View Full Version : Hike to Supai
Shutterbug
07-09-2007, 02:23
A couple of months ago, Backpacker Magazine had an article about Supai. The article made things on the Havasupai Reservation sound really bad. I just got back from a three day visit to Supai and I am of the opinion that things aren't nearly as bad as the article suggested.
My pictures from the hike to Supai are posted on my web site:
http://www.davemcclung.com/album/thumbnails.php?album=112
I have not read the BP piece but visited Supai in Feb. 06, absolutely wonderful place. There was lots of litter and the CG was completely unkept. But the beauty of the entire place was astounding. The residents were not very friendly but the service people were great. I would go back anytime! Great job on the photos!
The Weasel
07-09-2007, 11:46
Since it's not a huge long distance from me (Calif coast), I read the BP article with great care, also. Non-Indians don't realize that when they step into a reservation, they step, for a lot of purposes, outside the United States, since tribal laws control over many state (but not federal) laws. So I'm still pretty leery of going onto a reserve of a small, troubled, unfriendly tribe with a still-unresolved (suspect in custody) murder of a hiker.
Beautiful, but there are other places, too.
The Weasel
Beautiful, but there are other places, too.
The Weasel[/QUOTE]
I've never seen a more beautiful place it was worth the walk. Any details on the murder?
Shutterbug
07-09-2007, 13:19
Beautiful, but there are other places, too.
The Weasel
I've never seen a more beautiful place it was worth the walk. Any details on the murder?[/quote]
The story of the murder is detailed in the Backpacker article. A young, female visitor to the village was murdered. It is appropriate to refer to her as a "hiker" because she hiked to reach the village. It isn't clear that she was hiking at the time of her murder. A young, male resident of the village has been arrested and charged with the murder.
When I visited the village, I had an opportunity to visit with a social worker who was working in the village. She was a young single woman. She said that she is not afraid to visit the village on a frequent basis. She said that the high level of frustration in the village leads to a good bit of domestic violence, but rarely any inappropriate conduct toward visitors. In her opinion the Backpacker article (she had read it) exaggerated the risk involved in visiting the village.
Located that issue in the mail pile that I have yet to go through since my last section hike. Very interesting and on the money. The one thing that astounded me was the presence of satillite TV on almost every home. I also remember feeling a little uncomfortable but never really afraid. Still an awesome place to visit.
The Weasel
07-10-2007, 12:09
Beautiful, but there are other places, too.
The Weasel
I've never seen a more beautiful place it was worth the walk. Any details on the murder?[/quote]
Yeah, a lot in the Backpacker article. It might be in their website, backpacker.com
The Weasel
Dirtygaiters
07-12-2007, 12:40
I visited Supai in 2003. The locals seemed quite friendly, and it seemed like a nice town to me. One murdered visitor and one criminal hauled away isn't going to keep me from going back.