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Slowly moving northward

After an extra long weekend near Wickenburg to shoot the moon I continued moving northward, not far mind you but I’m in no rush.  Don’t have to be at Bryce Canyon until the 11th.

desert mts moon set sunrise Vulture Pk Rd Wickenburg AZThe morning after full moon rise I was up early enough to catch a touch of color at sunrise with a pale moon setting.

Vulture Pk evening clouds Vulture Pk Rd Wicknburg AZDamn wind kept me in most of the day working on the laptop which is slowly sickening including the sticky keyboard.  I’ve been putting off replacement all winter.  And surely it is spring because I saw a little cottontail bouncing around near camp.

Vulture Pk sunset clouds Vulture Pk Rd Wicknburg AZThen the day ended with a gorgeous sunset reflecting over Vulture Peak.

Thought about leaving the following day but with the great signal stayed and finished the last post and took care of lots of online business.  Plus going into town meant laundry and shopping, not my favorite chores.  From Vulture Peak I would be moving northward to Congress for a night where there is basically no signal at all.

Cottontail Ghost town rd Congress AZ

mts sunset Ghost Town rd Congress AZI enjoyed one night in Congress except for that problem with signal.  But even better was a visit by a local friend.  And more cottontails plus a pretty sunset.

Date Crk Mts sunrise clouds Ghost Town Rd Congress AZ Left after sunrise moving northward into Yarnell where I stopped for breakfast and a brief visit.  Then drove the curvy White Spar Road over the Bradshaw Mountains thinking I’d camp at the White Spar national forest camp.  I’d looked online about reserving a space due to it being Easter weekend and the only option I saw was first come first serve.  I was already questioning my sanity about staying so close to Prescott in a campground over a holiday weekend.  The campground was full as it turns out reservations can be made, way ahead of time.  So I moved on to plan B.

forest Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZNot far away I followed the Copper Basin Road a short way into the Prescott National Forest to the first designated dispersed camp site I found.  Even saw patches of snow in the forest on some north facing slopes.  A little bit of logging going on in this area to clean up after a fire.

Sierra cat at camper door Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZOMG!  I was back in the lovely smell of Ponderosa Pine with no neighbors and only a little traffic on the dusty gravel road.  Even Sierra noted new smells.  Wish I could share that with you.  Bonus I had an awesome signal and Joann lives only a few miles away.

tree reflections Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZ

waterbug rings creek Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZA small creek runs nearby.  I hadn’t seen flowing water in many months.  All a perfect tradeoff for limited view through the trees for sunset.

Rained just a little that first night and in the morning, the delightful forest smell had increased multi-fold.  Around noon Joann came and got me then allowed me to use her minivan while she worked the afternoon.  Nice that I didn’t have to move my rig and loose my campsite.  I went computer shopping and bought a new Lenovo laptop at Staples.  The prices are high when you want speed and storage.  Now I’ll have to spend time setting it up how I want.

field tree redtail hawk Prescott Valley AZI returned a little early to pick up Joann from work and saw a Redtail hawk in a tree nearby.  Only had my phone to take a photo.

Bradshaw Mts sunset clouds Sierra Prieta overlook Prescott NF AZ

Bradshaw Mts sunset clouds Sierra Prieta overlook Prescott NF AZThen we drove beyond my camp to an overlook for sunset.  Several people were there enjoying the view over Skull Valley and beyond to the Weaver Mountains.

Joann in minivan Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZJoann’s minivan

Hassayampa Bridge Wagner Rd AZHassayampa Bridge

Saturday morning Joann picked me up as we were attending a celebration of life for a friend lost last year.  You may remember my staying with Mary and Jerry last Spring on their 45 acres of Juniper/Pinyon woodlands in Wagner.  Sadly, Jerry, at age 80, was diagnosed with cancer shortly after I left and died months later.

