will leave you with a sense of accomplishment no one can take away! If you choose you will have an option to have a helicopter ride out of the canyon instead of hiking. Expect to arrive at the rim between 10:00am and 1:00pm today - we expect to arrive in Phoenix at the hotel between 5:00pm and 7:00pm. Today some of us will leave in the evening from Phoenix and others will stay overnight and depart in the morning. We say our last goodbyes, hugs and kisses as we prepare to take our new dream of heaven back to our lives!

What's Included: Most meals are included in this itinerary and are in brackets (4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners). All spiritual teachings are included. All tips for the drivers and guides are included. Please know that our guides are professional, knowledgeable and safety-certified and spend 50-120 days each year in the Canyon! All excursions are included and entrance fees are included for our sites. Your hotel room at the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn is included (double occupancy). All transportation/hotel transfers upon your arrival in Phoenix are included. Also included are all your camping equipment and base camp amenities which include: Double occupancy tents (that are really six person size tents) with ample room for personal gear and a stand up height of over 6 feet, 4.5 inch thick camp mattresses, sleeping bags, a fully equipped backcountry kitchen ideal for our guides to prepare excellent meals, snacks, bottled water and non-alcoholic drinks, and solar showers with private enclosure.

What's Not-Included: Your round-trip air flight to and from Phoenix is not-included. Please fly into Phoenix by mid-afternoon on August 15th since we have an early departure to Sedona on our first day. Going home on the 22nd please do not schedule your flight to leave before 9:00 pm from Phoenix or consider staying on and leaving the next morning. If you choose to fly in or out of the canyon by helicopter the cost is $100.00 each way. Your hotel room our first night and the last night of our journey at the Holiday Inn Express Old Town in Scottsdale is not-included - however if you need a room coming or going, we can match you up with a roommate so you can split the cost. Going home, factor in the cost of catching a taxi back to the airport if you are not staying overnight at the hotel (around $30.00). Phone calls, laundering services and souvenir shopping are not-included.

We do have a weight limit on luggage into the canyon of 20lbs per person since our luggage will be transported into the canyon by pack horse and we must respect their limits. If you plan on doing other traveling in the area before or after our journey you will have the opportunity to leave another luggage bag in our locked vehicles at the hilltop. Please note: Take most of your money in small denominations of cash. There is a café, general store, and post office at the Village of Supai. The Supai Post Office is where visitors can buy stamps, mail letters and post cards. All mail travels in and out of the canyon on the only pack train mail delivery system in America. Every piece of mail will bear a special postmark to this effect. The Village establishments all operate on a cash-only basis. The Havasupai Tribe does not permit the use of alcoholic beverages on the reservation and drugs are as illegal in Havasu Canyon.

The actual schedule of spiritual teachings and what we will be doing day to day is not definite. This is because we teach by channeling spirit which comes in the moment. Every day will be a magical experience for all of us, teachers included! Keep your heart and mind open to the experience life brings us.

The 2009 trip cost is: $2095.00 per person, double occupancy. If you need a single for this journey, the supplement is $75.00 USD (not including the Holiday Inn Express Old Town in Scottsdale which will be around $150.00 per night double occupancy with free shuttle and breakfast included).

A deposit of $500.00 is needed by: May 15th, 2009. Final payment is due: June 15th, 2009. Any cancellation made in writing before: June 15th, 2008 will result in a cancellation fee of $500.00. Any cancellation made between: June 15th, 2009 and July 15th, 2009 will result in a loss $680.00 USD. Any cancellation made between: July 15th, 2009 and the trip departure will result in total loss of trip funds. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended to cover such issues. Please know that I am happy to create a monthly payment plan for you - but do note that you must have paid the trip in full by the departure date. Just email me and we can charge a specific amount monthly to your credit card.

You may print each form separately, or download all 7 forms at the same time and then print them from your computer. All the documents are in Adobe PDF format. If you don't have Acrobat Reader in your computer (most people do), please go to CLICK HERE to download it. You will find that these forms contain all the information you could possibly want regarding this journey. Enjoy!

Dear Spiritual Traveler
Don't Forget Me List!
Statement of Health
Trip Application
Limitation of Liability
Release of Liability
Terms & Conditions
Download ALL forms

These are a few books that I feel will help you prepare for your upcoming journey. Please enjoy these recommendations. If you have any of your own, let me know and I will consider posting them! If you click on the book itself it will link you to Amazon.com.

Having experienced many Spiritual Journeys, it is nice to have all the information you might need before you go! I have included a list of online resources that will prove to be useful as you plan and prepare for your next Spiritual Journey. Simply choose a link from the drop down menu below and the corresponding website will open in its own window making it easy for you to return to this site and continue your exploration.