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Tag: end of season

28 September 2021

Work days talking rock and getting ready to roll

After four days off of boring chores I returned to a few more work days and then prepared to move the 5th-wheel to it’s winter home in Skull Valley, Arizona.

fall colored Aspen leaves Natural Bridge Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAlthough temperatures at Bryce Canyon were ranging from 50-80° fall was in the air with possible nights coming below freezing.

Western Bluebird Bryce Canyon National Park UtahYet the Bluebirds hadn’t quite given up on insects and headed south like I would soon do.

Raven bird Agua Canyon Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSunday, my Monday, two desk shifts with dinner in between and close the visitor center then my last evening program for the season. Volume up or down?

empty Sunset Point overlook Bryce Canyon National Park UtahIt really has been busy this month and yet I enjoyed a few moments at Sunset Point all alone.  But not for long before presenting the 11am hoodoo geology talk to a large group followed by roving a while and ending the day at the information desk.  The coyote sound in my evening program was heard at the North campground and reported to me by a visitor.

Badger on rock Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahOn Tuesday, my Friday of a short week, I spent the afternoon at Yovimpa Point.  A visitor spotted a dark brown medium-size mammal moving across a nearby rocky ledge and thought it was a very big squirrel having just visited Zion where the Rock Squirrels are large and overly friendly.  Being sure it wasn’t that I had to dig deep into my brain while taking some lousy and out of focus photos before realizing it’s a Badger.  The first one I’d ever seen at Bryce.

Talked to a young man on a months long road trip from Florida and was reminded of my first road trip at 22-years old.  Living in a Vega for three months was the best trip ever and started my gypsy life.  The next morning I posted my retirement announcement on Facebook and as I answered the many congratulations it dawned on me I could travel next summer like I did way back then.  I grew excited about the idea of documenting the journey like I couldn’t do then. I want to revisit some places and discover many new.  That was an epiphany! Now I am more than excited, like that young woman who took off in a Vega with a dog 45 years ago. Now solo with a cat is where it’s at, and I’m glamping with the camper. I could see visiting people and caravanning with others sometimes along the way. I haven’t felt this excited about something in a long time.  I’m going to love this retirement thing with no more work days.

trees cliffs Cedar Canyon SR14 East UtahCedar Canyon

Navajo Lake SR14 UtahNavajo Lake

One more trip to town before moving so I don’t have to shop along the road.  But with mornings hoovering just below freezing I didn’t get a particularly early start.  Drove to Cedar City via SR20, the slightly quicker route, then after too many shop-stops returned on the even more scenic route SR14.

evergreens and fall aspen SR14 East Dixie National Forest UtahEven saw a touch of fall color towards the top of the almost 10,000 foot pass.  Treated myself to dinner at the highly recommended Outlaw Saloon in Hatch, Utah and all I can say is, WOW, what took me so long.

jewelry in RV bedroom Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

window RV bedroom Bryce Canyon National Park UtahFriday I finally put the new sewer gate on and packed away some of the dust-collecting decorative chachkas that would not survive a rolling move.  There’s only a little more to do before the RV would be unlivable.

Back for another four work days.  The count down is on!  After a light overnight rain, Saturday afternoon brought downpour with thunder and lightning that cancelled my 2pm hoodoo geology talk.  Then it cleared so I went to rove at the rim for a while in raincoat with no camera in case it started to rain again.

Ranger Gaelyn Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSunday morning I opened the visitor center in cold fog before heading out to Yovimpa Point.  Then while eating lunch in the Rainbow Point parking lot I was interrupted by a couple who locked the keys in the trunk of the their rental so I called LE (law enforcement) to deal with that.  Even with a brutal wind at Yovimpa I stayed two hours and did several talks hiding behind a huge Limber Pine in between.

visitors dancing Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahA group of young folks danced and took video, nothing professional, and when I photobombed them was invited to join in.  Keep your eyes open for their video that they hope will go viral.

hoodoos valley Ponderosa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahPonderosa Point view into the hoodoos

Stopped at several overlooks on the return drive.

hoodoos valley Agua Canyon Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAt Agua Canyon overlook the weirdest thing happened.  A little boy about 10-12 walked up to the fence with a throwaway mask in his hand, held it up to catch the wind, and then intentionally let it go.  I was horrified and said I couldn’t believe he’d just done that.  His reply, “I have another one in the car.”  And I said don’t throw it over the edge anywhere.  I told him it was a good thing I wasn’t a cop as I’d written him (his parents actually) a $100 ticket for littering.  He just walked away and no adult present said a thing.  WTF?

