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Tag: healing

27 July 2021

Healing rain and back to work with a better attitude

trees truckcamper FR219 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAlthough 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.

morning light trees House Rock Valley Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaEven after days of rain, I left the Kaibab under a smoky haze.

2020 Magnum Fire LeFevre overlook SR89A Kaibab National Forest ArizonaA 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.

hoodoos 2-bridges Navajo Loop Trail Sunset Point clouds Bryce Canyon National Park UtahTwo Bridges side of Navajo Loop Trail

trail crew working Wall Street Bryce Canyon National Park UtahTrail 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.

hoodoos amphitheater valley trees Bryce Canyon National Park UtahMonday 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.

Pink Cliffs Valley Mollys Nipple Navajo Mt clouds Yovimpa Pt Bryce Canyon National Park UtahI 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.

Pink Cliffs Valley Mollys Nipple storm clouds Yovimpa Pt Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThen 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.

Raven Yovimpa Pt Bryce Canyon National Park UtahMy 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.

Pink Cliffs valley forest clouds SW Yovimpa Pt Bryce Canyon National Park UtahRain 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 Jay birds puddle Bryce Canyon National Park UtahStellar 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.

Lynda Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaMarble 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.

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Bryce Canyon National Park, Places I've been, Seasonal Park Ranger, United States, Utah attitude, friends, healing, life 19 Comments
07 January 2020

Healing desert apricity at Kofa NWR

I almost chickened out.  Kept watching the predicted weather reports while enjoying the electric heat.  I could just stay longer and pay more rent.  But I so wanted to BE, sitting in the desert, no close neighbors, soaking up the healing desert apricity.

Ocotillo trees desert sunburst clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaApricity (n) – the warmth of the sun in winter.  I tend to find apricity in the desert but it can be found almost anywhere.  Hopefully where you are and especially if that’s in the cold northern hemisphere.

tanks tower building sunrise clouds North Ranch RV Park Congress ArizonaI once again slept through the midnight celebrations welcoming in the new year.  In fact, I went to bed early and actually woke in time for sunrise, thinking it was good practice for desert life.  Glad I’ll be heading to a better view than the water tanks.

OHV Road desert mountains Congress Arizona

Lonesome Saguaro mandela desert Congress Arizona

trees dry wash OHV trail Congress ArizonaJoann came down from Prescott and we walked into the BLM adjacent to North Ranch following an OHV track to the Lonesome Saguaro, which sadly looks like it’s been used for target practice.  I’m going to miss our weekly visits although she may come visit me in the desert.

truckcamper desert Kofa Mountains ArizonaI was in no rush the next morning.  Got a blog post scheduled for the next day, dumped tanks, fueled up and got on the road at noon.  Stopped for lunch a couple hours later in Quartzsite and was parked level by 3:30pm just under two miles off pavement along Palm Canyon Road on BLM adjacent to Kofa NWR.

I was actually awake in time for an uncolorful sunrise and was grateful for the heat of the oven to take off the morning chill at 39°.  And there’s part of the problem with getting up at the coldest part of the day.

Palo Verde & Ocotillo trees desert Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaOnce it warmed, I went out for a two-hour mindful walk weaving between desert plants while exploring the vicinity south of camp.  I look for vegetation that could block the view of other RVs and make a good foreground in photos.  Palo Verde with dense twisted green branches, narrow stalks of Ocotillo some with green leaves and others with red flowers, Saguaro cactus are scattered and sparse unlike creosote bushes that are everywhere with burrow holes around the mounds at their base.  I never see anything go in or out.

Sierra cat on leash desert camper Palm Canyon Road Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaSierra came out for a little walk on her leash.  Then we sat and enjoyed the apricity.  With no wind, the desert is a quiet place.  I cannot find a specific word for that so have made up my own.

ocotillo desert sunset Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaDeserquies (n) – silence only found in the desert.  Think I should submit it to Webster?

desert clouds Palm Canyon Road Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaGayle came by to park for the night in her RV and we chatted the afternoon away.

Saguaro cactus desert Palm Canyon Road Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe next day we enjoyed a two hour saunter, sat and chatted, and then she left to meet up with a friend.  What an inspiration, she’s 83 and been RV traveling for 25 years.

Ocotillo tree desert sunset clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI’m using the big camera and find it heavy and a bit difficult to zoom and focus with my lesser healed left hand.  By evening my arms and hands are sore.  I think the camera is acting up, intermittent shutter and focus problems.

Ocotillo tree red flowers moon Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe desert warmth in winter frequently includes a cooling wind that can drop the temperature 10°.  I find plenty of healing desert apricity at 66° but wind and 56° not so much.  So some days I hang out in the camper enjoying my window views.  Watching hummingbirds on the brilliant red Ocotillo blooms.  It’s the moon in this shot.

desert last light Kofa Mountains Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaOn those inside days I’m on the computer a lot and fortunately here I have a decent signal.  Clear sunny days mean the solar panel keeps my house battery up to snuff for lighting the propane refrigerator and lights in the evening.  I use an inverter plugged into the trucks power-point with an extension cord run into the camper to charge phone and laptop.

Ocotillo trees desert sunset clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaBeing it’s coldest in the wee morning hours I’m going back to my usual watch sunset, stay up late (11pm), and sleep in.  Since I broke my wrists I seem to easily sleep through ten hours a night.  Right now, if the wind stops, I enjoy being outside mid-day for more healing desert apricity.  It’s working.

Full moon rise Friday the 10th.

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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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