Monsoon storms over Grand Staircase from Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon NP
Mornings are the time to get outside for activities as afternoons bring monsoon storms at Bryce Canyon. And these monsoon storms are often more wind, thunder, and lightning, than rain.
The first several summers I worked in the Southwest at Grand Canyon I despised the rain. But then I learned to embrace monsoon season, just not in a literal sense, and instead learned to respect and love the much needed rain in this arid land. Yet lightning needs to be heeded and kept at a safe distance, car or building is safest when lightning is within ten miles. Now days, we have battery operated lightning detectors and apps on our phones. But I’m a bit old fashion and still practice what I learned as a kid; see the lightning and count, one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand equal to three seconds, etc. until hearing the thunder. Sound travels approximately one mile in five seconds, and lightning can travel ten miles. You do the math.
I love the dramatic skies seen during monsoon storms at Bryce Canyon. Sometimes I can take photos and others I cannot.
A buck grazes in the forest outside my RV windows
I stayed home two out of three days off last week. Rained hard and hailed as well. The noon was so dim outside it felt like dusk. I think storms mess with my internet signal at home.
SR12 west into the Sevier River Valley
Also went to Kanab for some groceries and lunch at my favorite Utah Mexican restaurant.
It’s a nice drive along SR89.
Was posting on my Geogypsy Facebook page and noticed the “Page Support Team” was open for questions. So I asked why only 10% of the 800+ followers are shown my posts. Amazingly, I got an almost immediate answer in their chat box. The Facebook algorithm is currently based on how many people interact with my posts. So, I put out a post asking for interaction and had 281 people reached, 33 Likes, and 36 comments that I responded to. Cool. My ego likes this. And I like conversation, as you know if you comment on this blog. Sadly, the numbers went back to less than 10% after that. Guess I’ll have to let go of that one again. After all, life really is about pick and choose your battles.
Last Saturday I greeted the 5:45 morning at a chilly 46°. My schedule started with opening our information area outside by 8am. After answering questions and offering park orientation for two hours I drove 18 miles to the end of the road through rain and hail. On the way I stopped for a hot dog at the concession operated “Dawg House” trailer set up at Farview overlook. I’m originally from the Chicago area and was raised on hot dogs. Yes, I know what’s in them but eat them anyway. Don’t we all have a regional hometown food favorite?
A big thunderstorm hung over the length of the park for over an hour. After advising people along the rim about the danger of lightning under 10 miles away I returned to my truck and sat out the storm at Rainbow Point. Monsoon storms don’t typically last more than 30 minutes to an hour moving from basically southwest to northeast. Yet another storm can follow behind.
Once it passed I roved a couple hours at Yovimpa Point, just south from Rainbow, with the almost 100 mile view to the North Kaibab Plateau. Instead of the scheduled Grand Staircase geology program times with few if any people, most of us are doing “mini programs” whenever people arrive and show interest. Yovimpa is never overcrowded. I wouldn’t mind hanging out there all day.
Clouds danced all around leaving us alone with the light and shadow game below. Sure glad I brought the big camera that day.
Sunday after several hours at our information area and closing at 8pm, I presented my slide show evening program about wildlife at Bryce. Finally got the audio working for the most commonly seen animals: rodents, birds, and large mammals. I’m still working out the right volume and some of the sounds were quite loud. Made me wonder if visitors in the nearby North campground were looking for wildlife in camp.
Monsoon storms hit hard the next day so I didn’t go to the rim for either the 2pm hoodoo geology talk or 4pm history walk. We had to move our information station into the visitor center and limit the number of visitors inside while keeping the rest safely under the wooden porch cover. When thunder roars, go indoors. We all talk about lightning safety. I thought people would already know but sadly not the case way too often. I had forgotten what it’s like to work the inside desk but now with heavy plexiglass hanging between us and visitors. Felt like I was shouting through the mask and glass, barely able to hear their questions.
Hoodoos at Red Canyon Dixie National Forest SR12 west
I felt more than ready for the end of my work week on Tuesday. With only some billowy clouds and no rain the precursor of many days of blue skies.
I don’t mean to bitch and complain about the visitors. Really, 98% are good and kind people. Sadly, it’s the one a-hole that’s remembered at the end of the day.
Pioneer building along SR89 Glendale Utah
Maybe I should get out of this business. I’m snippy with some folks. Am I just getting old? After door counting this morning and plaza after lunch I ended my short day roving by Sunset Point. I am truly amazed we don’t have to carry more people off the Navajo Loop trail. Flip-flops and no water. Carrying dogs. What part of “NO DOGS” do people not understand?
Sevier River
I met a lovely couple from the Phoenix area who are friends of an online friend’s friend. The bonus of blogging is connecting to awesome people.
The first of my two-days off, I went to Cedar City with a park friend. Nice to have someone else drive and spent a wonderful day chatting away making shopping so much more bearable. Plus, it’s a pretty drive, now under blue skies instead of monsoon storms.
Yesterday, my Friday, was a late start and ended with my evening program on the wildlife at Bryce. A visitor asked about how many bears in the park. Only one documented, so we’re calling it Covid Bear because it’s in isolation and honors social distancing. (Not my photo)