Thors Hammer hoodoo valley full moon Earth Shadow Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

hoodoo window full moon Bryce Canyon National Park Utahhoodoo window full moon Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

hoodoo windows full moon Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAt that point I went home for dinner then back to Sunset Point and down five switchbacks carrying the tripod for the night before full moon rise.  A nice couple was there, he set up with tripod very low. I shared the compass coordinates and we got lucky with the moon rising over Thor’s Hammer and through the hoodoo windows, again.

Pink Cliffs & beyond Mollys Nipple clouds Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahOne more day at Yovimpa and thank goodness not windy.  Briefly saw a pair of Peregrine Falcons flying together.  Talked with a lot of awesome visitors about geology and fire ecology.  My last day there presenting official programs.  I will miss this happy place.

Ranger fashion week Bryce Canyon National Park Utah by P DensmorePosted on Bryce Canyon’s Facebook page for National Park Fashion Week  (It’s a joke many parks did)

Possibly* my last work day and I wake up literally freezing at below 32°.  That in itself makes me want to move from Bryce’s 8000 foot elevation.  By the 11am hoodoo geology talk it had warmed into the 60s.  Had a large attendance and presented several more mini talks about the hoodoos.  (I say possibly* as the government could shutdown before I return for the last work days in October.)

Sierra cat packed inside RV Bryce Canyon National Park UtahWednesday morning in the low 30s makes it hard to motivate but I have much to do getting ready to roll the next day.  By noon I am mostly packed and if I was physically stronger could have rolled at least as far as Kanab 1 1/2 hours away for a warmer night.  But my helper will arrive in the morning so I pretty much puttered the afternoon away.  Rather frustrating that I used to do everything by myself and now am unable.

Tim & truck towing 5th-wheel Mixing Circle Bryce Canyon National Park UtahTim arrives the next morning around 9:30 and I set him onto the roof to sweep the slides and take the booster down then I can crank down the antenna. After hitching the truck to the 5th-wheel the hoses and power cord were disconnected and I’m ready to roll.  Not sure why that took three hours but I rolled out at 1 pm.  Thirty minutes later I left the nearby Sinclair with both propane tanks full and all eight tires aired.  Finally on the road again and at first feeling a little nervous as it’s been years since I towed the 5th-wheel.  But once on the highway it follows so nicely I barely know it’s there.

Mollys Nipple Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument SR89 East UtahThe four hour drive moves me through familiar country and after passing through Kanab I am looking back up towards the not quite visible Bryce’s Pink Cliffs and see Molly’s Nipple, on the right, that I’ve looked at from the opposite direction all summer from Yovimpa Point.

Cockscomb SR89 East Utah

fence Lake Powell at Glen Canyon dam SR89 East Arizona

sandstone cliffs SR89 South Arizona

21d DSCN0196lewfbr Painted Desert storm clouds SR89 S AZ g-3

I pass through the Cockscomb and over the ever shrinking Lake Powell at the Glen Canyon Dam, whiz through Page and drop down onto the Painted Desert.

RV Cameron RV Park ArizonaBy 5pm Arizona time I pulled into the night’s destination at the Navajo Reservation RV Park and Trading Post in Cameron, Arizona and enjoyed a carry-out dinner of Green Chili Stew before calling it an early night to bed for the next day’s final leg of this journey.

5th-wheel RR underpass Ferguson Valley Road Skull Valley Arizona by Joann

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Arizona, Bryce Canyon National Park, Park Ranger, Places I've been, RV life, United States, Utah end of season, moving, moving RV 33 Comments
05 November 2020

The last days at Bryce Canyon National Park

lone Ponderosa Pine tree on rim hoodoos Bryce Canyon National Park UtahWrapping it up for the last days at Bryce Canyon COVID19 summer season, eight days that felt like months.  The count down was on as I worked the last of each different schedule, some more preferred than others.  Plus packing up the 5th-wheel and moving into the truck-camper filled the last days at Bryce Canyon, before the snow fell, and I left.

