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| - Used the helicopter service to leave Supai and go back up to the trail head.
It took me 4 and a half hours to hike down and the helicopter ride up took just minutes.
While the system of signing up for the helicopter rides suck (next paragraph), the ride itself was easy and no crash was involved so I give Air West 4 stars.
To get on the helicopter, was a hassle, to put it midly. I got in line at about 6am and was number 11 (the person in position number 1 got there at 2am). A sign up sheet doesn't arrive until around 9 and then you hope that people aren't complete assholes and don't try and cut in line when it comes to putting your name on that list and ($85 one way...bring cash, the credit card machine is often down and then you're screwed) and .
The helicopter starts at about 10am, but be aware that locals (and any Native American) always have priority, so even if you are number 1 on the list, that doesn't mean you're on that first ride out.
On Friday when we arrived we talked to people that got in line at 1am and were still in town at well after lunch because one of the tribe's people died and there was a funeral in Peach Springs which meant that they all got to go up before any tourist, regardless of what time they show up.
While you've been melting in the heat for hours, they get to roll out of bed at 10 (or whenever) and hop on the next ride.
When you come to Havasupai, bring your patience. You're going to need it.
The helicopter does go until sunset and holds 6 (including the driver, but sometimes there are empty trips with no passengers for cargo only).
Luckily after being bumped at least a dozen times, we arrived at the top before 1pm.
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