Our Favorite Place To Stay In Phoenix: Relaxing and Recharging After Havasupai Falls
So! If you guys and gals have been following along on this series, you’ll know that we’ve come to a bittersweet end with this post. Boo to that! But on the bright side, that means today I get to tell you all about our favorite place to unwind, recharge, and relax. While I’ll also touch on a few other close seconds that we may definitely check out again in the future. Hint: It’s an app you’ve already heard of! (Can you tell that we really, really, really like Arizona??) And guess what…we’ll be flying back out in June to hike the North to South Rim of the Grand Canyon! So be sure to stay tuned for more travel posts to come. (I promise I’ll be adding some non-desert ones in between there as well…) Staying at JW Marriott Phoenix: The Perfect Post-Hike Escape After every major hike, we really like to just veg out for a day or two, typically at a hotel so that we can get just a teeny bit pampered after coming off several days of backpacking with no toilets or running water. If you had the chance to check this post out, you’ll get to see why we break our trips up into stages so that we can plan accordingly on what to bring and how to mentally prepare for which stage of the trip we’re on. Why We Love Hotels with Laundry Service After Backpacking We also love to utilize their laundry service if they have one available (did you know that most regular hotel chains do!?) While this can be somewhat costly if you have a lot of items, we try to keep it minimal by choosing things that really need a good wash so they don’t stink up our luggage, or we pack more minimally overall and just wash everything once to wear those same items again at the hotel stage of the trip. Once we made our way back into Phoenix, we checked into the JW Marriott in Scottsdale, by far one of the most beautiful hotels we’ve ever been in. If you check out the Marriott Bonvoy app, you can usually get lucky and snag a good deal if you’re willing to check back frequently and are flexible with your dates. (For example, we only spent $200/night when we went in September, but when we booked for April, we couldn’t find any dates less than $600/night. Gulp.) However, since we saved so much moolah backpacking and camping throughout the week and using Airbnbs for our first 2 nights, we decided to go ahead and book since we didn’t have flexible dates for the rescheduled days of Havasupai Falls. At the end of our stay, we still appreciated being able to take in the Phoenix sunrise and sunset from our rooftop balcony, but did recognize that next time we’d try out some more Airbnbs for the last stage of the trip. Why? Because although enjoying a chilly NA margarita poolside (with no work involved on our end), was absolutely wonderful, we’d prefer to put those funds toward a trip to come and enjoy some mediocre ones made by yours truly instead. Don’t get me wrong. Hotels are amazing and we use them often when needed. We try to get affordable ones when available near the airports, or use them for spending a date night downtown in the city. For yinz all wondering, Pittsburgh, PA is our home base, which I’ll be sure to inform you of to-dos and hikes nearby in the future! Rest & Recharge at JW Marriott But on this day of course, we’re back in sunny Phoenix absorbing the hot rays and chill days. When we got in the first night, we arrived in time to walk around the resort and order in some amazing steak dinners to enjoy on the patio. It was a blissful, stress-free evening compared to last year when we got stuck in SUPER LONG traffic on our way from Sedona to the city. It was a total bummer since it rushed our last evening there, which is why we vowed to make sure we booked two days from then on instead of just one. (We changed hotels last minute as well, which seemed like a good idea at the time, but only created more unnecessary chaos when it came to booking and rescheduling the other later on. A lesson was learned…sometimes, we just need to stick with the original plan!) In the morning, I considered setting an alarm for the sunrise. But as you probably know by now, I have a strict *no alarm on vacations* rule that I try to follow as much as possible. Since we’ve seen the sunrise from here before, we chose to sleep in and rest our aching bodies from the grueling hike just a day before. Once we got up and into the world, we enjoyed some Starbucks which they offer nearby, checked out the gift shop so I could snag myself a new fun necklace, and soaked up the vibes at the pool as previously mentioned. After that, we decided on a last minute couples massage, although looking back I’d have much preferred a chill dinner watching the sunset again on the balcony. This was only our second time booking one at a hotel, and although they were great, they cost a fortune and we would much prefer putting that toward a future endeavor. If you’re considering one when you’re in hotel land, keep this in mind and maybe save that dough for a few sessions at one near home instead of one while there. The last day was a breeze. We slept in again, grabbed some breakfast that was *SO GOOD,* and went at a snails pace. Usually, we’re packing and hustling to get to the airport with anxiety oozing all over. But since we attempted to prevent some of that this time around, we made sure to
Hiking Out Of Havasupai and The 4 Hour Drive To Sedona
As you can probably tell by now, we had a great adventure on our hands with the Havasupai Trip. If you’re just joining this series, make sure to go back and start from the beginning so you don’t miss any tips or tricks! This journey was both amazing and memorable, and I’d recommend it to anyone determining whether or not to sign up for that permit. It’s something that is really very unique in person, especially with all of the filters on social media these days. Yes! The water really is that clear and blue. Yes! You can only get there by hiking (or with a helicopter…we’ll get to that later). It’s a magical place that you should try to see at least once in your lifetime, I promise it won’t let you down. Here is how our Havasupai hike back out went, what we did the rest of the day, and how we felt after leaving. Legggooo! The Challenge and Reward of a True Havasupai Hike Not only did we get to take in some epic sights along the trip, but we also got reminded why *anything* in the Grand Canyon is a great battle. It takes a toll on both the mind and body, and is not for the faint of heart. Although you can get to the falls by helicopter, (see how to do that by clicking here), I highly highly highly recommend doing it the harder way and trekking down into the misty falls with just a backpack. There are mules that can assist with your packs if you choose, but I’d truly only suggest using this option if you absolutely have to. Hiking down into the canyon (in any part of it), is a true wonder to spectate. It boasts beautiful views that you can really get no where else on earth as far as I’m concerned, and although each time I hike out I vow to never do it again, I can’t help myself but to keep coming back. Out of the 4 times we’ve been to Arizona so far, 3 of them have landed us on one of the trails in the Grand Canyon. Someone asked me today, “Don’t you ever want to go lay on a beach and just chill?” To which I replied, “Yes, but that’s why we schedule days after our trip to rejuvenate.” 