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Category: Grand Canyon NP

Rock Fall at Grand Canyon

Taken from Plateau Point
Rock fall at Grand Canyon happens regularly, whether anybody sees it or not.  Yet in the geologic story about how the canyon formed, erosion is the last chapter and explains why the rims are so much wider than the Colorado River at the bottom.
Middle Permian Paleogeography of North America about 275 million years ago – Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau by Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney
Over 1,500 million years about one mile of limestone, sandstone and shale sediments were deposited in northern Arizona by oceans, swamps, deltas, beaches and sand dunes.

Ripple marks on limestone
Possibly another mile of deposits on top of that eroded away yet can be seen at Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Bryce and Zion National Parks.

Kaibab Plateau
Then about 65 million years ago the area now known as the Colorado Plateau uplifted 6,000-8,000 feet, almost like a cake rising, and left the deposited layers intact.

Taken from Desert View South Rim
Rocky Mountain snow melt forms the headwaters of the Colorado River which are joined by the Green River from Wyoming, San Juan River from Colorado, Little Colorado River and many tributaries to create a fast flowing river full of sediments and boulders capable of carving through the mile of deposits over the last 5-6 million years.

Erosion from the walls of the canyon continues. Because the North Rim is 1,200 feet higher than the South Rim and gets more precipitation, 25 versus 15 inches, water flowing over the rim causes headwater erosion which slowly moves the North Rim further away from the Colorado River.

Fresh rock fall discovered the first week in June
The expansion of freezing water and tree roots also contribute to erosion. Rocks fall regularly but rarely does anyone see it happen. One of my fellow Rangers noticed this fresh rock fall at Grand Canyon one morning from the North Rim Lodge. Damn, we missed it again.
Arizona, Grand Canyon NP , , 9 Comments

Just Outside My Windows

Shaky Sunrise
This was not taken this morning because I slept in on my lazy day off, the first of three days.

Pigmy Nuthatch
I’ve been surfing all day and taking pictures through my windows.

Broad-Tailed & Black-Chinned Hummingbirds
I was filling this 64 ounce feeder every day last week. Then I got busy and it was empty for a couple of days.

Female Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
Finally got around to filling it today. The only time I went outside because it was a grey day with just a little rain.

Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds – note one in flight
The chip and squeak of multiple wing hums constantly get my attention.

Kaibab Squirrel
I can’t get enough of these squirrels. Looks like it’s been sticking its nose in something.

Hide & Seek
Wonder if it thought I couldn’t see it.

Steller’s Jay & Band-Tailed Pigeon
These two chased each other into the tree.

Band-Tailed Pigeon
Later more pigeons flew in but the pics were blurry.

Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel
These squirrels are everywhere, but usually moving so fast I can’t get a shot.

I love when the wildlife comes to me.

Hey, this is my 200th post since mid-October!

Grand Canyon NP, photos, wildlife 22 Comments

My World Tuesday – More Grand Canyon Blooms

I was out on the Walhalla Plateau today where the lightning started Roosevelt Fire burned 5,000 acres in 2007.

Bark after fire
Ponderosa Pines are fire resistant trees. Often when the lower trunk looks charred and dead, the crown is alive and green.

Wild Onion
Nature’s remarkable recovery from fire provides a brilliant display of wildflowers.

Larkspur

Lupine
The colors will change throughout the summer.

Sandwort
And I found more New Mexico Locust in bloom. So, because there weren’t any visitors around I ate a flower.

New Mexico Locust
Tastes like peas. Well it is from the legume, or pea, family.
To see more of life around the world go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.

fire, Grand Canyon NP, My World Tuesday, wildflowers 24 Comments

Lijit

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