Gaelyn & Freddy Ready puppet Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZMe with Freddy Reddy, Joann’s puppet

But before that, I had an appointment for a long overdue biannual haircut with my favorite beautician in Yarnell.  Went a little shorter than usual and the hair won’t stay behind my ears but it will grow and in a few months I’ll be hoping I was closer in miles for another haircut.

campfire Copper Basin Rd Prescott NF AZJoann camped with me that night and we even had a small campfire, my first all season, and we roasted hotdogs on sticks. I hadn’t done that in decades.

5th-wheel BRCA NP UTAnd I found out my 5th-wheel has been moved from storage to the park, leveled and the slides are out.  Just about ready for me to move in.

horses Wagner Rd AZI feel elated! It’s all around me. Online, FB, the people, the air. SPRING!!!!!  I sure hope you feel it too.

But alas, it was time to continue moving northward, or first a little more east.  So on to Plan C, a visit with a friend from my North Rim days who lives in Dewey, east of Prescott.  Because there is strong WIFI there I worked on setting up the new computer, and that’s a slow process.

Arizona, Congress, Places I've been, Prescott, United States , 27 Comments

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.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Park Ranger, Places I've been, United States, Utah , 11 Comments

Survived Labor Day weekend at Bryce Canyon

hoodoos valley light Table Cliffs storm clouds Bryce Canyon National Park UtahWe didn’t know what to expect for visitation this year over Labor Day weekend at Bryce Canyon National Park.  Overall, visitation has been down about 30% except for maybe Saturdays.  Yet it seemed like a crazy busy end of summer holiday like any “normal” year.  Americans do like to celebrate their last hooray three-day weekend.  Felt like summer turned to winter with smoky haze in between.

Pink Cliffs sign Mossy Cave SR12 East Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAlong the SR12 east drive to Tropic

On my last weekend, Wednesday through Friday, I once again stayed home the first day, and ran out of propane that evening.  That would motivate me to go out the following day as I have no hot water without propane, or stove cooking.  Plus I went to the nearby Tropic hardware store for some washers to fix the sagging camper door that wouldn’t open.

That morning I received an email from the park that the water would be off at least part of the day to repair a leak in pipe.  I saw that being worked on as I left to get propane.  I was told the propane tank couldn’t be filled because it’s out of date, by five years.  I asked to be shown the date and it’s stamped 2003 and is good for 12 years.  Funny, it’s been filled many times in that expired time.  So both the 7-gallon tanks on the 5th-wheel will have to be re-certified.  Later.  Instead I had both the 5-gallon tanks in the camper filled and am using one in the 5th-wheel.  I have only temporarily made the camper door open and need some help to add more washers in the hinge.  RV homes need just as much maintenance, if not more, than a S&B (stick and brick).

I didn’t see the increasing visitation on Friday of Labor Day weekend at Bryce Canyon having the day off.  But Saturday I opened the visitor center at 8am and fought off the crowds 30 minutes before that trying to get set for the day.  This year, being set up outside, it takes a lot more than putting up the flag and unlocking the doors.

View South from Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahView south from Yovimpa Point

After a couple non-stop hours answering pretty much the same questions I was happily headed 18 miles away, south to Rainbow/Yovimpa Point.  Yet after circling that parking lot slowly three times with every available parking space, and not spaces, overflowing I drove back down the road about 1/4 mile to park in a wide spot.  Then walked back up to Yovimpa Point for afternoon presentations about Grand Staircase geology.

visitors Suicide Point from Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThere was more than just a bit of stupid going on by visitors going off trail

The park entrance station closed for about an hour as there was no place for anybody to park.  Extra shuttle buses were put on to accommodate visitors to the four main overlooks.  Buses don’t run to the end of the road where I was.

hoodoos valley view East Agua Canyon overlook Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAgua Canyon overlook view east

After several hours I walked back down to my truck (I take my own rig for the toilet) and then stopped at a couple overlooks where I could park to rove for a while.