🤷♀️ Choosing Adventure Over Escape: What the Havasupai Hike Taught Me Dear Internet friends of the hiking and backpacking world… Don’t ever let someone tell you what that what you consider is fun is weird. I challenge you to push back and look at the other side of things such as, do you prefer to be challenged or do you prefer to shut down? In my opinion, I would choose experience over escape any day. I want to feel alive, bountiful in my blessings and not afraid to push my boundaries. Being fully present, I want to feel encompassed by my feelings while immersing myself in all of what nature has to offer. I want to feel strength and courage and face my fears a little more each time I go out into any kind of wilderness. That, to me, is the perfect getaway. Of course, vacations don’t have to look the same for everyone. They can be relaxing in different ways, and that’s okay. One of the most relaxed states I was in was when we were on Crawlers Ledge of the Napali Coast in Kauai. Never did I ever think I would be chill as a cucumber traversing a rocky cliff face in the rain. But I wouldn’t trade it for one single day sitting in a beach chair with my toes in the sand drinking a cold beer. (PS I gave up drinking nearly a year ago, check out this post to learn more if you’re into giving it a try). I don’t regret tacking more days onto the ends of our trips. I don’t regret my sore muscles and achy, blistering feet. Because for those handful of days, I feel as though I can be my most authentic self, living, breathing, and enjoying the best of this world. Early Mornings and Rituals: Starting Our Final Havasupai Hike Day As we began our day with a watch alarm, (this lady does NOT like alarm clocks, so we used his Garmin to vibrate when it was time to wake up). Although I was 100% already awake and ready to go by 3am, wanting to beat the heat and get packed before the rest of the campground. However, we decided to wait a little longer and get up about 4:30 instead to ensure we were fully rested and ready for the day ahead. We have a decent routine when it comes to packing things up. He’ll take care of the outside of the tent while I pack up the items inside. Usually, we’ll be done about the same time and can begin working on finishing our packs. I’ll leave our coffee, tea, and granola easily accessible, and make sure to pack what we need the night before if we plan to get up in the dark like we did on this trip. It took around 30 minutes to get everything together, then we made one last bathroom trip and started out of the campsite. It was sad to leave so early but we weren’t the only ones. Even though the stars were still out, there were several groups packing up getting ready to head out before the sun came up. As we passed by Havasu Falls one more time, I was able to snap a pic with the headlamp light. We then continued on past the fry bread tent and the bridges before making our way through the village. The Helicopter, and the Hikers: Leaving Supai Village As we arrived near the helicopter pad, there were a ton of groups already waiting or getting there to
Our Third and Final Full Day At Havasupai Campground: Visiting Havasu Falls and Beaver Falls
Hello friends! Sadly in this post we will be talking about the third and final full day at the Havasupai Campground. It was majestic, rejuvenating, and enlightening. I’ll share with you my favorite campsite location, where to find drinking water from a fresh local spring, and what I decided I will *not* be bringing with me next time on a multi-day backpacking hike! 🥵 You’ll see photos from Beaver Falls and Havasu Falls…but not the local fry bread because your girl ate it ALL before remembering to snag you a pic! You’ll just have to grab some permits and go for yourself! Why We Skipped Beaver Falls (And Saved The Best Day For Last) Hey! My name’s Shelby and I love to hike really epic places. The more remote, the more challenging, the more mental workload involved, the more I’m game. If you’re just joining me in this Havasupai Series, be sure to go backwards (and subscribe to find future posts!) to read all about our recent 9 day trip that was centered around the one and only, Havasupai Falls. Thanks for being here, you awesome human you. As the last post left off with us coming back to camp from the Confluence, I’ll share with you why we passed on Beaver Falls, and why we saved Havasu Falls for last. Beaver Falls is revered as one of the most beautiful parts of this entire place. However, it is also on the way to the Confluence, and down the crazy steep incline of the well-known Mooney Falls. To get there, you’ll hike down the stairs with the chains beside the falls, and hike about 4 miles (each way) further into the rugged backcountry of the southwest side of the Grand Canyon. Although we had full intentions of visiting Beaver Falls as more than passersby, we decided to continue hiking past it on the way to the Confluence. We didn’t know just how long getting to the end of that hike would be, so we wanted to be sure we wouldn’t take too much time stopping at all the sights along the way. We figured that we would hit it up on the way back, but once we returned to that point in the hike again, we were sore, exhausted, and nearly out of drinking water. So, we continued on our trek back to Mooney Falls to climb the cliff face, and then onto our campsite not far from the top of the climb. We were lucky enough to go two different ways around Beaver Falls though! (Not on purpose, which is why I highly recommend pinning your location every so often to remember where to turn when you start getting more tired. Check out this previous post to learn how to drop a pin on your iPhone or Android). The first time we went past, we were looking down at Beaver Falls. It is SO much bigger in person and just as amazing as the pictures online make it seem. The hikers that stopped to chillax in them looked so tiny from where we were. They were waiting for the sunrise as it creeped along the blue-green water and down onto the next set of falls. On the way back, we were down beside