Better enlarge these to get the full effect.
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Southeast to southwest view of the South Rim from Cape Royal
Today I went out on the Walhalla Plateau and gave a geology talk at Cape Royal while keeping an eye on the sky. This storm swept across the South Rim from west to east in a show of thunder and lightning for over an hour. I’ll bet the temperature dropped at least 10-15 degrees F as the wind increased. I was so excited! The energy was high, lots of negative ions. Yet on the North Rim, we felt no rain. I took over 50 photos trying to catch lightning, yet it’s so quick and I’m so slow. I lost count of how many strikes. One hit the wall of the canyon with a flash of fire.
Today I went out on the Walhalla Plateau and gave a geology talk at Cape Royal while keeping an eye on the sky. This storm swept across the South Rim from west to east in a show of thunder and lightning for over an hour. I’ll bet the temperature dropped at least 10-15 degrees F as the wind increased. I was so excited! The energy was high, lots of negative ions. Yet on the North Rim, we felt no rain. I took over 50 photos trying to catch lightning, yet it’s so quick and I’m so slow. I lost count of how many strikes. One hit the wall of the canyon with a flash of fire.
Then I tried a minuet of video.
One frame caught lightning (my first capture of it) with Wotan’s Throne in foreground
Before leaving the Cape I warned visitors, “do not to be the tallest thing standing on this rocky promontory holding the metal rail if the storm comes north. Get up that quarter mile trail as fast as you can and into your vehicles.”
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View southeast with Sky Island in foreground from Walhalla overlook
I didn’t want to leave. Yet at Walhalla overlook where I gave an archeology talk another storm was coming in from the north. I felt only 10 drops of rain while watching this veil quickly sweep to the southeast.
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View northeast and east from Point Imperial
Again, I didn’t want to leave. But after lunch I went to rove at Point Imperial where I always enjoy the vast distant views. I was greeted by another storm coming from the north along with patches of sun reflecting off the Vermillion Cliffs to the left and Echo Cliffs to the right.
One frame caught lightning (my first capture of it) with Wotan’s Throne in foreground
Before leaving the Cape I warned visitors, “do not to be the tallest thing standing on this rocky promontory holding the metal rail if the storm comes north. Get up that quarter mile trail as fast as you can and into your vehicles.”
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View southeast with Sky Island in foreground from Walhalla overlook
I didn’t want to leave. Yet at Walhalla overlook where I gave an archeology talk another storm was coming in from the north. I felt only 10 drops of rain while watching this veil quickly sweep to the southeast.
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View northeast and east from Point Imperial
Again, I didn’t want to leave. But after lunch I went to rove at Point Imperial where I always enjoy the vast distant views. I was greeted by another storm coming from the north along with patches of sun reflecting off the Vermillion Cliffs to the left and Echo Cliffs to the right.
Wow, what a day! Sure beats yesterday which I vented about on the previous post.
So that’s my exciting world today. To see more of life around the world, or to share your own,
go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.
Thank you all for your concern. I did have a second full bottle of propane to switch to. The fridge hasn’t been cooling for a week. It just does that when the temperatures rise, when it cools down outside it usually starts works again. It is an original unit in a 1977 RV. Did it all matter today? No.
Wow! What fantastic shots! Scary, but gorgeous! I would have loved to have been there to see it! Thanks for the thrill, Gaelyn!!
I see you got your panoramic thingy sorted – wonderful shot. Do you not have a continuous burst on your camera, so you can take tons of photos in seconds? Only way to catch lightning in a bottle.
Sorry to hear about your fridge and propane woes. Isn't it time for a new fridge?
Wow – you can really see the rain coming in and the storm approaching. Very thrilling!
WOW, wow, wow. Wonderful shots. I love a good storm.
Beautiful. I love a good storm. Your storms, however, are way more spectacular than mine…
Wow, Gaelyn, I've been struggling with Internet and only back (uniterrupted) this week. I read back a few of your posts. Excellent. I love the story about Brighty. And the storms – all I can say again is WOW! I have exctly one shot of lightning taken in 2004 in West Africa and I'll be posting it on SWF one day. Brilliant Sky shots as well. I love that you give a lecture yet watch the sky too! Brilliant photography. Jo (South Africa)
Gaelyn: Beautiful captures of the storm over a wonderful canyon.
Not onlt "WOW what a day" but wow what a storm too and magnificent pictures of it!! I love these Gaelyn!! Very dramatic and eye-catching. What luck to get that lightening. I have been trying to capture it without luck for many years now. 🙂 I wish it would rain here.
What beautiful memories you have captured of an amazing storm. I love where you have captured the streak of lightening – well down! It sounds quite exciting to experience something like that! Keep safe!
Whoa, you got some great shots of that storm! The third image is my favorite. It must be so exciting to be at the Grand Canyon this time of year.
Amazing! We were driving through it on the other side, quite a different perspective here.
Storm watching is exciting from a safe distance and you have captured it very well.
Very nice pano shot! Such a spectacular view! Catching lightning is hard. This is triply true in the light of day.
Watching the storm roll over the Grand Canyon is an amazing sight. Congrats on catching a flash of lightning! Thanks for sharing the views.
I love your pics. I always feel a closeness with nature when i visit here..
The rain shot is terrific!
Gaelyn, your photography is improving all the time. These photos are magnificent! How I wish I could get up there to see this place for myself! Sorry about your fridge!
Great shot, especially the third one.
What a day is right! Those are incredible storms (3 in a day???)and postcard captures. Congrats on the lightning! I'd be so jealous if I had not just gotten my first capture of it!
awesome pics you got here! I really like the 3rd picture.
My world is here
Incredible shots of the storm – all so unique. Like the rain band and the one with lightning! Great work!
This was a great show! Really a stunning view.
We had a thunderstorm last night–lasted quarter of an hour!!! Typically British–nothing very extreme!
Love your blog and I like the reminiscing meme. Thanks for showing us that. I'll join. I've a box of old photos!
Congratulations on your POTD mention at David's!
I love the photograph where half the sky is full of rain and the other half is not!
That is so wonderful to look at, the light the clouds- I want to be there.
Hope you have a good journey (4 weeks) how long time will you be gone?
/MB
great shots and enjoyed the journey through your words. felt myself waiting for the curtain to sweep across. the first shot was the finest. too cool. congrats on the POTD mention.
Those are great storm pictures. I have never captured lightning before. The sky is the only thing that can dwarf the Grand Canyon.
Beautiful! Congrats on the Post of the Day Award!
Gosh, these are pretty darn impressive!
Love the first one with the lightning!