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Tag: fire

17 June 2020

Expanding services at Bryce Canyon

Silent City hoodoos amphitheater Rim trail Bryce Canyon National Park UtahExpanding services at Bryce Canyon increases visitation, both numbers and locality.  It’s beginning to look more like summer but without tour buses.

late light on Ponderosa Pine thru RV window Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThank goodness we’re not as busy as Zion, and seemingly more organized as I hear from visitors.  However, the number of vehicles entering the park continues to increase with more RVs.  A few weeks ago people I talked to were semi-local (it’s a big circle) from Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and southern California with some from Washington.  Lately, I’m meeting more folks from the Midwest and East coast.  Is COVID19 over?  Many are not wearing masks.  Yet visitation is still lower than last year due to cancelled tours, reservations, vacations, and travel restrictions.

purple Penstemon flowers Rainbow Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahIncreasing temperatures also indicate summer is on the way.  From cold 30°F mornings early last week to an almost balmy 50°F this week the highs are reaching almost 80°F.  Sitting outside in the shade of the visitor center a week ago Monday with high winds chilled me to the bone.  So I moved inside to count people coming in and out to a limit of 40 people in the building.  Late that day one of the popups went flying and now we have to take the tops off if winds are predicted over 20mph.  Even had a few snow flurries that morning.

Mangum fire map progression 2020_06_15-18.That was June 8th, when the Mangum fire started on the Kaibab National Forest at Mangum camp where four historic buildings burned, cause is still being investigated.  High winds quickly pushed the fire northwest through Ponderosa Pine forest and by the 12th covered 12,000 acres and people at Jacob Lake were evacuated.  That amounts to the Inn (where the awesome cookies come from), Forest Service visitor center and campgrounds, and a RV Park.  The North Rim shut down after only seven days open and employees were given an option to evacuate or shelter in place as they were safely south of the fire.  State Route 89A closed from Fredonia to Marble Canyon, Arizona.  We’ve been watching the smoke.  So far the historic Jacob Lake Inn has been spared but the fire jumped the road and as of the 16th covered 40,000 acres.  That’s when the Forever Resort concession employees were evacuated.  And still it burns with more high winds spreading through Juniper/Pinyon woodlands and sagebrush with grasses.

Gaelyn & Colleen Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThe fire didn’t slow down visitation here much averaging 1500 vehicles a day between the 8th to the 14th.  Long-time blog friend and RVer Colleen visited with her grown son, wife, and two children.  We met near the park’s General Store and sat chatting like old friends—though we’d never met—for several hours while waiting for her family to return from hiking among the hoodoos.  Then a fellow Ranger from Grand Canyon who currently works on the South Rim visited for several days and stayed overnight in my truckcamper “guesthouse”.

Somewhere in there I fit in an all day shopping trip to Cedar City with a friend and now won’t have to return for about a month.  We scored because the new Natural Grocers had opened that day making us both very happy and with many sales we bought lots.  Hit many other stores as well, us and some others wearing masks.

hoodoos trees valley Table Cliffs smoke Rim trail Bryce Canyon National Park UtahOther than covering the door-count and information area I table-roved for a couple hours near Sunset Point overlooking the hoodoo filled Bryce amphitheater and walked along the rim trail answering visitor questions.

North view trees hoodoos Rainbow Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahNorth view

East view hoodoos valley trees Table Cliffs Rainbow Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahEast view

West view from Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahWest view

Another day I roved at Rainbow and Yovimpa Points at the southern end of the Paunsaugunt Plateau providing long views circling at least 220°.  I talked a little about the Grand Staircase geology within view.

valley White Cliffs Molly's Nipple smoke from Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

smoke Mangum fire on North Kaibab Arizona from Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

map distance Yovimpa to Jacob Lake But I talked more about fire ecology because the southern view included the smoke from the Mangum fire located about 80 miles away as the Raven flies.

Lodge Bryce Canyon National Park UtahLodge

Sunset Motel Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSunset Motel

Every day something new and many expanding services opening at Bryce Canyon National Park.  On June 15th, lodging through Forever Resorts opened at the Sunset Motel and Deluxe cabins with take-out dining.  The Lodge Gift Shop and Valhalla Pizzeria will remain closed at this time.

Ranger Gaelyn posing VC Bryce Canyon National Park Utah by HaleyThe Natural History Association store and outside the visitor center Ranger information will be open from 8am to 8pm beginning June 21.  Backcountry will open for permits July 1st.

East view from Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAlthough the 2020 Geology Festival has been cancelled we hope to provide modified geology talks within the park in late June.  The later will depend on limiting group sizes that are committed to physical distancing.

hoodoos valley Table Cliffs smoke Bryce Canyon National Park UtahGetting closer to the park being in full operation yet I believe that won’t happen until Utah is in the green, and right now numbers of COVID19 cases are going up in Utah and Arizona.  So the park will continue expanding services as time goes on, or at least we hope so in a safe manner.

lone pine hoodoos rim trail Bryce Canyon National Park UtahLife can be a struggle but once roots are set growth occurs.

I am excited about getting out to present programs and just a little nervous too.  I am REALLY frustrated with my signal problem from home.  I can get a signal almost anywhere in the park on top of the plateau except where I live.  Even with the booster, my phone tethered to the computer shows 4Glte with three bars and it doesn’t work worth shit.  I am ready to SCREAM!  If you don’t hear from me for a while you’ll know why.