it, and realized that we were on the trail to Beaver Falls, not back to the campground! This is when we decided to snap a few pics, readjust our footing, and got back onto the correct path back home for the night. It really is a must-see in person to not underestimate its magnificent and one-of-a-kind beauty. A Recovery Day at Havasu Falls Inside Havasupai Once we got back to the campground that night, we heated up some meals, filled our water and turned in as soon as the sunlight was running out. When we got up to face Day number 3, I felt sad that we would be in the tent for only one more night, but relieved that we had gotten the bulk of the hiking out of the way and were able to spend the day at rest. After some morning granola and coffee or tea, (Which do you prefer on the trail? Drop your favorite trail drinks in the comments or tag us in a pic on Instagram!), we packed up our Osprey Sportlite pack to head over to Havasu Falls. Since we were pretty far back in the campground, we had an “active recovery” hike as I like to refer to them as. Although I wouldn’t change where we were staying, it was a bit of a haul to get to the drinking water or to Havasu…or to the fry bread. Yum. We hung around in the hammock napping and reading until about 10am when the sun was too much to bear, and then headed to Havasu where we enjoyed hanging out in front of its awesomeness until around 1 or 2. After that, it was getting busy, the sun was leaving the top of the canyon, and we were ready for lunch. We also wanted to start packing for the next morning, as we planned to get up early and beat the heat as much as possible. Speaking of lunch, be sure to use this day to rehydrate and refuel with calories. As in, more than you think you need and way more water than you think you can drink. Of course there is the problem of drinking too much water, but at this point in the trip, you’ve been in the desert for a few days dehydrating yourself on hike after hike. Drink up, my friends! I really enjoyed reading and laying under the sun next to Havasu Falls, but I still have to say that Mooney Falls really has the more epic rock face around it and is so much bigger as well. They are all unique in their own ways, but Mooney is still my fave. I finished
Our Epic Hike Into Havasupai Falls: What to Know Before You Go
So you’re probably wondering why we keep coming back to Arizona. That’s because it is beautiful in so many ways and legit has endless activities to do and places to explore. For example, this week we’ve been hiking a lot, backpacking and rejuvenating at our fave hotel, but I want to talk right now about the hike down into Havasupai Falls Campground. It wasn’t as brutal down as I had anticipated, but going up was WAY MORE work than I’d have liked it to be. However, I’m going to walk through each step of the trip this time in order, so if you want to repeat our process you’ll have the perfect blueprint to do so! While this post will highlight the trail into the canyon, make sure you stick around to hear more about what we did when we got there and how our day back out went as well. Let’s get into it! Why We Woke Up at 4:30 AM in Seligman for Havasupai Falls When we started out from Seligman, (which you can refer to the specifics here!), we made sure to set our alarm (which I absolutely loatheee doing on vacations, although certain situations such as these make it necessary). We got up around 4:30am, headed out around 5am, and got to the trailhead around 6:30am. If I could do it again though, I would have started a wee bit earlier around 3:30am so that we could have started the trail when it began getting light out. I’m always hesitant to sacrifice sleep on these trips, so we try to be in bed by around dark at latest, often making that about the 8:30pm mark. But since we weren’t doing much in this town, I think we could have hit the hay an hour earlier to be up earlier as well. I’d mentioned we started to pack our backpacks at the previous tiny home that we rented but that didn’t include last minute items such as snack purchases or bathroom products. We also made sure our outfits were ready, filled the water bladders, and packed our luggage into the rental car, so that in the morning all we had to do was hit the road. (Next time, I’m making sure I leave an outfit for after the hike easily accessible so I’m not rummaging through our luggage in the parking lot!) Although we left early, we noticed a lot of peeps ahead of us on the road out to the campground, as well as a handful turning out of Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, that we tried to book before the boutique hotel in Seligman but it was already full! I do believe they offer cavern tours as well but they may still be on pause if you want to check them out if you’re ever headed west! Why We Woke Up at 4:30 AM in Seligman for Havasupai Falls Watch Out For Cows and Elk As we made our way into the vast nothingness of the one road (Indian Route 18) leading to the campground trailhead, we noticed several cows and elk grazing on the sides of the road. Make sure you keep a lookout for these guys and practice the speed limit so they have a chance to know you’re coming! Not to mention if you break down out there, it may be a long while before you’re able to get service or assistance. Check out the beautiful view of Humphrey’s Peak as well on that road! If you’re up for an exhilarating day hike, check out this post to learn all about our experience hiking the mountain! Once you get to the checkpoint, there may or may not be tribe members present. If so, they may check your stuff out to ensure you aren’t bringing alcohol or any other prohibited items into their village. (Check out the list below to see prohibited items). Campground Rules & Policies Prohibited Items for the Checkpoint Alcohol is NOT permitted. Littering is NOT permitted. Drones are NOT permitted. Campfires are NOT permitted. Diving/jumping is NOT permitted. Taking photos of Havasupai people or property is NOT permitted. Thank you for being respectful of the people who have opened up their canyon to outside visitors. Camping is NOT permitted anywhere other than in the actual Campground. The following are NOT permitted: alcohol, drugs, smoking, drones, amplified music, littering, nudity, jumping, diving, climbing, fishing, hunting, horses, dogs, pets, animals, wagons, carts, bikes, vehicles, fires, fireworks, firearms, weapons, water guns, boats, rafts, kayaks, paddle boards, inner tubes, pool floats, pool toys, styrofoam, filming or photography for commercial purposes, taking photos of Havasupai people or property, and anything else that may be hazardous or discourteous. Proper attire is required, please dress appropriately. Gas canister backpacking