The last opening schedule that gets me out of bed at the ridiculous time of 5:30am, to work by 7:30, and preparing to open the visitor center by 8am.  The staffed information area has been outside most of the season but with the temperature that morning hovering barely above freezing I opted to stay inside.  Not easy to talk to people through a mask and plexiglass.

view SSE from Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahView south from Yovimpa Point

Started off a busy Saturday morning with constant questions and after a couple hours I was more than ready to move on to Rainbow Point, 18 forested miles away.  I was right to think there would be no parking by the time I got there around 11am so after one loop squeezing through an overcrowded small parking lot I drove back down the road about 1/4 mile to a wide spot, parked, then walked back up.  From Yovimpa Point I could see cars backed up and parking illegally along the road through both the 12:30 and 1:30 geology talks.  When I returned to my truck at 3pm cars were parked down to and all around me off the road and on vegetation.  WTF?

trees Farview Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThe last of Autumn at the edge of the parking lot

Stopped at Farview overlook and was disappointed the Dawg House was out of hotdogs and fries.  Talked to a mom and daughter who were cool and the daughter asked about internships and how to become a Park Ranger.  We were interrupted by an old curmudgeon who asked when the Park Service planned to clean up the fire mess. What mess?  A lightning strike fire from 2009 sterilized much of the soil so regrowth is extremely slow, but that’s natural. Some folks don’t understand national parks.

Because of my late start time on Sunday I worked on some more camper cleaning.  Funny, even though I didn’t use it all summer it required a scrub and vacuum.  Might have been last winter’s dirt.  The fridge was disgusting with mold so received a thorough bleach wash.  The new memory foam finally relaxed and I made up the bed with clean sheets.  Still wasn’t ready to move in yet.

trees Pink Cliffs valley Navajo Mt sunset clouds Bryce Canyon National Park UtahPre-program walk along the rim for the last reverse sunset

That night I presented my last evening program for the season.  Definitely felt like time to wrap things up with the nights feeling more than chilly after dark.

Sunday also ended the shuttle service in an exceedingly busy Bryce Canyon National Park.  People still poured in and would find no free ride after parking oversized vehicles in the overflow lot by the visitor center.  Overlook parking lots only accommodate a handful of large rigs.

I was happy not to open on Monday at 30° with no shuttle when both campgrounds became first-come-first-serve with no hosts on site.  Parking lots overflowing and yet more people kept rolling in.  This is usually a mellow time of year including retired and young people with no children.  Actually my favorite season.  But not so much this year.  Kids didn’t return to school and many families are traveling while homeschooling, some as newbie RVers.

hoodoos Sunrise Point lenticular clouds Bryce Canyon National Park UtahUnusual to see lenticular clouds

Tuesday is my first of three Fridays during the last days at Bryce Canyon.  After a long morning counting people in and out of the visitor center with never ending questions after lunch at the information booth I am more than ready to be done for the season.  Instead I lead a Rim Walk with some awesome visitors, and it does turn out to be the last of the season.  Count down is on, two work days left.  I’m getting grouchier.

All I can think about is moving, from one RV to the other and down in elevation where it’s warmer.  I’d hoped to leave Bryce eastward to Capital Reef and maybe beyond.  But long range weather forecast indicates cold nights and possible snow.  Even Lee’s Ferry, further south is showing nights below 40°.

spider web on lizard and VW in RV Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThat rubber lizard doesn’t seem to scare off spiders

I spent my last two days off work cleaning, packing and semi-moving.  Because the 5th-wheel wouldn’t be moved until Sunday afternoon at the earliest I didn’t have to move completely out until I was ready to leave on Sunday morning.  I set Saturday night as my goal.

hoodoos late light clouds moon Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThere are limitations to moving food before self.  Plus sweep the slides off before pulling them in and disconnecting utilities.  I didn’t particularly want to move Sierra until the last minute so she didn’t have to go to work with me for those last two days.

