Dam that Havasupai. Dam it right back up.

So, this Labor Day weekend (starting tonight, actually), I was SUPPOSED to go backpacking down to the Havasupai Indian reservation, south of the Grand Canyon... 10 miles in, three days of playing in the gorgeous Havasu and Navajo Falls (never the Mooney or Beaver Falls, though, for those of you who know them--curse that crippling acrophobia of mine), and then 10 miles back out (sending my pack ahead on a mule, of course-- why suffer? Even if my tent and bag only weigh 8.4 lbs, combined?) to arrive home just in time to catch a few hours' sleep before facing The Kiddies on the First Day of School as I am barely able to walk with the inevitable horrendously stiff muscles-- (a trust-builder, that; kids like to be able to mock their teacher immediately... "Oh, how sad, she's old and single AND walks stupid.")...

But... FOILED, my plans, FOILED by an earthen dam busting. Sad, so sad. Residents and campers had to be BlackHawk airlifted out, and Havasupai is now closed "indefinitely." :( 

Above is a photo of one of the falls, Havasu Falls, in its pristine (unbelievable) state, taken by me one year and 363 days ago. Here are those same falls, comparison shots, with the flooding that resulted... (photo on the right from the web, taken by a camper there during the bust). Click on this baby to really see what's going on...

Dam. 

Oh, and p.s.... so, my NEW Labor Day plans are to blog blog blog. Well, after I raft raft raft (in the pool), that is. COMING SOON--summer recaps (not boring), a Jennie Doezie 10-Year Retrospective in honour of my (seriously??) 35th birthday, and... a BRAND NEW Doezieland title bar, ooooh. It's a Labor Day Miracle. Feliz Labor Day to you and yours.

-jd