cooking stoves are ok, but all other types of flame/fire are NOT permitted. Honestly, even though I quit drinking almost a year ago, (yay!), I still would advise against anything hindering your ability to be totally present down there as it would take away from being immersed in the beauty and also would be quite dangerous traversing down into Mooney Falls! Stay tuned for another post highlighting our time getting down into Mooney, it was epic and scary and amazing! Trailhead Essentials: Parking Smart, Last Stop Bathrooms, and Prepping for the 12 Mile Trek Now, once you’ve passed the checkpoint and gotten closer to the parking lot, you may notice a ton of vehicles parked alongside the cliff face. Please don’t opt for this if there are other options! Keep in mind you’ll be down in the canyon for about 4 days and many rocks can tumble down between then! There are also a lot of options to park on the other side or in the parking lot. It isn’t huge though, so as previously mentioned, make sure you’re starting early! There are two bathrooms in the two different sections of the parking lot, which you should definitely consider using
Seligman, Arizona – the Birthplace of Historic Route 66
Hey ladies and gents of the internet world! Seligman, Arizona was not something I’d ever dreamed specifically of visiting, but as we prepped for our trip to Havasupai Falls, it came into our radar when other nearby options were sold out. Here’s a quick bit about our short time there, must-stops, and what you can get to nearby. Leggoooo! The Cutest Boho Hotel We Found Last-Minute in Seligman About a year ago we were booking our trip when we noticed a lot of nearby places were already sold out. So I decided to check out Airbnb to check out what availability they had instead. To my surprise, they had a cute little boho-looking boutique hotel on there as well, which I promptly took the option to reserve! It looked just like the pictures. It was cute, aesthetic, and newly remodeled. And super close to where we needed to be the next day for the trailhead. I was so excited that it was not only my favorite colors, but clearly the new owner took great pride in keeping things clean and updated as well. (There was even a paper strap across the toilet that ensured it had been cleaned! Something I’d never seen before even at upscale luxury hotels). Boutique Hospitality and Small-Town Charm in Seligman There was even a nice set of chairs outside the room on the cement to watch the stars from at night, and a digital keypad to keep things modern and fast-paced! Even though the whole vibe of the town was geared more toward the 1950s, I thought it was refreshing to have a bit of a break from that all once we stepped foot back onto this quaint little property. We arrived right at opening, where Christina checked on the rooms and made sure her team had prepped everything perfectly before guests came into town. She was so kind, genuine and helpful even when we needed her help with the keypad. One of my favorite parts that I wish I got to spend more time in was the little gift shop area near the check-in desk! It had the most adorable jewelry selection and a few pieces of clothing as well. Now I love dogs and was missing my own greatly. So when her little pup came over to greet me when we walked in the door, I was more than ecstatic! There was also a sweet antique car out front. If nothing else, to keep your interest while you await your turn at the desk. If you’re ever passing through on Route 66 in Seligman, I would highly recommend staying at The Postcard Motel. It was a brief stay, but pretty perfect nonetheless. Related: Havasu Falls Hike Preparation: Our Backpacking To-Do List Exploring Seligman: Gift Shops, Ice Cream, and Small-Town Charm Once we got checked in and unloaded our luggage, we headed out to walk around the town, (which probably in total took us a whole 45 minutes to walk up and down both sides. It’s super tiny!) It was great weather, which was basically t-shirt kind of warm compared to what we experienced in Parks, Arizona just a day beforehand! It was such a pleasant walk along the sidewalks, popping in and out of local gift shops that had so much to offer! We picked up a new tee, a bracelet, and some dinner (at the same shop! LOL) which hit the spot before we had to hit the trail in the AM. Check out these cool mannequins on the rooftop! Another favorite spot was an iconic ice cream shop that we most definitely couldn’t pass up. They had this awesome car out from with a Christmas tree on it! I was yearning for some ice cream all day so it was ironic that we stumbled upon one of the best places in town! The workers there really make every effort to make you smile, it was super fun watching them squeeze fake mustard and offering real straw instead of drinking straws! Definitely check Delgadillo’s Snow Cap out if you’re ever out this way! . . As we walked back to our room, we discussed what time to get up and made sure when we returned that everything was good to go. We did some last minute prepping and showered once more before using wipes for the next few days! Then we set our alarm and turned in for the night after having some Oreos on the patio. PS, if you’re searching for the best wipes to use on your backpacking trips, we’ve tried them all. These Venture Wipes are by far our favorite so far with their size and “cleaness” feel so I’d highly recommend trying them out! I loved that they offered them in single serving packs, which we determined bringing 4 each for us for each day. (2 for the mornings and 2 for the nights). Early Mornings, Granola, and Dinos on the Road to Havasupai In the morning it wasn’t too hard to get up, knowing that we would have another 1.5 hours drive to wake up until we got to the trailhead parking lot. We passed the Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, (along with some dinos) and not a whole lot else along the nearly 90 mile stretch. Since we already had our bags packed and loaded into the rental car, all we had to do was keep out some granola packs for breakfast when we arrived. I kept these on the outside straps of my bag to make sure they were easy to get to when we needed them. I also realized that carrying the mugs on the outside straps was super handy to break out for coffee or tea when you’re getting a little chilly! Here are some of the contents of my bag only. Since he already had his packed up perfectly, I’ll
Before the Havasupai Falls Hike: Where We Stayed, How We Prepped, and Why Parks, AZ Was Perfect
