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Category: Grand Canyon National Park North Rim

A week of wonderful skies at Grand Canyon

Last week the sky provided quite a show from the North Rim with wonderful skies at Grand Canyon National Park where I have the privilege to work, live and play.

Sunset thru RV window North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe sunset view from my RV home often lights up the sky with a blaze of colors.

Sunset beyond 2006 Warm Fire Kaibab National Forest ArizonaEven a soft pastel sky brings delight driving through the 2006 Warm fire with an eastern view of the Vermilion Cliffs.

Last light on temples and clouds from Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWhen the sun sinks low and the last light strikes the temples clouds glow over the canyon.

Rain moving across canyon from Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWatching as rain slides across the canyon and wondering if it will actually fall on the North Rim.  It did.

Fog & clouds around temples North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe magic of inversion when fog drifts in and out, swirling around the temples and buttes, window views into a world of wonder.

Rainbow spans canyon from Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd to finish out my work week, yesterday, the reward of a rainbow spanning the canyon after a gentle rain.

What more can a Grand Canyon Park Ranger ask for except to wish you were here to enjoy it with me.

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Fog shrouded Wotans Throne on the Walhalla

Wotans Throne shrouded in fog from Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDepending on where you’re from and what language is spoken you may know Wotan as the Norse god Odin who ruled from Valhalla.

Fog around Wotans Throne Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBut here on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park early geologist Clarence Dutton, who named many of the landmarks in the canyon, called this Wotans Throne seen from Cape Royal at the end of the Walhalla Plateau.

Clouds around Wotans Throne Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaHis wife, Freya, has a rock castle nearby which was buried in fog.

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A marvelous monsoon day at Grand Canyon

Cloudy view of canyon Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaOn Sunday I enjoyed a marvelous monsoon day at Grand Canyon.  I love the rain especially now that I live in the SW.  And as long as it’s not too hard.  But visitors to Grand Canyon want blue skies and no rain for their canyon views.

Cloudy canyon view Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI spent a lot of time giving pep talks to visitors disappointed in not seeing the full canyon.  But everyone has seen Grand Canyon’s red rock under Arizona blue sky.  It’s truly a unique experience to see clouds play in and out of the canyon.

Cloudy view of canyon Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThis is my seventh summer working on the North Rim and I’ve only seen this one to two times a summer.  When the canyon and temples peak out of the clouds the view is beyond words.

Foggy drive on Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI drove out on the Walhalla Plateau through foggy patches of forest, destination Walhalla overlook for a 1:30p Archeology talk.

No view of canyon Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaArrived 12:45 under a soft female rain so sat in the truck eating lunch and enjoyed the non-view into the canyon wondering if I’d really be giving a program or not.

Cloudy view of canyon Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe rain stopped about 1:20 and a family of four joined me at the rim asking if I was giving the 1:30 talk.  It was rather informal as we all began taking photos of the canyon peaking out of the clouds.

Clouds opening Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaCamera wouldn’t focus on the foggy sky and unfortunately I forgot to put it back on auto focus until later.

Foggy view of Angels Window Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaHurried out to the end of the road to Cape Royal hoping for more fantastic monsoon views and had to stop on the way to catch Angels Window.  Note the people on top where a short trail leads to.

Cloudy view of canyon Cape Royal Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Cloudy view of canyon Cape Royal Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAs I walked the short trail to the Cape a few glimpses of the canyon showed between the clouds and at one point a window opened to reveal sun shinning on the far canyon walls.

No view of canyon Cape Royal Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThen it closed in again and at the end of the trail was socked in completely.  Yet I hung out knowing how quickly that can change.

Temple thru clouds Cape Royal Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaA family from the Netherlands got so excited when tiny windows opened.  All of us would run from one side of the overlook to the other sharing in the joy of seeing the canyon.

Temple thru clouds Cape Royal Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaA few other visitors came out, “didn’t see anything” and left disappointed although I encouraged them to stay.

Cloudy view of canyon Cape Royal Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAll too soon it was time for me to leave, not an easy thing to do considering the marvelous monsoon conditions.  I am reminded of Merlin’s dragon’s breath.

Cloudy view of canyon Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaOne last stop at the Walhalla overlook where I could see the curve of the Colorado River.

Wildflowers Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd a quick stop for the wildflowers.

Sunset from Grand Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThen after a marvelous monsoon day at Grand Canyon and dinner it was back to the Lodge for an evening program.  Rangers get paid in sunsets.

Grand Canyon National Park North Rim 20 Comments

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