Although it wasn’t easy to leave my happy place on the Kaibab, I left with a better attitude, refreshed after four days of nature’s healing rain, plus positive insight from friends. With that I returned to Bryce Canyon and felt rewarded by working for special people who visit this beautiful place.
Even after days of rain, I left the Kaibab under a smoky haze.
A stop at the LeFevre overlook reminded me how scorched an arid landscape can look after extreme fire. It will grow back, this is still pretty fresh from the 71,000 acre 2020 Mangum fire.
Two Bridges side of Navajo Loop Trail
Trail crew working on Wall Street
Back to work on Sunday with a better attitude and moderate morning start at 10:15 then done after two couple-hour information desk shifts including closing at 8pm. Still feels like less visitors than early summer however they all want to hike the “most popular trail”, 2.9 mile Queens Garden and Navajo Loop combination. Sadly, the Wall Street side of the Navajo Loop trail was closed due to a rockfall during the heavy rains on Friday. Trail crew worked several days to clear and repair the damage. Thankfully, the Two Bridges side of the loop was still open. So just some unhappy hikers for a few days.
Plus now that the monsoon rains have arrived the general question is, “when will it stop raining?” Our concerns aren’t about sweet visitors melting in the rain but remind them to pay attention to lightning. Don’t be the tallest thing standing at the rim, or hover under the biggest trees nearby that often get struck by lightning. Ponderosa Pines are fire resistant and will blow off burning bark. However, lightning can travel through trees and ground at least ten feet.
Monday morning started with light rain that stopped in time for the 11am Hoodoo geology talk. After an hour of answering questions I hid for lunch in the camper then returned to the rim and roved a couple hours at Sunrise Point with a comfortable temperature under 80° and a light breeze. Then back to the desk for a couple more hours.
I was lucky enough to be scheduled for two days in a row to Yovimpa Point, my happy place. The only bad part is getting up way early to first open the visitor center. Good thing I packed lunch as the hotdog wagon wasn’t parked at Farview Point. A gorgeous day that didn’t quite break 80°. Visitation is light at Yovimpa Point, partly people don’t see the sign for the short walk. Yet almost anybody who arrives is blown away by the massive 100° and 100 mile distant view from southeast to southwest. At 9100 feet in elevation it’s like the view from on top of a mountain the car climbed for you. I spent four hours answering questions, talking about the geologic view and fire ecology while keeping an eye on the weather radar and storm clouds that stayed north of the point. One young girl and I talked for at least half an hour about the possibility of learning the languages and conversing with other animal species. How cool is that! Oh yea, that feeds into a better attitude.
Then lightning became visible to the east and it was time to go with a warning to visitors not to linger. The rain came down harder as I drove further north and I was soaked running into the building to drop off my radio at the end of the day.
Wednesday, my Friday, started as a repeat of the previous day with opening the visitor center. This time I had a hotdog on the drive to the end of the road and asked about a punch card which they gave me. Darn, I’ve been buying almost weekly for months.
My first visitor, Raven, posed long enough to get a couple photos then I was busy almost constantly for at least three hours with people in and out to share mostly short stories.
Rain once again stayed north of Yovimpa Point all afternoon and I enjoyed another marvelous day with visitors. Got home just before the next bout of thunder and rain.
Stellar Jays from RV window
With only two days off I decided not to go anywhere, and even though I like to travel, that’s like a treat sometimes. I had hopes to shoot the full moon but the skies were filled with gray clouds, raining, and even hailed briefly, to the point of puddles. Thursday 1.4 inches fell in an hour. Seems monsoon has arrived. I love the energy in storms while also respecting their massive power. Safest to watch and experience from some distance and preferably indoors. Plus I don’t want to get my camera wet.
Marble View storm
The most amazing power I feel is the love from friends with sincere suggestions that sometimes have to slap me hard to listen. Dear Lynda reminded me to stop with the “if I make it through the season” line, and she’s right. October 9th is my last day of work this summer at Bryce Canyon, and I’m going to make it to the end of the season. Sweet Robert, after many years as a barista at the North Rim made a job move to the North Rim Country Store this summer and said he was excited about working at new places and looks forward to going anywhere he wants. I can hear life mentor Berta telling me to move on to a new adventure in retirement when I can do what I want, when I want, and go anywhere I want. Thank you all for helping me create a better attitude.