Today, I went full potato. I napped, I vegged, I cooked beautiful and delicious food, and watched the sunset with my husband before indulging in some hot cocoa while reading. It was a good day. Today marked the first actual day of being fully in Arizona, in which we typically use to prep our gear and fuel our bodies with rest and good grub before backpacking 60-70 miles with dehydrated meals on our backs for the next 4 days. Here’s a quick bit about our time in chilly, amazing, perfect Parks, Arizona. Back in September of 2024, we were scheduled to hike the incredible trek to Havasupai Falls. (We can call it Havasu though since “Havasu” means “blue-green water” and “Pai” means “people.”) If you’ve been following the Habitual Balance journey, you’ll know that we were forced to reschedule only a few weeks before our trip due to a tragic flash flood. Although we considered traveling elsewhere when we found this out, it was eventually decided that we would stick with the original plan and work around those few days we were to be at the falls. I couldn’t be more pleased with how that trip worked out. We camped for several days at different locations that had totally different weather. First outside of Sedona where we found a small swimming hole that we could kayak into a cave on the other side, and next here in Parks, at an awesome little Hipcamp spot that we got to enjoy in the wilderness right outside of Coconino National Forest. Our Tiny Home Stay Before the Havasupai Falls Hike Since we were the only ones present at the time, it was quiet, almost eerie how silent it was at night when we got up to go to the outhouse. We heard coyotes and horses and woke up to frost on the ground which was much different than sleeping super hot outside of our sleeping bags the previous day near Sedona. However, we loved the area so much that we immediately booked a tiny home that they had on the property for 2025 when our Havasu trip was rescheduled. We planned to use it as a recovery day from traveling and to get out of the work mindset, to relax and unwind and cook yummy food, and to get a small active recovery hike in before the big one in a few days time. …Which leads us to the here and now! The owners of the property have made this place 100% one to remember. It has been just as amazing as last time and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to stay here again. The tiny home was perfect and since no one was in the other unit they even upgraded us to a bigger one! Which ended up working great for the space we needed to organize our gear and hang out for a while. If you’re wanting to check out what they offer, check out their site at thetinyhomeinn.com! Although the weather could have been slightly warmer so I could have stayed on the hammock longer (boo!) I still got to enjoy it for a little while and we were able to immerse ourselves in the beauty of Humphreys Peak which we hiked last time as well. Check out these incredible views just a 1 minute walk from our spot!! Not only could we enjoy the sunrise, (check out one of the pics above to see the sunrise from the bedroom!) sunset, and mountain nearby on this property, but they have also allowed us into another magical place nearby just a short hike away. Sycamore Canyon is an underrated Arizona bucket list place in my opinion. It’s vast and wondrous just like its bigger sister only a few hours away, but I’ve never heard anything about it until coming here! While the spot they mention that you can go to is quite perfect with its swimming hole and epic scenery with the rocks and pines, I challenge you to check out the rest of the canyon as well if you ever make it here. (Which you totally should). We decided to keep going and did about a 5 mile trek mid morning when it was warmer and crisp. This is my absolute favorite kind of hiking weather. Cool enough that I’m not super sweaty, but warm enough that I’m not shivering the entire time. I thought it was cool that these rock piles were kind of like the same idea as the cairns you see out in Sedona and other areas with the red rock and less vegetation. Also, check out this neat bone we stumbled upon during our hike! *Did you know? Mineral precipitates, such as salts, present in the soil matrix may crystalize on the bone surface resulting in calcium carbonate encrustations, which may bleach the bone causing a white discoloration. According to Google…A bone that is completely bleached white throughout, meaning even on the inside, indicates that it has been heated to a high temperature (over 600°C) for a sufficient time, burning away all organic matter like collagen, fats, and proteins, rather than being a measure of its age. 🧐 Why We Prepped Early for the Havasupai Falls Backpacking Trip Once we were back from the hike, we got our gear ready for the upcoming trip by placing everything on the floor from our luggage and organizing it into the backpacks. (Which we decided we would be doing FIRST next time, due to spending less time organizing while on vacay!) We also realized that if we would have packed the backpacks before leaving home, that we would likely have packed less clothes due to recognizing that we needed less than we actually brought. Supes annoying. *eye roll* I always have a tendency to overpack but I’ve been getting probably 10% better with every trip. If you worry about over packing or overthinking your items needed for an upcoming
Havasu Falls Hike Preparation: Our Backpacking To-Do List
Hey friends! Soon, we will be soaring across the skies again on our way to sunny Arizona. This will be our fourth time in the last few years because we just love it so much! It’s one of my favorite states at this point in my life because of the sunshine, epic views, and different scenery we get to experience from Sedona to the Grand Canyon to Flagstaff! Today I wanted to touch base on what our weeks (and months) leading up to trips like this look like, because although it is still a vacation, a TON of preparation needs to go into it to ensure all plans run smoothly especially on a trip like a Havasu Falls hike. Shall we?! Prep and Planning for the Havasu Falls Hike and Other Adventures So before we even know where we’re going, we usually apply for multiple permits to places that are nearby one another just in case we end up getting all of them so we can hit them up at the same time! Then, once permits are approved (or not approved, boo!), we create the rest of our travel plans from there. This time though, we knew where we were going since early last year when we got permits for the one and only Havasu Falls. If you’re not sure what this is, I highly recommend checking out some pics online because it is a sight to behold, and one I’m very grateful that we soon get to see in person! We were scheduled for our Havasu Falls hike for September of last year, until the tragic 2024 flash flood wiped out most of the area only 2 weeks before our trip. It was a unexpected but we readjusted