Product Description
- 5 Day Primitive Survival & Camping Adventure.
- Expert Primitive Survival Instruction, Comfortable Low-tech Camping.
- Guided Hikes Through Some of the Grand Canyon’s Most Breathtaking Spots
- All necessary permits, gear and meals provided.
- Must be age 14 or older.
Join up to 9 other students and three staff members for 5 days to experience Havasupai falls natural and cultural wonders on one of the most the unique primitive living experiences found anywhere in the world. Leaving the high-tech, modern world behind, you explore the desert washes, mountain trails, and breathtaking mineral blue streams and waterfalls of the Grand Canyon with little more than a knife, a water bottle, and a blanket. You can’t get much more immersed in the natural world than on this course.
Camping Style & Equipment: As the purpose of this 5 day adventure course is to foster development of primitive skills and an intimate connection with your natural surroundings, there is a decided emphasis on using renewable, natural resources to meet basic living needs. Tents, backpacks and many other “required” pieces of outdoor equipment are replaced with their low-tech counterparts: a tarp, a bedroll, etc. This allows students to get some real dirt time living the “know more, carry less” philosophy and exploring how traditional cultures lived comfortably without all the modern gadgets (which are not allowed on our courses).
Meals: Meal-time will be an adventure all its own as students learn to cook gourmet in a low-tech open fire environment. Meals are healthy, well balanced, delicious, and cooked from scratch using the finest ingredients. Campers with dietary restrictions can usually be accommodated if you advise us in advance.
Skills Covered: Traditional living skills cover during the 5 day trip will include primitive fire construction, desert ecology & travel, campsite selection, “leave no trace” ethics, trail hygiene, shelter location and construction techniques, water location and purification, nature observation skills, and basic edible & medicinal plants.
Age: Because of the physical aspect of our adventure courses, students younger than 14 are not allowed. All students under 18 must be accompanied by a Parent or Legal Guardian.
Itinerary:
April 9th (Day 1): Early Start from Hualapai (Walapai) Hilltop parking lot. All participants MUST BE AT THE PARKING LOT no later than 7:30 AM July 14th. You will find lodging recommendations in your pre-trip information packet to help you find lodging nearby if desired. We’ll then start our breathtaking hike down into the majestic Grand Canyon towards our base camp, a distance of about 10 miles from Hualapai (Walapai) Hilltop to our camping area. After arrival, we’ll set up camp and take a well-deserved rest in among some of the most beautiful country you’ll ever lay eyes on.
April 10th-12th (Days 2-4): So much to do! We’ll work on primitive skills throughout our stay and explore some of the nearby wonders of the Grand Canyon including world-class swimming in the Southwest’s most famous waterfalls, as well as stunning day hikes to explore places like Beaver Falls, Fifty Foot Falls, Rock Falls and Carbonite Canyon.
April 13th – (Day 5): After a good night’s sleep and a look around Supai Village, we’ll head back on up the trail at a good pace until we reach our cars and say our goodbyes after an unforgettable trip.
Equipment & Meals: All necessary camping equipment and meals will be provided. We’ll give you a packing list for what to wear and additional items you may wish to bring on your own.
Physical Requirements: This adventure course provides, among many other things, a physical test for its students. Students hike over the rugged terrain a distance of over 10 miles on the first and last days of the trip and there are plenty of shorter, but physically demanding hiking opportunities during other days of the course as well. As this adventure can be quite physically challenging, California Survival School REQUIRES THAT ALL ADVENTURE COURSE APPLICANTS UNDERGO A COMPLETE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND RECEIVE THEIR PHYSICIAN’S APPROVAL IN WRITING PRIOR TO FINAL ACCEPTANCE ON THE COURSE. Please keep in mind, despite your physician’s approval and California Survival Schools ‘s acceptance of you on the course, there are no guarantees. Health and participation risks (inherent and otherwise) remain. It’s up to you and your physician to determine if one of our courses is an appropriate choice. All participants must be aware of these risks and accept them. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Additional Information: When you register for a hiking trip you will receive an information packet that covers all the major details of planning for this trip (i.e. – How to get here, pre and post-trip nearby lodging recommendations, packing lists, etc.) If you have any additional questions, please email us at info@casurvival.com.
Minimum Attendance Requirement: Due to the costs of putting on such a unique event, this trip will not run if a minimum number of attendees has not been reached 30 days prior to the planned trip date. For this trip, the minimum number of attendees is 6 people. If you sign up and a trip is cancelled due to low attendance, you will be notified at least 21 days prior to the trip start date and will receive the option to reschedule for a later trip or receive a full refund.
