Feeling settled in and unpacked in my 5th-wheel home and the camper is back on the truck so it must be time to get back on the road again. I drive up to Grand Canyon’s south rim Thursday and meet Bill. Just can’t get enough of that big ditch.
Made reservations for the 4th Grand Canyon History Symposium in August. Check in Friday November 4th from 5-7pm followed by a special evening presentation about the WPA Park Posters by Doug Leen. Saturday there is a full agenda of 16 presenters and another special evening program called Grand Canyon’s Fifty Finest Features presented by Gary Ladd. Subjects range from Native American stories, photography, botany, architecture, river running and more. Then Sunday from 9-11am Lyle Balenquah and Jason Nez will lead a special tour. Plus Saturday historic boats will be displayed outside the Shrine of Ages.
Friends have offered parking and we can use Bill’s truck and the shuttles to get around. I’m really excited about this learning opportunity. Four years ago I attended this symposium and learned a lot at this “gathering of professional and avocational historians who will speak about historical topics specific to Grand Canyon National Park. The goals of the symposium are to increase the knowledge and understanding of the history pertaining to the Grand Canyon and adjacent areas, and to promote communication and sharing among canyon historians, writers and enthusiasts.”
Then Monday we’re off to Page for the water release at Glen Canyon Dam beginning at 10am. This is the fourth high-flow experiment “to move sand stored in the river channel and redeposit it to rebuild eroded sandbars and beaches downstream of the Paria River in Grand Canyon National Park.”
That night we plan to camp at the Glen Canyon Dam National Recreation Area Lone Rock beach along Lake Powell.
Tuesday we’ll go to Lee’s Ferry below the dam and see what the water flow looks like from there.
This should also include a stop at Navajo Bridge where we might get lucky and see a California Condor, or two. Plus the Rio de Colorado should be running true to form as a River of Red.
BTW, Veteran’ Day November 11 is a Fee Free day to all National Parks. Personally, I have a Senior Geezer Pass so go free every day. How about you? Which park will you visit?
Have fun and learn a lot, Gaelyn. Should be a perfect time to visit without all the tourists! I’d love to be at Lake Powell about now. Take lots of photos.
Thanks Barb. I’m hoping it won’t be too crowded.
I miss gatherings of experts discussing fascinating topics – this one sounds really interesting!! Lovely photos of the water in the desert.
Sort of like going to Ranger talks. Water is such a special gift in the desert.
We love our geezer National Park Pass. Funny thing is, after we got it we paid to enter a couple of parks before we remembered we had the pass! Boy did we feel stupid! 🙂
Thanks for supporting Our national parks.
Nice condor photo! I see them sometimes at Pinnacles National Park and get the occasional photo but never from that angle. Very cool.
Thanks Shane. I am usually terrible at birds so this one was lucky.
Sounds like a wonderful weekend. Looking forward to your sharing all you learned:) Enjoy your vacation!
Thanks Pam. I’m feeling more than ready for a road trip.
Have a great trip and enjoy it all. Please send me a photo of the Condor we did not get to see :-))) Take care and be safe. Best wishes to Bill. Diane and Nigel.
Hopefully I will see condors and you’ll get your pic. All the best to both of you.
I would love to attend that symposium. Sounds really wonderful. Hope you’ll post some highlights of it. Have to admit I’m pretty anti Glen Canyon Dam but your next two photos are really lovely and what a condor picture. Fantastic!
The last symposium was awesome and I’m sure to post about it. You know I don’t approve of the dam either but the water release is a good thing.
oh we’ve had those geezer passes for a long long time and they are the best bargain we’ve ever gotten. Even though we don’t use them much in the summer/fall these days. If only they came with a magic carpet….
The symposium sounds very exciting; it is always good to learn — curious if you got a discount or tuition (whatever word i mean) paid because of your work. You should.
i’m glad they are at least releasing some of the water; that should be an amazing sight.
Half the work is getting there. No discount for the symposium but didn’t really cost that much and we’re camping for free at a fellow Ranger’s place.
Sounds like a great trip! Look forward to your photos of the water release.
We’ll be in your neck of the woods this weekend at the SKP park in Congress.
How long will you be in Congress? I should be back in the area next Tues/Wed.