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Category: National Parks and Monuments

Magical inversion at Grand Canyon

September 29 & 30, 2016

Inversion North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe end of September seems late for rain which sometimes brings inversion at Grand Canyon.  Been gone or off work for the few fabulous cloud events this summer.  Plus working hours in the Visitor Center keeps me off the rim.  Not complaining mind you, helping visitors is part of the job.

I’ll bet it was pea soup earlier in the day.

Inversion North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAs I drove to work at noon the rain changed from gentle to down pour.  The Visitor Center was packed with people trying to stay dry.  Then a fire alarm went off in the lodge and more people crammed into the tiny Visitor Center building.  The acoustics are awful so it’s difficult to hear and focus on visitor questions.  The most common questions about the weather.  How do I know when it will quit raining.  I direct people to the posted extended forecast by NOAA, explain that I don’t predict weather and ask if they have any other questions.  Have patience folks, the clouds will drift in and out for the Greatest show on Earth.

Inversion North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWhat causes the inversion?  Cool overnight temperatures causes clouds to settle in the canyon while a warm air layer above holds the clouds down.  Then when the daytime temperatures increase in the canyon that air rises and swirls the clouds around.  Makes for a most magical dance and little window peaks into the canyon.  But not what the average day visitor wants to see.

Inversion North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe clouds literally flew to the east across canyon while a beam of light glowed on the far southern canyon wall.

Tourons on slick rock North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAlso captured a couple of tourons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inversion North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Inversion North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWhile I was home for dinner I missed an excellent sunset and rainbow as shown by visitors photos.  Guess I can’t see them all.

Inversion North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThen it happened the next day too.  When I arrived to the Lodge at 11am visitors were disappointed because they couldn’t see the canyon for the clouds.  I did my usual cheerleader thing standing by the big windows in the Lodge Sunroom and encouraging the couch potato people to stand up and look at this marvel of inversion at Grand Canyon.  The clouds swirled and moved quickly in and out providing the most spectacular show.  Almost everybody in the world has at least seen a photograph of Grand Canyon under Arizona blue skies.  But inversion is a rare enough occurrence so most short term visitors never experience.  Of course it’s one of my favorite views because it’s unique.

Inversion North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThirty minutes later the canyon opened.

Last light & sunset North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd by sunset just enough cloud hung around to really bring on the colors.

Sunset North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaRangers get paid in sunsets.

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, National Parks and Monuments , 26 Comments

North Rim Grand Canyon celebrated National Park Service 100 years

August 25, 2016

National Park Service 100 birthday cake Visitor Center office North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDespite the fact the North Rim Grand Canyon had been without phone and internet for at least three days so no sharing on social media or the park’s website, thank you Century Link, everybody at North Rim Grand Canyon celebrated National Park Service 100 years.  I’ll bet many visitors came just for the celebration.  And the cake was almost to beautiful to cut, and absolutely delicious.  Made by the owner of Kaibab Lodge located about 20 miles out of the park.

Ranger Rachel & Mandi National Park Service 100 birthday cake Visitor Center porch North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaCake complete with candles which were blown out by Ranger Rachel on her day off thus out of uniform, our Chief Interpretive Ranger, and a Junior Ranger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering around cake Visitor Center porch North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe Visitor Center porch was crowded with happy visitors taking plenty of photos and waiting for their bite-size piece of cake.  Happy Birthday wishes were heard almost constantly.

Kaibab squirrel pinata in Visitor Center North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Breaking pinata North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe Kaibab Squirrel Piñata made by Ranger Amanda with three interior sections was a big hit.

Stormy sky from Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMoments after the cleanup the clouds opened and dumped heavy rain sending everybody indoors.