and made plans around the area anyway. We still had a wonderful time and I actually enjoyed just winging it! Check out this post if you’re up for hearing about our trek up Humphrey’s Peak! We actually found a place outside Flagstaff to camp for one of the nights, and loved it so much that we booked a tiny home there to prep for our way down into the canyon this time! We’re going to use the first two days to prepare hearty meals, make sure we have everything we need for our 4 day backpacking adventure into the Grand Canyon (where Havasu Falls is at), and enjoy some peace and quiet before being surrounded by 374 permits per day that are accepted there! Luckily, we were able to snag an early morning flight, and although it’ll suck getting up around 1:30am, it’ll be amazing to touch down in Phoenix right after breakfast! (Matt’s Big Breakfast in Scottsdale is usually our go-to!) We will then have the entire day to grab our rental car, find good food, enjoy our few hours drive, gear up at the REI in Flagstaff and checkout any cool stops along the way. Then when we check into our tiny home, we can just take one whole day to simply chill and prep before hitting the trail a few days later. On the third day, we are heading to a boutique hotel in Seligman, Arizona. This is one of the closest places you can get to the entrance for the hike. We’ll need to grab our permits and head out early so we can beat the heat of the sun as we descend into the canyon. Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? Have you hiked it? What’re your thoughts if so? Would you go back? Gear, Prep, and Post-Trail Recovery Once we’re there, we will live out of our Osprey backpacks for 4 days and 3 nights. We are loving our 48 liter Eja and Exos which carry everything we need for our trips thus far. This is probably the part I’m most excited about. We’ll be grabbing a bear canister at that previously mentioned REI and some dehydrated meals for this part of the trip, and using water from the sole water source once we get to camp. (From what we read online, there is only one area to get potable water from). *Potable water, also known as drinking water, is water that is safe and suitable for human consumption, meeting standards for purity and freedom from contaminants. I’m most eager for this part because I love being off grid and away from the notification world. Although there will be hundreds of people traveling to the same area at the same time, it’s still immersed in nature and living outdoors which is something I truly can’t get enough of. If you’d like to hear more about how this trip went, check back in the next few weeks to hear a post that goes into more detail about how everything worked out! 🙂 As for today’s post, we’re simply covering how we prepare and execute a week long backpacking-centered trip (in this case Havasu Falls), so let’s get into more of that. Once we make our way back out of the canyon, we’ll most likely be stinky, muddy, and sweaty. Ew. We are hopeful to complete our backpacking early on in the day before the sun comes up too much, and get on the road to the next adventure. (This time, being the hotel we have booked in Phoenix!) This is something we make sure to include at the end of any long hiking trail. ESPECIALLY if said hiking trail includes any backpacking. We learned quickly after exiting the Bright Angel Trail that we would need much more than just half of one day to recover before flying back home and working the next day. Not only does this allow us more recovery time, but it also gives us time and space to reorganize our messy packs, wash off any lingering dirt or mud before reorganizing our luggage, and showering like, a BUNCH so we can get back to smelling like our normal selves. After at least two days
Calling All Women! How Introducing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Can Be Life-Changing
Hello to my girlies and ladies of the internet! When I saw the Tapout brand worn across chests throughout school growing up, never did I ever think that I would become a part of the “tap out” community. This brand was founded in 1997 by a few who noticed martial arts merch was no where to be found. I didn’t know much about it back then, but now that I am fully immersed in the martial arts world. I understand the obsession to rep what you love and to support the founders in their dream of introducing more MMA merchandise into the population. As a sport focused on heavily by men, I would like to address that women can be a big part of it as well. I’m here to tell you a little more of my own experiences today in hopes that just one more woman will be inspired enough to give Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a try. Let’s get after it! What Does BJJ Stand For? I began training BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) with my husband approximately 2.5 years ago. Since then, I’ve developed a whole new understanding about myself in more ways than one. I noticed significant improvement in both my mental and physical health. I move better, I learn better, and I recover better. (Because if I don’t, I 100% notice the difference in my game). If you’ve ever played sports you’ll know that some people have more of a competitive spirit than others. I can’t help but be one of the ones more interested in competing. So when I found out a few days in that competing was an eventual option, I was hooked. In the past I used to focus on growth in my game because of that goal, but eventually it started to become a part of my lifestyle. I shoot for training at least 2 days a week. 3 when I can make it (because your girls got to work), and 4 or more when I’m feeling extra awesome. Balancing Life and BJJ: Pushing and Pausing When Necessary Over time, I tended to forget about the competing goals. I focused more on just making it to class enough to continue growing my knowledge in the jiu jitsu world. Eventually, I realized that I need to flow with the cycles of life. When I can go hard for a few weeks, I need to embrace it, but also to acknowledge when I need to step back and take some time off. It’s a hard road finding that balance, but here we are again in learning how to create that balance around new habits in our life, which is the entire point of this whole blog. Understanding when to push or when to slow down. Feeling the human parts of you that need a break. Even if your mind is ready for more action. There’s been times since the beginning where I thought I may just stop going. If I didn’t have my husband to support my ups and downs, I may have done just that. But as a great accountability partner, he encouraged me to find that perfect flow that feels right for me. Even if it means going different times and days than