It started a little over a week ago at Bryce Canyon with a tease, some dark clouds and just a few drops but within a few days monsoon rains began to fall and it almost felt like the right pattern, rain between 11am and 11pm coming and going often with a little sunshine in between. I could almost feel my dry skin begin to plump. Of course anything over 30% humidity feels sticky in the Southwest. Visitors from the East still suffer from dry cracking lips as they relish the lack of humidity at 80-90°. It’s a dry heat you know.
After a couple rather lazy days off I returned to work on an extremely quiet Saturday to an hour at the information desk then presented the 11 am Hoodoo geology talk by Sunset Point overlook. After lunch I roved the rim for about three hours chasing patches of shade with temps in the low 90s. Came home beat and exhausted so took a two hour nap, woke at ten and went right back to bed sleeping round the clock. Stomach was upset so didn’t even eat dinner.
Sunset
Sunday I didn’t start work until 12:15 and breakfast was comfort food, cinnamon toast and bacon.
Knowing I worked only two more days followed by four days off I started to formulate a plan to camp on the Kaibab Plateau in the national forest north of the North Rim Grand Canyon. The Kaibab National Forest had been closed to recreation for a couple weeks then monsoon rains began and it reopened, but still no campfires. That’s fine by me. Destination, Marble View, only 14 miles from pavement on usually decent gravel road, a favorite place to camp, and hopefully watch monsoon rains. Sent a message to a friend who lives in the triple-digit heat of St. George inviting her to join me and received an immediate YES. I felt my mood lighten as I made it through the day with two shifts at the information desk and my 9pm evening program about Wildlife at Bryce, a rather large group with several precocious children asking endless questions. Went home a good kind of tired.
Compare to first shot
The next day after two hours at the information desk followed by a bit of time checking deleting emails, I presented the 2pm Hoodoo geology talk and roved 2 1/2 hours along the rim at 88° mostly talking about the smoky haze, so thick could barely see the Aquarius Plateau 14 miles east. Hard to say where from with so many fires burning in the west. I was fried and left two hours early, sick leave. (Remember, I’m burning up hours so any opportunity without messing up anybody’s schedule I take sick leave.) Clouds all day teased monsoon rains that didn’t fall until early evening and then only briefly. It was an early to bed night for an early next day.
New fence because cement isn’t enough to keep people on the trail to Yovimpa Point
And that was Tuesday, my one day early Friday, before a four-day weekend away. I opened the visitor center wondering if 70% chance of monsoon rains would stop my day at Yovimpa Point, a favorite place to be. But the rain held off with only a handful of drops and I wore a light jacket until well after noon at the southern end of the plateau and 9100 feet. Lots of mini geology and fire ecology talks. The smoky haze obscured Navajo Mountain 90 miles to the southeast and almost erased the North Kaibab 100 miles south where I hoped it wouldn’t be smoky the next day. I took off about an hour early to pack the camper and later a lovely light rain fell, perfect and pleasing with faint thunder in the distance.
Finally, Wednesday morning I finished the last minute packing and left about 9:30. An hour and a half later I was buying grocery treats in Kanab and met several friends for lunch at my favorite Escobars Mexican Restaurant. Then Lynda and I caravanned up onto the Kaibab with an important stop at Jacob Lake Inn for cookies. One more stop on the way to camp at the North Rim Country Store where I hoped to see Grand Canyon friend Robert who now works there but it was his afternoon off.
Forest Road 610
Forest Road 219
To Marble View
Finally, after an hour drive on the rather rough gravel we pulled into Marble View about 4pm. Hadn’t seen another vehicle on the drive and had the place to ourselves. Yippee!!
Then about 30 minutes later as we’d just relaxed into our chairs with a glass of wine to watch the stormy sky a jeep pulled in. Turned out to be friends from the North Rim who knew I’d be camped there.
We chatted and wandered and looked for fossils before the monsoon rains chased everyone inside our respective vehicles.
The sky put on quite a show requiring quite a few ins and outs of the camper between rain drops. Yet most of the monsoon rains fell below our high camp sending flood waters down stream. Sadly a life was lost in flash flood from a side canyon along the Colorado River.
Light streamed through breaks in the clouds and brought unusual patches of rainbows.
The temperature dropped and so did the clouds causing inversion in Marble Canyon.
Light in Marble Canyon where the Colorado River flows
Rained on and off most of the night and into morning then after noon stopped and the big fluffy clouds made for delightful shadow play across the land plus a semi-colorful sunset.
