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Category: Grand Canyon

08 January 2019

Being a Park Ranger but without the hat

Government shutdown closed sign on Visitor Center door North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 2013

With the current government shutdown most people I know who work for the National Park Service are still being a Park Ranger but without the hat.  Some national parks are open, some are not.  Most are understaffed on the best day, right now only “essential” personnel are on the job in uniform and not getting paid.  I could go on ranting about this for many pages, however that’s not really what this post is about.

last light temples San Fransisco peaks sunset North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAs many of you know I didn’t get my job as a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon back last summer due to yet a different government snafu than mentioned above.  I’ve now been unemployed for over a year.  That in itself is hard to take.  In 2018, I mourned the loss of my job and best friend.

Yarnell Regional Community Center thrift store Yarnell ArizonaThis year is different

I’m trying to get myself out there, into the world outside my four walls.  Good place to start that, my local community of Yarnell.  Last Thursday I volunteered for the first time at our Yarnell Regional Community Center thrift store.  Hey, I know about second-hand stuff, how to work a cash register, and can even count back change.  It was a fun five hours working with Rebecca, a friend and fellow photographer, chatting with locals, and even enjoyed a free lunch.

It doesn’t stop here

On Thursday, January 10th, at 2pm I will be presenting at the center, How the Grand Canyon was formed, complete with a slide program, but sadly no Park Ranger hat.  Can’t wear uniform parts when not working for the service, sort of like being in the military but I’m guessing way more fun.

last light from Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBecause I usually present this talk along the rim having the canyon as a prop I had to create a slide program to help tell the story.  Surprisingly, that took way over 40 hours of fun work.  If you’re able, hope you’ll join me.

Ranger Gaelyn in Grand Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI am excited about sharing the canyon’s geologic history.  I always hope it’s easier for people to love a place if they understand it better and can connect and become part of the story.  Now if I could just figure out how to take this show on the road, and get paid for it.  Yea, sorry, I’m still on that making an income thing.

Sunset Badwater Basin Death Valley National Park CaliforniaAnd another thing

Last night I attended a free presentation by photographer and writer Colleen Miniuk-Sperry on Finding your Creative Voice at the Wickenburg Arts Club.  We’ve been friends on Facebook for a little while and I admire her photography and her style.  Colleen is exuberant, and crazy by her own description, sharing her story to find her creative voice was inspirational.  She has one spot left in the Death Valley photography workshop in February that I would dearly love to attend.  Yet being a Park Ranger but without the hat, also means no income and therefore the workshop is out of my budget.

Long-horned beetle on Park Ranger hat North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMaybe someday, I can lead workshops myself and continue to be like a Park Ranger but without the hat.

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geology, Grand Canyon, Park Ranger geology, Grand Canyon, photographer, presentation, public speaking 30 Comments
08 August 2016

Watching the sky at Crazy Jug Point

July 25 & 26, 2016

Sign FR425 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaI’ve posted before about the often crazy skies seen from Crazy Jug Point, one of my favorite places to camp in the Kaibab National Forest right along the rim of Grand Canyon.  So on my last three-day weekend I met Bill there to hopefully watch the every changing monsoon skies.

White-Skipper & Cloudless Sulphur on lupine FR415 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaIt was a rather slow drive made even slower on the last stretch of road because the butterflies were thick on the wildflowers along the road.  So I stopped often.  In fact I felt a little guilty committing murder on the truck grill but when I got to camp there weren’t any stuck to the grill.  I’m actually glad they are fast enough to elude my truck but not the camera.

Stormy skies Rainbow Rim points & Muave Saddle SE-S view Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

South down Crazy Jug & Saddle Canyon & Muave Saddle Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaUpon arrival the sky was already putting on a show.  I just love this view.  To the southeast the Rainbow Rim points (appropriately named), and south down Crazy Jug and Saddle Canyon to Swamp Point on the left and the Muave Saddle where a trail leads to Powell Plateau on the far right.  A place I have yet to visit.

Russet-tipped Clubtail Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

I never really expect to see dragonflies in this dry environment but this one came back to the same branch several times and even posed for a bit.

Trail to rim Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Stormy skies view South Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaA short trail from camp leads to the rim with a BIG view of the canyon.

Pinyon pine & juniper Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Gnarly pinyon pine Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThere are several campsites under the ancient pinyon pines and junipers but we had the place all to ourselves.  The average visitors to the North Rim have neither the time or inclination to drive 1 1/2 hours through the forest on gravel roads for these marvelous views.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stormy sky Rainbow Rim Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaMostly we just sat outside and watched the sky go by.  Maybe it was raining on the Rainbow Plateau, or farther away on the South Rim.