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Bryce Canyon National Park, COVID-19, Park Ranger, Places I've been, United States, Utah fire, Park Ranger, summer 19 Comments
20 August 2018

Making plans for nowhere

Ocotillo Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds SR89 ArizonaSadly, all the fires in the west means it’s not a particularly good time to travel so I’ve been making plans for nowhere and finding sites and sights near home.

rusty wheels grass Yarnell ArizonaI returned from my last road trip in time for monsoon storms to water the garden and everything is growing like weeds.  I wander around the yard and take random photos of things that just catch my eye.  Berta collected really cool rusty stuff for yard art.

Weaver Mountains storm clouds sunset Yarnell ArizonaStorms come to Yarnell usually in the late afternoon, winds rise, temperature drops at least a little, and only a bit of rain falls.  Not usually enough for flooding, thank goodness.  However there has been a lot of heavy rain and flash flooding all around us.

Gaelyn Weaver & Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 Arizona by Joann

Weaver & Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 Arizona

Weaver & Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 ArizonaIf the clouds look good but not too dense a friend and I have been driving part way down the Yarnell Hill to enjoy the colorful sunsets below the Weaver Mountains of home and instead look at the Date Creek Mountains.

Gaelyn wind blown sunset SR89 Yarnell Hill Arizona by JoannOne night the wind blew so hard I had to hang on tight to the tripod.

Weaver & Date Creek Mountains Yarnell Hill sunset clouds SR89 Arizona

Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds virga crepuscular rays from SR89 Arizona

Date Creek Mountains sunset clouds virga crepuscular rays from SR89 ArizonaBut it was worth every minute.

boulder fence stormy sky Yarnell Arizona

Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaSome nights the show is better than others.

buck Mule Deer Yarnell ArizonaAnd sometimes we are greeted by neighbors.

lightning clouds Yarnell ArizonaOne night I parked in the local dollar store lot and actually caught lightning, through the windshield with the dash as tripod.

trees boulders sunset clouds Yarnell ArizonaIn preparation for an overnight guest staying in the camper I ran an extension cord over to the 5th-wheel on the lot next door where Berta’s house was before the big fire.  I am once again not sleeping in the house due to nighttime creepy crawly visitors (scorpions).

trees rainbow gray sky Yarnell ArizonaThe next afternoon dark menacing clouds formed to the east moving quickly from north to south.  To the west the sun shone below a layer of clouds through a steady yet gentle rain and I looked for the rainbow.

Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 ArizonaLater I drove part way down the hill as the sky looked good for light and color.  Was just OK.  I didn’t quite make it back home before the sky opened and it poured.  And it just kept raining.  In fact there was flooding on the main street in town to the point the county brought in the big machines to clear off all the mud and rocks.  It was just sloppy mud at home so I actually drove the car next door when time to go to bed.  A bed I hadn’t slept in for almost 10 months.

Berta painting by Joann CWednesday was the memorial service for Berta and I will post about that separately.  Thursday morning, my friend and I took a walk into the Weaver Mountains which I will also post about soon.

Obi Fire at 8000 acres Walhalla Plateau North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI had hoped to return to the North Rim this week to visit some photog friends and maybe get some shots of the full moon rise.  But with all the smoke I’ve pretty much canceled those plans.  I do understand the importance of forest fire for the health of the landscape, yet smoke is never good and these fires seem so extreme and almost violent with loss of human lives, homes, and wildlife making it hard to bear.  Fortunately, Yarnell is still, knock on wood, smoke free.  So I better stay put for now and enjoy my local sights.  Can you tell I have itchy feet?

Sierra cat in bed Yarnell ArizonaIn addition, I’m not sure Sierra is in travel mode right now.  She got into a cat fight and has a wound that will take time to heal.  I think she’ll be indoors for a while.  OMGosh, I’ve become one of those #shareapictureofmycat people.

 

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Arizona, life, Yarnell dramatic sky, fire, smoke, stay home, sunsets, travel 37 Comments
15 July 2013

Sifting through the ashes Yarnell fire

Cleanup area Yarnell Arizona

Yavapai County is offering a lot of help for residents to clean up after the Yarnell fire.  For us uninsured renters they will scoop up the mess and haul it away.

Burnt shed Yarnell Arizona

I asked to have the tin storage shed lifted off the ash pile and that’s exactly what they did.  Plus took the crispy water heater and a little bit more.

shed removal Yarnell Arizona

These folks really know what they’re doing.  After making a pile of twisted tin the two dozers faced off and mushed it into one bucket.  I even took video, but probably won’t take the time to post it.

Ashes from the shed Yarnell Arizona

Much easier to get into the ashes with the shovel to sift for possible treasures.

Gaelyn by the shed Yarnell Arizona

So in my big clompy boots, work gloves, bandana and dust mask I started to sift.

Wagon full of melted stuff Yarnell Arizona

Really anything that survived in any melted form is worth saving to me.  Thinking of a Yarnell fire memorial garden, maybe right where the shed stood.

Diamond ring Yarnell Arizona

And low and behold I found my diamond ring showing the brightest and cleanest diamond with the gold band covered in gray scale.  This is the second time I’ve lost and found this ring.

So I ended my dirty sifting job for the afternoon and took a slow ride through the neighborhood in shock.

Melted trash can Yarnell Arizona

The strangeness of it all is still overwhelming.

Weaver Mts Yarnell Arizona

Life on the mountains will return.

Cardinal Yarnell Arizona

The birds are here.

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Arizona, Yarnell fire, memories 39 Comments

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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