Yesterday afternoon I explored my backyard which takes me through the forest to the rim of Transept Canyon on the North Rim.
The previous night at sunset I’d seen the light through the trees and shining on a building. Plus if you look closely a Mule deer browsing.
Turns out to be the old unused mule barn. I live nearby the wranglers who lead mule rides a little ways into the canyon on the North Kaibab Trail.
A social trail runs past it into the forest skirting a small gully. The forest floor is carpeted with crispy needles. No snow around and it’s dry. Of course it’s suppose to snow tomorrow.
Then I’m headed towards Transept Canyon.
I saw a few plants flowering along the way. The yellow Barberry also known as Mahoney and Oregon Grape. Plus the tiny Lousewort.
The Gambel Oak hasn’t started to leaf out yet and completely obstruct the view.
I didn’t go far along the Transept Trail as a chill wind blew. The wind in the pines sounds like waves crashing on the shore. But gusts, like today’s predicted up to 55mph, brings pine cones down with mighty force. Very startling on an RV roof. Also a possibility of snow tonight.
Then found were the social trail returned me to the barn and home. Look closely and you can see my RV through the trees to the right.
A huge snag behind my RV appears to house quite a few birds. I fleetingly saw, and heard, a couple different woodpeckers. Robins hoping around. A hummingbird zinged by. Stellar Jays flitting about. I’m going to have to practice photographing birds.
I love the peace and quiet that occurs before the North Rim is open to the public.
I am sure it will be anything quiet and peaceful when we arrive. I hate crowds but it did not seem like we had a lot of choice, presumably it is busy all the time it is open. We could not even book the days we wanted as it was already full then! Never mind I will ignore the crowds and just enjoy 🙂 Keep well Diane
Although it’s busy all summer there are many places to find tranquility on the North Rim.
Beautiful pictures of your new backyard. Looks like you might get beautiful sunsets over Transcept canyon. Hope you get that snow. Dry is not good. Over 900 acres burned from a human started fire in Shenandoah. Rain finally predicted for Wednesday nearly 10 days after it started. Fingers crossed. So sad to see the forest I hiked in last year gone.
Looking gray this morning, so although I don’t like the white stuff I’m crossing fingers it falls. I read about that fire in Shenandoah. We’ve already had a couple human caused fires in AZ as well. Idiots.
It looks like a great site to spend the summer. I could hear the breezes through the trees and smell the pine while I read your post and looked at your photos.
Thanks. It’s going to be an awesome season.
Beautiful backyard for several months:) I will enjoy watching it green up through your eyes. I imagine these weeks before the North Rim opens are just wonderful. A National Park with all its beauty without people…doesn’t get much better:)
I love being here when we’re not open. It’s like I really do own the park.
You surely captured the ambience of the forest. Quite beautiful!
Thanks Lynda.
I think your new site looks pretty nice. So are you able to post from the comfort of your own home?
Sometimes I have a signal at home and sometimes not.
Loved living over there. Say to the wranglers for us. Have a great season😀!
I’ll pass along your “Hi”s.
Say hi I mean.
I wasn’t familiar with the term “social trail,” so I had to look it up. When I was a lot younger, we just called any path throught the woods, even if there weren’t any cows in the area, a cow path 🙂
I like social trail. The next tme we go hiking I’ll impress the Mrs with my expanded vocabulary – haha, if I remember it after today!
Glad to add to your vocabulary.
Even at the busiest of times, the North Rim seems peaceful to me. It’s easy to slip away from the people and find solitude. Not the case at the South Rim.
That is the secret to the North Rim. Don’t tell anybody. 😉
It really is lovely. I too had never heard the term ‘social trail’. Most intereting.
Love the tiny flowers in the giant woods. We may get rained out of our visit to the tower tomorrow, but I’d rather we get the moisture. How amazing to have that location as home, especially in this pre-season time 🙂
If it’s raining at the South Rim I hope you get to see inversion in the canyon because it’s Awesome.