him. I love to do everything together as much as possible, he’s my best friend. But unfortunately in life or in marriage, recognizing that you have different goals to grow independently is something that you are forced to face here and there, and the mental game that comes along with starting up in a combat sport like jiu jitsu is one hundred percent one of them. Why I Landed On Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu As I grew throughout these last few years, I realized more and more that if it wasn’t for BJJ, I would be a totally different person. Even though I feel like I was already on the best path forward for myself, it kind of catapulted me into the person I truly want to become. I feel alive and full of wonder when I’m there, I find focusing comes easy and pushing myself to do things I never thought I could feels exhilarating. It’s an incredible realization. Having a supportive and understanding coach is a super important part of your path as well. We trained Muy Thai for a minute at another gym nearby years before finally taking the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu leap as a way to incorporate more fun into our relationship instead of working everyday and then coming home to sit on the couch for hours. It’s really important for us to stay active and in charge of our days instead of succumbing to new shows or scrolling on the internet (unless you’re reading some awesome blog like HB). 🙂 <3 Find Your Fit At the previous gym, we didn’t feel supported in our personal goals. Or even feel like we were an actual part of the community there, so when they adjusted the hours and it made it harder to get there on time, we decided to opt out of continuing on that path. Years later when we were having a discussion on our fun moments, BJJ was brought back up and we decided to look for a new gym right then and there. We found a new one right down the road that had just opened up and I called right away. From the start, our coach was incredible to talk to, clearly loving what he does and giving that sense of community we so desired from day one. It felt like we were supposed to find this place, so we signed up and got after it. Starting was hard. You know nothing and get humbled every single time you do anything at all. It sucks, but it also teaches so much discipline, humility, and patience. I absolutely love it. I know now at this point that I will never quit, it’s become part of me, and even if it
Why Staying True To Natural Intentions Can Allow Room For Personal Growth
Hey guys. I’ve been wanting to say thank you for some time now, but today just felt like the right day, so, here we are. If you’re wondering why I’m saying thank you, it’s because I genuinely appreciate each and every single human being that travels digitally to follow along this journey with me while learning how to balance our habits. Every day seems to get a little more interesting and a little less of a struggle with the adulting world of self-exploration, so I wanted to show my gratitude today by embracing the community that we are all a true part of. <3 Passions and Personal Growth Sometimes life feels weird and gets you in uncomfy situations. It catapults you up and down like a rollercoaster and makes you continuously question why you’ve made the steps you have to get into the next phase of this life. But only when you begin to absorb those daily lessons and apply them with gratitude, do you begin to view things in a different light. What is your current uncomfy situation? Let’s talk about that in the comments if you’re open to sharing. Recently on HB’s facebook page I asked what topics you’re most interested in learning about. It was amazing to see just how many people would like to hear more about topics related to travel. I am 110% game for that being that travel is one of my most favorite things to do. However. I also want to stay true to HB’s true intentions on this blog, which is self-development, personal growth, and finding our true passions along this journey of life. And because of that, those will be sprinkled in along the way as well. Because without growth, without passion and development, we cannot truly embrace and experience all of that which travel can really bring us. Here are my top 5 current passions if you’re wondering: Travel (Enjoying all of earth’s natural beauty and putting this on my to-do list as often as possible) Competing in BJJ (Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and reigniting my competitive spirit) (new post on this to come if there’s any ladies out there looking for some inspo!) Hiking (Staying active in nature and soaking up natural vitamin D more often) Mental Health (Maintaining the foundation and allowing more room for growth) Physical Growth (Pushing my boundaries physically) What are your top 5 passions? (These cannot include family/friends/pets/etc). Related: Looking Internally – Rediscovering Your Why & Why It’s So Important To Growth Attitude of Gratitude Without creating situations in our lives that create discomfort, we are forced to stay stagnant and uncomfortable in a whole different sense. Discomfort that eventually will bring disease and doubt in ourselves to stay the course once we’ve dug ourselves too deep in a hole that we need help getting out of. Habitual Balance isn’t just about feeling good on the outside while we travel the world or hike in nature, it’s also about feeling good inside, and knowing when to put yourself first instead of grinding and grinding until you come in dead last. It’s okay to be selfish when it comes to your mental and physical health. It’s okay to be kind to your mind and enjoy a restorative day instead of venturing out in the world of people. So I want you to focus more often on realizing your deepest intentions and finding what fears you’re facing so that you can confront them and move into the next chapter of your life. Being human is incredible, we have a million and one things to be thankful for every moment we breathe. Here is what I’m thankful for from you: Being supportive of this personal growth Feeling supported along your own path Engaging with the HB community and connecting with others who share the same mindset Being in the drivers seat of your own awareness and understanding of what needs accomplished Recognizing how to keep an open mind while you browse through another’s journey online I started this blog because I not only feel the desire to help another like-minded soul embrace their own journey, but to also keep myself accountable and updated on how I’ve been or how I am currently feeling on my own path. I want to share my story so that others like you know they are not alone on what they’re going through. Habitual Balance is About Community