Monsoon and Moon at Bryce Canyon National Park

I wanted to see the full moon at Bryce Canyon National Park and if cloudy I’d settle with monsoon.  Turned out I got a little bit of both.

After one night needing AC in Kanab I was ready for the cooler temperatures to be found at 8000-9000 feet at Bryce.  There was a little road construction along the way and one place conveniently caused me to stop at the German Bakery in Orderville.  It’s a pretty drive through sand dunes and red rock country.  Just outside the park Bryce Canyon City offers all the needed services like fuel, RV Parks, teepees to say in, hotels, restaurants, and groceries but I didn’t stop as I had everything I needed already.

I know two Ranger friends who work at Bryce so once I determined where they live I found a campsite in the B Loop for RVs.  Nice and level under the Ponderosa Pines (my favorite tree), table, fire-pit, but no hookups for $30/night, half with my Senior Pass.

I scoped out locations for possible moon rise by driving to the end of the road first, Rainbow Point, then stopping at the overlooks and pullouts on the right side of the road on my return.  The monsoon skies were spectacular.  And even though it cleared later for an almost full moon rise I missed that because I was at a friend’s BBQ.

That night I realized most of the photos from the day were fuzzy due to a wrong setting.  When will I learn that f/11 is my Nikon’s sweet spot.  Yet that seemed the perfect excuse to go back out the next day.

Started off at the visitor center where a GeoFest was set up outside with representation from several public lands in the area.  Inside, I found my other Ranger friend, who was my boss at Mt. St. Helens over 20 years ago when I started rangering.

Then I again drove out to Rainbow Point, took many photos, and started back.  Farview Point was my choice for a possible sighting of moon rise if the clouds went away.  So, I made dinner in the parking lot and waited.

Sadly, there was a layer of cloud on the horizon so I didn’t see the initial rise.

Sunset was pretty through the trees.

Then finally the moon rose above the clouds.

Next I drove to Sunset Point where I’d been told the bright full moon would light up the hoodoos in the amphitheater below.  I hung out for a bit but didn’t really feel like it was going to glow.  Besides it was 9pm, getting chilly, and I was tired.  So back to camp.

Spent the next afternoon visiting with my friend.  When the job announcement goes out for next summer at Bryce I’ll definitely apply.  Would be interesting to work at the top of the Grand Staircase on the Colorado Plateau.

Went to bed my last night at Bryce wondering where to go next.  I tossed, I turned, I thought about heading to Capital Reef.  Then I finally decided it was time to head back home to Yarnell.  After all I have a memorial to plan.

I certainly hope to enjoy and share more road trips this summer.  But I also have to watch the budget real closely.  You might notice something new on the side-bar for crowd sourcing.  #keepthisgypsyrollin

BTW, this is my 3000th post.

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