Stormy sky & crepescular ray Rainbow Rim Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Stormy sky & crepescular ray Rainbow Rim Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaCrepuscular rays pierced the clouds.  These shots taken five minutes apart.

Stormy sky & last light against Rainbow Rim, Crazy Jug & Saddle Canyon Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaSlips of last light highlighted the light layer of Coconino sandstone just below the rim.

 

Pouroff below Rainbow Rim Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAlthough I love looking into the canyon the constantly changing sky captivated me and I took 100s of photos.  But we never got more than a few tiny sprinkles.  And of course I didn’t capture any of the lightning.Stormy sky Steamboat Mountain Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Sunset West canyon & Unkeret Mountains Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaUnfortunately my camper had run completely out of propane so we ate the ice cream that Bill brought for dinner.  Guess that’s not so bad.

Sunset West canyon & Unkeret Mountains Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Sunset West canyon Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaEspecially with the sunset show sending the western canyon into purple shadow with the Unkeret Mountains in the distance.

Powell Plateau Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Steamboat Mountain & West canyon Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest Arizona

West canyon Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThe next morning was a whole different sky, bright and a more recognizable Arizona blue with just a few wisps to break up the monotony.

 

Century plant Crazy Jug Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaOh yea, don’t forget to look at the little views too.  The spikey agave, or Century plant, only blooms once in its 15-25 year lifetime.  The stalk was obviously broken off but the plant will hang on a little longer.

 

 

 

FR292L Kaibab National Forest ArizonaWe had planned to stay two nights but with no propane to refrigerate the groceries Bill had delivered for me to take home we left before noon.  Then I screwed up and took the wrong FR292, with choices A, B, and what turned out to be L.  At first the low hung trees looked like what I’d dodged on the way in.  But after 30 minutes when Bill stopped behind me and said we were on the wrong road I also started having doubts.  Yet we were going North, the right direction, and were committed with nowhere to turn around.

After another 30 minutes of dodging tree limbs to both sides and overhead plus crawling along at a snail’s pace over ruts and rocks I found a wide space and stopped.  Bill walked ahead a bit and discovered a junction not far from the FR425 that we wanted.  We’d actually done a loop that I don’t want to do again.  Only one photo from this experience as I couldn’t take my hands off the steering wheel.

FR425 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAnd finally back on the right road.

After filling the propane tanks at the North Rim Country Store along the paved SR67 we headed back into the forest, but not so far away, to spend another night camping.

 

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21 July 2014

A palpable silence at Jumpup Point

Jumpup canyon Kaibab National Forest ArizonaI have never experienced such a remote and isolated place surrounded by a palpable silence as Jumpup Point, a narrow peninsula of land jutting out into Grand Canyon.

The drive

Rocky FR201 Kaibab National Forest Arizona44 miles of gravel road in the Kaibab National Forest removed me from civilization.  The last 10 miles along FR201 are a brutal drive over a rocky road that appears not to have seen a grader for a while.  It took me 1.5 hours avoiding the potential tire punching pointy rocks and crawling over slickrock boulders.  But the reward at the end was entirely worth it.

Meadow FR22 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaFrom high plateau pines and meadows a drop of 2500 feet (762 meters) in elevation brought me through the Juniper and Pinyon to a low elevation of heat and seeking shade amongst the sparse desert environment.

FR236 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaDefinitely need a high clearance vehicle to make the last 10 miles.

Being there

Jumpup canyon, point & beyond Grand Canyon ArizonaI went alone to be with my cluttered brain thinking about the future, or at least what I plan to do at the end of this summer season. Yet what I discovered was just to be in the NOW of this most amazing place.

Esplande from Jumpup Point Grand Canyon ArizonaIt took a while to settle in to this absolute silence surrounded by a canyon so vast.  I felt disoriented to my place here.  What is the name of that point, drainage and temple?  Hey, I’m into geography.

Jumpup trail Grand Canyon ArizonaYet after I set up camp and had dinner I finally settled in and watched the late sun rays glow off canyon walls and create shadows in the depths.

Esplande from Jumpup Point Grand Canyon ArizonaNo signs of human activity within the many miles of sight.  The western wind brought a scent of dry desert.

Shadow over Colorado River canyon from Jumpup Point Grand Canyon ArizonaI talked out loud to break the silence yet felt intruded upon by the distant sound of an occasional jet which I could not even see.

Sundog from Jumpup Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaPre-sunset a sundog appeared high above mountains on the distant horizon.

Sunset from Jumpup Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAnd as sunset blazed across the western sky a sense of calm finally came to me.

I was HERE, NOW, and that’s all I needed to be.

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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