Thunder boomed as I hurried down the Cape Royal trail with a little girl my shadow if there’d been sunshine. She asked excitedly if I’d be giving my geology talk and that she didn’t want to get struck by lightning as she clutched her Junior Ranger book. I needed to see where the storm was headed and was surrounded by junipers and pinyons until I reached the end of the .3 mile trail. No rain yet fell but I could smell it coming. The storm was headed towards us coming fast from the southwest as the monsoon thunderstorms do. I snapped a few photos, almost tripping on my shadow. As I paused near the rim a group of nervous yet inquisitive visitors gathered around me and my new friend. Then I noticed the short hairs on her head stand out from the gathering static electricity in the air and told her to move away from the rail. I told everyone to head back to the parking lot and they wanted to know if I’d still give the geology talk so I told them to gather by the small cluster of bathrooms. Wouldn’t be the first toity talk I’ve given. As I hurried back towards the parking lot I stopped people from continuing down the trail and recommended they wait about 25 minutes when the storm would likely pass. It was barely raining so I gave the talk in the parking lot. An exciting day on the Walhalla Plateau watching lighting at Grand Canyon.
To view skies from around the world go to Sky Watch Friday.
Gorgeous. And beautiful also. 🙂 Actually there are no words to describe the beauty. It has to be seen.
Beautiful shots of the rain and lightning. Very dramatic. You should enter your photos in contests.
Thanks!
Lightning is beautiful but very dangerous.
You got some good shots! I bought a Lightning Striker this summer. You put it on the hotshoe on your camera, set the necessary settings, and it detects lighting just before it strikes and takes a series of photos. I’m waiting for a storm….
Wonderful shots of exciting weather and sky!
Beautiful shots! I love the feeling of an impending storm,all the activity in the air!
I love the photos Gaelyn! The little girl will remember you – and your talk.
Cool capture of the lightning strikes. I had a friend that was knock to the ground from a lightning strike, it can be very scary. Awesome photos. Happy skywatching!
You captured some amazing lightning shots. How many people would know the signs to move and not becoming human lightning rods? Not many, it sounds. Good thing they have you to watch out for them.
Right on!! That lightening series is amazing. You are one lucky devil…..how you got the pics while keep the troups happy and safe makes for a fun story:) What a beautiful place to teach people about nature….and as for the bathrooms….a little potty talk to go with the rocks always makes for fascinating lecture. Thanks for sharing those pics!
Nicely captured. We visited the south rim this year and words simply cannot describe this wonder of creation.
Captured beautifully! Happy sky watching and a great weekend too.
Your comment on my Sky Shot will be greatly appreciated.
Sensational shots 😀
Great post. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wollreflections
Holy heavens! People are willing to risk getting struck by lightning to hear your lecture! Super ranger! And you take beautiful beautiful pictures.
I LOVE lightning. And I LOVE the Grand Canyon. Both are so powerful and so beautiful. But I’ve never seen them together. Thank you so much for these gorgeous photographs. Blessings to you as you smell the rain.
Such great captures of the lightning storm! What an experience for your lucky geology group….
That would be exciting! Great lightning shots. We got caught in a sudden shower up in Idaho last week and I forgot what it was like seeing the storm coming, being in the storm, and then watching it move on up the valley.
You must have a quick shutter finger…. or a auto “light switch”
Very cool.
Mark in Lovely Ouray, Colorado
Beautiful shots Gaelyn. Glad everyone still had there talk. Hope all well there. Diane
That’s quite the capture! I like how you can see the rain coming down as well.
One day I’m going to see this wonderful place.
Amazing pictures, wow. I’ve never been able to take lightning pics with my camera. It just has too much of a lag
This little girl will remember I am sure this summer all her life. What an experience for everyone especially when you have, as a visitor, an expert with you.