April 30 – May 1, 2016
It snowed Friday night so the ground was very white Saturday morning for a snowy drive from the North Rim to Kanab.
Bill said it had been raining on and off in Kanab. The clouds hung low and threatened more snow. Although I don’t like this cold white stuff I’m happy the land is receiving more moisture.
No bison hanging around in the meadows but did see a few cows and a male turkey looking rather dapper and probably searching for a mate. The tiny lakes, sink holes, and drainages were full of water.
At first I’d guess about an inch or two of snow. But after leaving the park and climbing in elevation to the old 2006 Warm Fire burn it got deeper. And deeper. Been a while since I drove in snow so took it real slow and easy. Didn’t even take as many photos as usual from behind the wheel.
Bonus that I didn’t have to get out and open the gate at Jacob Lake. A concession employee was letting in new employee arrivals.
Still snow after Jacob Lake along SR89A.
Didn’t disappear until almost within sight of the Vermilion Cliffs but still the clouds hung low, clinging to the tall red rock cliffs. Took me two hours instead of the usual one and a half.
Only two days off so had to drive back up to the North Rim the next day. And though there were patches of blue sky in Kanab clouds hug low over the Kaibab Plateau. Snow had melted along the road up to Jacob Lake.
Some snow remained up through the burn.
Many little micro-climes noticeable as I drove through meadows and forest. Less snow then increasingly more snow.
Yet shafts of light penetrated the heavy cloud cover setting the white blanket to glow.
The closer I got to the North Rim the more blue sky I could see. But it didn’t last long and rained just after I got home.