Lynda had to leave Friday and I watched more storms come and go with lots of cloud play. Two cars came out but didn’t stay. A Forest Service guy stopped and told me about the FR22 and 462 wash out, way to the west and low down like on the way to Snake Gulch. No worries where I was except for a couple puddles on the Forest Road (FR) back to pavement.
Most of my company included Ravens hopping around eating insects and they are fun to watch as they waddle when they walk.
Rained lightly several times during the day with intermittent sun patches.
I had to leave Saturday but didn’t rush. The sky was back to a smoky haze over the House Rock Valley below to the east. I really thought all the rain would have cleared the air. I love this summer view as much as the Sonoran Desert in winter.
Took over an hour to drive the 14 miles of gravel because I kept stopping to take photos of the flowers and puddle reflections.
Vermilion Cliffs from SR67 Kaibab National Forest
Then another stop at the North Rim Country Store to visit with Robert and another stop at Jacob Lake Inn for cookie orders from Bryce. Lunch and a few more groceries in Kanab and finally home six hours later to unpack.
A fantastic four-day vacation where Marble View never disappoints, especially during monsoon rains.
Linking to Skywatch Friday
Awesome pictures and fun. About time the monsoons made an appearance.
Thank you. Agree, we so need this rain.
The Kaibab does not disappoint & looks & sounds like a hard earned much needed break was successful. I was hoping you would not have so much smoky sky for your visit. And with the much needed storms I love the beautiful rainbow patches. Maybe the rainbows are an extended sympathy to those that lost a loved one to the Colorado. My deepest sympathies go out to them.
The mini vaca was perfect, though could have been a little longer. You’re fortunate to have the Kaibab in your back yard.
Beautiful photos of the dark and stormy skies.
Thank you.
This entire post was almost as refreshing to me as I am sure the real life experience was for you. The monsoon photos are gorgeous, and made me miss rain and thunderstorms. We don’t get many here and I suppose that is a good thing since they are such huge firestarters. Mostly dry lightning if we get anything in summer, and so far, nothing. Just relentless blues skies which can get tiresome after a bit. Almost as tiresome as gray fog in the winter! Still the mornings are lovely and nice to be outside when the temps are pleasant and the sun is at an angle. What a great getaway, Gaelyn.
Glad you could come along. And also glad we had rain with the lightning. Only thing better would have been longer.
Even if you had not written one word, Gaelyn, the photos capture the beauty as well as the intensity of the Southwest Monsoon.
Thanks George.
It sounds an amazing couple of days and so glad that we could virtually join you. Those skies are amazing and I love the reflections as well. Thanks for taking us along, big hugs Diane and Nigel
Thanks. Glad you could virtually come along. Another place I would have loved to show you during your visit.
Very nice blog post and lovely photos. Thanks!
Thank you.
What a great place you had to watch the light show in the sky, Gaelyn. We’re getting rain too – much to our delight because it seems to give us some respite from the smoke/haze. Lots of wildflowers and the forest is very green. Glad you can take these days off. When is your last day at Bryce? I just read (Mary sent me the article) that people got struck by lightning in the Grand Canyon.
Was a marvelous show and I could almost hear the Earth gulping the water. Does make for lush forests. I saw that about the lightning strikes at Grand Canyon.
Very nice place with some very interesting skies.
Marble View never disappoints. Thanks for stopping by.
Spectacular Skies Gaelyn, glad you are enjoying your break and you still find time to keep us up to date with these wonderful photo’s Thank you. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
Thanks. The only thing that would have been better was to spend more time.
Wow, so many great photos. Those views are spectacular! I don’t think I’ve ever seen rainbow patches before.
Thanks. I’d never seen rainbow patches before either.
Awesome series of gorgeous nature’s cinema!!! Love this place and the changing light and color situation very much.
Thanks. Marble View never disappoints.
Quite a story you tell here. Love the shots of the rains. Interesting. We really need rain here—haven’t had any since the first of June—you know this is not what we are used to. Hot but low humidity thank goodness
MB
Thanks. The rain felt delightful and the light show was superb. Hope you get a reprieve soon.
That was quite a little vacation you had. Excellent photos of the views. I’m totally jealous. Especially that you had such a great spot with no other people besides you and your friend.
Thanks. I so needed that and especially to such a favorite place.
Looks like a great trip, sure you guys had a blast. Nice pic’s
Thanks, was great and could have been longer.