visitor comments Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSunday was no less crowded and once again had to close for about an hour.  I started the day just afternoon as I worked late for the evening program.  Had people waiting at the door to the visitor center most of the three hours I spent keeping the building capacity at 50.  It was hot in the sun at 87°F.  People were a little cranky but for the most part polite, and mostly wearing masks.  The next three hours at the information station were non-stop again.  I’m a bit disappointed that people don’t pre-plan their visit just a little.  I’m not a travel agent, just a Park Ranger.  After a late dinner and closing the visitor center, still busy, I set up my laptop at the outdoor amphitheater by North campground for the 9pm “Where’s the Wildlife” program.  40+3 people signed up for the program—maximum is usually 40—and then 12 didn’t show up.  But it was a great program with much interest and good questions.  Leaving for home about 10:30 the sky was incredibly clear showing the Milky Way stretched across the horizon.  I didn’t take the time to set up tripod and camera.

hoodoos amphitheater smoky haze Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThe next morning a smoky haze surrounded Bryce Canyon.  Couldn’t see the valley from the rim. Difficult to say which of so many fires in the west sent smoke our way.  My heart goes out to those more affected.  Fire is usually good for the land but not good for people.  I had over 20 people at both hoodoo geology talks, and also talked about fire ecology.

solar panel trees sun smoky haze Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSmoky sun by solar panels

I was relieved to see the crowds dispersing by late afternoon the last of Labor Day weekend at Bryce Canyon.  I appreciate that my job is to provide information and service to visitors but sometimes…  It’s hard to fix stupid, or is just a lack of respect for self and others.  Way too many people with dogs on trails where they don’t belong.  Sometimes even the people don’t belong, or, are not prepared for rough terrain, high elevation, and arid conditions.  Why would anybody want to hike steep trails in flip-flops with no water, and then on top of it take their dog?  Emotional support dogs are not ADA service dogs.  One of our PSR (preventative search and rescue) volunteers was called a bitch for informing hikers about the no dog on trails policy.  But I’m sure they’d want our help if they got in trouble.

hoodoos valley light Table Cliffs storm clouds Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

hoodoos valley light Table Cliffs storm clouds Bryce Canyon National Park UtahTuesday the temperature dropped to a high in the 40s with northwest wind blowing the smoke away and gusting to 45mph.  Brutal wind chill.  Sure glad I wasn’t camping in a tent.  Our information service moved inside the visitor center with masked Rangers standing behind plexiglass.  Stationed at the door that morning to maintain building capacity I also stood inside.  Ranger Haley reported sideways snow at Rainbow Point and returned early.

hoodoos valley light Table Cliffs storm clouds Bryce Canyon National Park UtahI was scheduled to do a 4pm Rim Walk, and even dressed with leggings under my pants, three outside layers on top, a fleece hat, and compression gloves I was freezing.  Can’t see through fogged up glasses when wearing a mask.  I wasn’t disappointed when no visitors showed up for the walk.  Yet the light between clouds dancing on the land called for at least a few photos.   I and visitors watched a guy propose to his lady along the trail below Sunset Point overlook and applauded when he looked up and announced “she said yes.”

hoodoos trees storm clouds Bryce Canyon National Park UtahFinally my fingers went numb and snow flurries started to fall, my sign to end the day outside.

After work I sat home wrapped in coat, hat, and scarf with a blanket over my lap and three electric heaters running for several hours before I thawed out.  Prediction for below 32° meant adding another blanket to the bed.  You have to know by now, I don’t like cold weather.  Now I have to survive beyond Labor Day weekend at Bryce Canyon and hope it doesn’t get too cold.

Today’s predicted 30% chance of snow has me staying home on my first of two days off this week.  The temperature is suppose to increase this week starting tomorrow with low 60s to high 70s again next week.  Thank goodness.

 

Bryce Canyon National Park, CORVID-19, holiday, Places I've been, United States, Utah , , , 16 Comments

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