Didn’t get many photos because I was working in the Visitor Center, followed by the daily 4:30 California Condor talk which was in the “sunroom” with standing room only due to the deluge and heavy lightning.  A woman visitor with at least five kids asked me why we didn’t have loud speakers to tell people to get off the rim during the storm.  I was rather puzzled and wondered if she really understood the Grand Canyon isn’t Disneyland.  This prompted my pre-program safety talk about lightning safety.  As lightning struck I’d start to count, “one-1000, two-1000, three-1000, four-1000, five-1000”  BOOM came the lightning only about one mile away.  Because lightning can travel 10 miles being on the rim for that million dollar photo probably isn’t worth it.

06 EP sign FindYourPark ShareYourParkAbout 45 visitors attended and seemed to like my newest evening program, FindYourPark ShareYourPark, plus participated by sharing their favorite national park and why.  Starting off with a brief history of the National Park Service—a little shorter than this post—followed by my history as a Ranger (because so many visitors ask), then when a visitor shared their park I put up an image on the screen.

What do you think the next 100 years will bring?

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, National Park Service, National Parks and Monuments , 12 Comments

2016 Heritage Days at North Rim Grand Canyon

Crowd & canyon Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAugust 11 & 12, 2016

The Grand Canyon was home to many Native people long before becoming a National Park.   Heritage Days at North Rim Grand Canyon is a celebration of cultural diversity with many Nations who have history with the canyon country.  All of this is organized mostly by Ranger Jake who has put this event together for many seasons.  The rest of us assist where needed helping set up, break down, relieve people from the demonstration tables, and introduce the various dancers, musicians, and presenters.  I’ve been posting about this function for years so take a look at some of the past performers and photographs.

Demonstration area Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Demonstrations

Birth sunrise corn maiden by Hopi Ramson Lomatewama Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaIn the parking lot, Hopi artist and teacher Ramson Lomatewama set up his portable glass blowing.  This year I bought a piece of his work.  I’ve wanted a corn maiden for a long time and this one seriously spoke to me.  Corn is life for the Hopi.  The dark glass on the head of this figure are the butterfly swirls indicating a young woman is eligible for marriage.  The purple swirls of color signify the the sunrise and birth.

Jessica & Justin Lomatewama Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaRamson’s wife Jessica demonstrated basket weaving and his son Justin carved Kachinas in the demonstration area.

Eileen Yatsattie Zuni Pottery Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Bennet Jackson Hualapai drums Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaIn addition Zuni Eileen Yatsattie works on decorating a clay pot she’s made, Hopi Duane Tawahongva works on overlay silver jewelry, and Hualapai Bennett Jackson sands the base for a drum.

Milton Tso Navajo Flutes Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaOther displays include Navajo Henry Nez’s jewelry, Sammie Largo’s paintings, Paiute Everett Pikyavit’s baskets, Hualapai Richard Powskey’s cradle boards and baskets, Navajo Milton Tso’s flutes, and Debra Onsae shares Hopi foods.

Derrick Suwaima Davis hoop dancing Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Dancing

Derrick Suwaima Davis hoop dancing Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSeems the highlight of every year is International hoop dancer Hopi Derrick Suwaima-Davis and his three sons, the littlest of whom steals the show.  He asks that we don’t post photos of his children.

Milton Tso Navajo Flutes Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Music

Navajo flute maker Milton Tso not only plays a magical flute but tells stories and tells jokes.

Presentations

Thursday night’s presentation by Ramson Lomatewama about Hopi culture was as interesting as always.  And Debra Onsae presented Miss Hopi at the campfire program.  Friday night Richard Powskey and friends presented Hualapai dances and songs at the campfire and included the crowd with several circle dances.  And later Grammy-nominated recording artist Navajo/Ute Aaron White played the flute for the evening program.

This is the 23rd year for Heritage Days at North Rim Grand Canyon held the second Thursday and Friday of August.   Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend all the events and the evening performances were just to dark to take photos.  So plan ahead to attend next year.

Linked to Our World Tuesday

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, National Parks and Monuments, Native American Heritage Days , , , 17 Comments

Lijit

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