Havasupai must haves: Backpacking Havasupai and staying light

If you’re hiking in, you definitely want to go as light as possible. The 10 miles down isn’t the part that will get to you, it’s the 10 miles out where you really start to question everything you brought on the trip. I was able to get a permit over Spring Break in Mid-march, so the weather was in a constant fluctuation of warm, cold and raining.

The mornings were proving to be chilly, but the days looked warm if the weather lined up right. Luckily, the night we slept at the trailhead would be the coldest and once we were at the campgrounds it didn't dip below 40 degrees. The morning hike into the campground at 4:00 AM was in the 30’s, but it quickly warmed up to a cool 65 and on our hike out the next day hit 75 with direct sunlight sunny, so making sure you were prepared for all sorts of weather was key.

Here is what I recommend bringing: (side note: I'm a big believer in shopping local, so Fayettechill and Bearded Goat will show up frequently on my gear list because they are local to Fayetteville, AR!)

Apparel: LAYER UP

• Fayettechill Hat (Keep that sun out of your face)
• The North Face Thermoball Down Jacket (Fairly compatible and really warm!)
• Kavu Flannel (Good for Layering)
• Bearded Goat Apparel Tee (Quick to dry)
• Bearded Goat Apparel Hoodie (Probably not necessary, but nice for lounging around camp)
• Marmot Arch Rock Pant (Big Fan of these! Lightweight and breathable)
• Columbia PFG Shorts (Easy to pack and dry super fast, used for hiking and swimming)
• Arcade Belt (Double as a tie down for my pack!)
• Darn Tough Wool Socks (Best socks out there in my opinion)
• The North Face Boots (Super comfy and have held up beyond expectations) 
• Chacos(Heavy, but I definitely recommend having some water shoes!)

Gear:

• Deuter 50+10 ACT Lite(Roomy and distributes weight very well)
• Grand Trunk Double Hammock (Hammock camp! No need for a tent!)
• Grand Trunk Hammock Straps
• Klymit Insulated V2 Sleeping Pad (Upgrade from your egg carton!) 
• Klymit Pillow X Large (Folds up to be smaller than my wallet!)
• REI Igneo 25 Extra Wide/Extra Long (Get a down bag to save on space) 
• Fayettechill Journeyman Dry Bag Backpack (Definitely want a dry bag for exploring) 
• Sea to Summit 10L Compression Sack(Compacts clothes and sleeping bag to a much more reasonable size) 

Food:

• Mountian House Pro Packs (Chili Mac with Beef and Biscuits & Gravy are my favs!)
• There is also local food available at the campground, so bring some cash!

This seems like a lot, which is probably was and I most likely didn't NEED all this stuff. However, I was super comfortable and prepared for all the parts of this trip, like cold weather, water crossings, and warms temps during the day. I could’ve dropped a few things, but if you can fit it and you’re not uncomfortable, why not?

I hope this helps!