On the real Friday, my Monday and second to last day of work for the season, I arrived to hear about the missing hiker at Bryce Canyon.  A 62 year-old solo man missing for two cold nights.  Family reports possible dementia.  Available staff from inside the park and out along with helicopters search the backcountry.  He is finally found alive late in the afternoon.  I hike alone frequently.  Could that be me?

trees hoodoos smoky haze Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSmoke haze eastward from the rim

I presented my last two hoodoo geology talks and in between met friends of a Flagstaff friend coincidentally at Sunset Point.  They were told to keep an eye out for Ranger Gaelyn and surprised when we crossed paths.

light & shadows hoodoo window Bryce Canyon National Park UtahI returned to work the visitor center information tables and was informed that a Bryce Canyon National Park employee had been confirmed with COVID19 and their entire division put on 14-day quarantine.  Great!  WTF!  Why wasn’t the entire park closed down?  Why were interpretive Rangers still out and about like nothing happened?  I felt like someone had shot my brains, they were ready to explode.  I had a bit of a melt-down and was rather useless the rest of the day.

wranglers horses dust Bryce Canyon National Park UtahMy last day, call it a Friday, yet another busy Saturday.  Last of the stinky horse corral.  Last door counting which I certainly won’t miss.  Last plaza info and hours of repetitive answers.  Last scheduled Rim Walk that didn’t go and I was good with that.  I turned in stuff—keys, badges, and paperwork—and went home to move the last of food etc. and Sierra to sleep in the camper.  Still not certain about where we’d go from Bryce.

side mirror storm clouds SR 89 South UtahSunday morning I watched the weather report deteriorate to snow by afternoon at Bryce.  It would be pretty, but no thanks.  Swept and pulled in the slide-outs, disconnected the utilities, and with strong winds at 57° and dropping left the park at 10am saying goodbye to the last days at Bryce Canyon with a storm chasing me south to somewhere.

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28 September 2020

Getting things done before end of season

yellow Rabbit brush flowers hoodoos valley Table Cliffs sunrise clouds Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahFinally getting things done before end of season less than a month away.  That’s me, always procrastinating.

late light hoodoos trees Sunset Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahBut three days off in a row feels like a treat and makes it a little easier getting things done.  That followed by a four day work week, and two days off with company, then back to work.  Do we call what I do work?  Yes, but a nice balance being a summer seasonal Park Ranger and gypsy.

Last week’s days off were all about getting things done that I put off for too long.  The computer’s been wonky so I did a double backup in case it dies.  Also worked on the 2021 calendar photos and blog post.  Guess the profit from those sales will go towards a new laptop.  Once the final photos are chosen I’ll format and order so let me know if you want a calendar.

hoodoos trees Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahFinally got around to ordering a bunch of stuff—almond syrup for my morning latte, a Bissell pet-fur vacuum cleaner, camping solar shower bag, and Queen-size memory foam topper for the camper’s bed.  Need to have things shipped while I still have a physical address.  Other chores were mundane like laundry and cleaning house—which I can almost put off forever—and replacing a dripping water hose.

Southeast view from Yovimpa Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahView southeast from Yovimpa Point 9-14-20

Gray & White cliffs haze cloud from Yovimpa Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAs above with smoky haze 9-19-20

Back to work on Saturday with the opening schedule, a couple hours at the visitor center, then gone the rest of the day to Rainbow Point, 18 miles, at the end of the road south followed by my choice of where to rove.  OMG!  Another crazy busy Saturday.  Parking lot overfull by 11am so I drive down the road about 1/4 mile to a wide spot and walked back up to Yovimpa Point for a 12:30 and 1:30 Staircase geology talk.  The high wind felt cold and chased me off the point before the second talk.  Finished the afternoon roving at the Natural Bridge overlook for about an hour and then ended my day a little early.  What the heck, I have hundreds of hours of sick leave.

