And now for something completely different...

I think I've mentioned this previously but by day I am a mild mannered Civil Engineer. I know many of you probably have these grand visions of glamor when you think of Civil Engineers (HA!). Okay, so the reality is probably pretty close to what you REALLY imagine when you think of any engineer. I spend the majority of my time sitting at a desk designing, writing and drawing in AutoCAD. Don't get me wrong, I do love it. It just isn't the kind of job that gets me up every morning excited for the new adventures awaiting me at work. Every once in a while, though, it does get a little glamorous and last week just happened to be one of those weeks! So, even though this has nothing to do with adoption or TTC, please allow me to digress and do a little pictoral bragging :)

I've spent the majority of my 7 1/2 years of experience in the work field working for Native American Tribes mostly in the western part of the country. Primarily two Nations in northern Arizona by the Grand Canyon. The Hualapai and Havasupai Nations. In my humble opinion these Nations call home some of the most beautiful lands the continental US has to offer. The northern border of the Hualapai Reservation is none other than the majestic Grand Canyon. Have you heard of the Skywalk that goes out over the Grand Canyon? Ever taken a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon out of Las Vegas? Well, that is the Hualapai Reservation. Absolutely stunning!

The Skywalk, Grand Canyon and Colorado River

Eagle Point
(can you see the outline of the eagle taking flight in the rocks?)

The Havasupai Reservation is just to the east of the Hualapai Reservation. The Nation's main Village of Supai is located in the most gorgeous canyon I have ever seen in my life. It is called Havasu Canyon through which Havasu Creek drains to the Colorado River. The Village of Supai is not accessible by road. Instead you must either hike 9 miles in or ride a helicopter in. I've yet to hike in (I'll save that for when I take my family down there for recreational purposes) but I've enjoyed several helicopter rides in and out. If pictures are worth 1,000 words here are about 10,000 words for you to enjoy...

Pictures taken during the helicopter ride into Supai

The Village of Supai. Horses are their main source of transportation. Even the mail is brought in by mule train!

Proof that I took these pictures and did not steal them from someone else's website


The water in Havasu Creek is crystal clear with a Caribbean-esque blue green hue. Havasupai means "People of the Blue Green Waters"


A few of the falls downstream of the Village


Doesn't it kind of look like The Land of the Lost? (my boss' description that I agree with)

The work I do for both Nations includes the design of water and sewer transmission and treatment systems, along with floodplain mapping and flood mitigation plans. Though I have been working for both Nations for a while now I have seen only one of my designs go to construction due to the need for government funding which often stalls the projects in the feasibility phase. Here is a picture of one of them as we were about to land in Supai:

My helipads!

Disembarking

Fingers crossed we will be able to go camping in Havasu Canyon this summer! Luckily I know all about the historic floods and what months tend to be the most dangerous so we can avoid any unplanned water adventures :)

P.S. Jamie, are you not shocked to see something actually get built down there? West Water is going to construction this summer for Hualapai, too :)

P.P.S Does anyone get the reference in the title of the blog? Just curious...