Growth Too There are so many false positives in the world today with social media knocking at our screens 159 times per day (yes, that’s an actual statistic), that we have to wonder what is truly real anymore. Who is actually happy on the other end of that screen and how many individuals are actually going through something traumatic but are too fearful to share it with their “peers” on their following? I want to be real with you guys. To be empathetic to your own stories and want you to be able to fully embrace mine. I want you to feel seen and for myself to feel seen through the eyes of others going through so many of the same things. So often we judge someone on their external appearance (through real life or through a filtered screen), that we mistakenly never notice when they are actually reaching out for help. Habitual Balance is not only about reaching balance in your habits, but also about how to sense when your community is in need and what you can do to lend a helping hand. Self-growth is both inward and outward personal growth. They are one in the same. Meaning that it’s okay to be selfish and focus on your own growth, but try to not leave others in the dust at the same time. Remember who they are to you and how they’ve helped you get to be the you that you are today. We are nothing without our community. Did you catch that? It is okay to
Here’s A Few Ideas On Where You Should Start Your Backpacking Adventures
So, you’re fed up with mediocre adventures and are ready to step it up in the hiking world. I see you. No matter if you’re ready to conquer small or big backpacking trips, I wanted to drop in today to talk about my favorite ways to prepare for them, as well as list off a handful of my favorite trails to do so! I swear I could add dreads to my hair tomorrow and go for days out into the wilderness. Give me a water filter and a JetBoil and I’ll be good to go. Being fully immersed into nature’s beauty is more than ever at the top of my priority list. I’m all in for making my days easier, more colorful and fuller with any adventure outdoors that I can get my toes in. Where do you stand? Childhood Hikes to Adult Backpacking Exploration I never grew up backpacking or having backpacking adventures. I didn’t even have a single clue about what it was until maybe 5-7 years ago. (I can’t remember the exact date we shopped for backpacks, but I do recall the exciting experience of fitting and finding the perfect pack. More about how to fit a pack later in the post!) When I would go hiking with my parents as a toddler and adolescent, and as a young adult with my friends, I absolutely loved every minute of it. Looking back, I actually don’t think I realized just how much it was a genuinely loved part of my life. I remember distinctly this one memory as a 15/16 year old. I had this tiny child sized colorful backpack that I stuffed full of peanut butter sandwiches (hold the jelly, please), and smarties. (Two of my favorite snacks to this day). My best friend and I actually stayed up all night so that we didn’t miss the sunrise. This has to be one of the first sunrises I actually remembering being present with and enjoying. It’s an amazing thing, our human memory, isn’t it? My Tiny House We started out of my playhouse (a cool little mini house that was more like a shed that my dad built for me near our home), early when the sun was rising. I can still feel that memory so strongly that I could paint you a picture of looking into my tiny home to make sure I remembered everything, pulling the door knob closed after I shut off the fan, and looking out to the east where the most beautiful colors began coming up on the horizon between the woods. I remember smiling to myself as we stepped off the porch into the shale, and started up the logging road to the beautiful nature behind my childhood home. Only now can I recognize what an important part of this life that memory would be. If I had to choose a specific time and place where I truly felt in tune with my hiking aura, it would have to be this morning. Although I have a ton of memories hiking with my parents beforehand, for some reason, going out on my own (with my friend of course), felt truly like it was the first of many to come as an individual. I love that memory. Do you have something similar? At the time I didn’t realize I’d actually been halfass “backpacking.” I had even remembered to bring a safety and first aid kit, besides the snacks and water that I carried in my pack for my friend and I. We trekked out a ways until it felt like far enough, gathered some sticks and started a teeny tiny fire. I enjoyed my sandwiches around the smell of the fire (my all-time favorite smell to this day, ESPECIALLY in the morning), and made sure it was out before heading back down the trail. We were gone for hours. That was the longest of my hikes at that time, something I wish I would have made an effort to do more often as I grew into adulthood. Where To Start and the Lessons I Learned So aside from the sappy teeny me story, it’s that time in the post to share some tidbits about where and how you may consider starting your own backpacking journey. Let’s get into that. I mentioned that about 5-7 years ago is really where it began to transform my adult life. It was at this time that my husband and I decided to start to travel more (for adventure, not for relaxation). We were out in Arizona with our day packs (actually, I believe we had just camelbacks at the time, pssh, newbs…) and trekked down into the Grand Canyon a bit past Skeleton Point on the South Kaibab trail. I knew we could keep going, but knowing the dangers of the Canyon that a lot of people ignore, we made the choice to turn around and try again the next year with better preparation and training. We also booked Angels Landing in Zion National Park (for a daytrip) in Utah the year after. We had Havasupai Falls scheduled as well, but with the flash flood that came through, caused us to reschedule (for two weeks from now, actually, yay!). (Check out the videos below to get a glimpse of the before and after). And we just finished backpacking the Napali Coast in Kauai this past December. Since then, we’ve learned that getting permits is hella hard, backpacking can be intimidating if you don’t plan properly, and preparing your body for carrying 30-40 pounds up a crap ton of elevation is MUCH harder than it looks on paper. Check Out AllTrails for Your Adventure Therefore, I recommend starting out small. Get the AllTrails app and find some fun trails near you that you can practice on. Check out your nearest outdoor store to get fitted for a pack, (something else I never realized you had to do!). Our favorite store is REI, but if there are none near your city,