Sunday was just as busy.  I worked the afternoon at the visitor center and after dinner presented the 8pm evening program about wildlife at Bryce Canyon.  Typically, visitation would level out after the holiday to boomers and folks without children.  But so many people are homeschooling that travel to parks with kids is still a thing.  Not to mention all the extra RVs.

fall red & ever green below Yovimpa Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAutumn red mixes with evergreens below Yovimpa Point

Murphy at work in my laptop Monday morning, and on the website too, while I’m trying to post about the 2021 Geogypsy calendar.  Hoping to use the calendar profits to help pay for a new computer.  Still working on the comment problem here but it basically has to wait until days off, and help from a friend.  Instead my work schedule took me to Sunset Point area that day in high winds that could have blown my hat off.  Thunder boomed with cloud-to-cloud lightning and I managed to present the 11am hoodoo geology talk, but not the 1pm, before sprinkles of rain became grapple (mixed hail and snow) and then turned into a down pour just after I got into my truck.  So I returned to the visitor center to help with inside orientation knowing it would be very busy as people descend on the building when it rains.  Have been spoiled by being outside for that and it’s difficult to hear and talk through plexiglass especially wearing a mask.

Still plodding along on getting things done now that I have an end of work date of October 24th.  The Bissell pet-fur vacuum arrived and works pretty good.  Now I just need to get into the truckcamper with it to de-fuzz the place before moving into it for the winter.  Solar shower also arrived and will be convenient for outside hot water washing.  Set up the towing, winterizing, and storage of the 5th-wheel for winter on the same property as last year.  Can you hear my big sigh of relief?

hoodoos rainbow storm clouds light Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahMy Friday on Tuesday brought another day of rain and hail.  Yet I still led a 4pm Rim Walk with 23 visitors even with sprinkles and we saw a rainbow.  Or at least half a rainbow.

hoodoos trees sunset clouds Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

trees sunset clouds moon Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahCompany arrived Wednesday and we visited until time to watch the light change on the hoodoos with hope to catch a bit of sunset color.  Then back to my RV to make dinner for a birthday boy/man.

yellow Rabbit brush flowers hoodoos sunrise haze sunburst Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

hoodoos first light Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThey even convinced me to get up before sunrise so we could photograph before they left Thursday for fall color in Colorado.  Hard to believe this was the first sunset and rise I’ve shot all summer.

trees sunset clouds from RV window Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSunset

trees sunrise clouds from RV Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSunrise

Well, other than through the RV window or door.  Lazy or what?

Back to work on Friday under clear skies with a light smoky haze on the horizon and roving the busy rim from 10am-2pm.  Most questions are about directions and trailheads.  Then back to the visitor center for the rest of the afternoon and more questions.

Another crazy busy Saturday and not necessarily because it was National Public Lands Day and also fee free as most visitors don’t even know it’s a free day.  All parking lots at overlooks were full and closed several times throughout the day.  Extra shuttles were added.  And even the overflow parking was maxed with mostly RVs.  Volunteer visitors helped us pick up litter at three popular overlooks.

first light hoodoos shadows trees Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahMy afternoon Rim Walk went with, once again, 23 visitors and some wonderful conversation about overflowing national parks.  My cultural history talk/walk includes how people’s connection to the land has changed over time, both historically and as individuals.  I love when visitors share their stories.  I’m still calling this summer “weirdly wonderful” as it hasn’t been quite as crowded as the previous summer.  Really think we need more national parks to accommodate people.

trees sunset clouds moon Bryce Point Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahI wrote this on a Sunday off work—not my usual day—because I’m leading an almost-full-moon walk on Wednesday night.  I will post about that soon, or as I’m getting things done.  Then a friend calls and says, “How about checking out the fall colors on the North Kaibab?”  So that has me thinking about my next two days off.

trees sunset clouds Bryce Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahI found out from a cousin his dad, my 97-year old Uncle Kay, died last week.  He was the last of our family’s elder generation, and now it is us boomers who are the seniors.  Hard to believe.

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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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  • the good luck Duck
  • Travel with the Bayfield Bunch
  • Wandering Earl
  • Wheeling It
  • Yogi's Den

Caught in a Slot 9×12 canvas print under $50

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Lijit

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