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Tag: smoke

11 August 2021

Work, company, and exploring the Grand Staircase

desert varnish sandstone walls Burr Trail Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument UtahMore rain followed by increased temperatures and sunshine with a variety of smoke diminished views over the Grand Staircase geology and national monument.

July ended still supporting monsoon storms at Bryce Canyon.  Rained hard on my day off spent at home including hail, lightning, and thunder.  Sierra stays close by when it’s booming.  Wonder if the storm spooked the horse that galloped past followed by a cowboy-wrangler on horseback that herded it back to the corral below where I live.  Puddles in the road grew larger.

Golden Eagle rain from RV window Bryce Canyon National Park UtahMotion caught my eye and a Golden Eagle stood soaked in a puddle.  It was there for measurable minutes while I took terrible photos through a rain streaked window.  Only the second time I’ve positively identified a Golden at Bryce.  Lightning crashed less than a mile away and the RV shook.  Made me glad to be grounded with rubber tires.  The storm cell hung overhead for quite a while.

Back to work Sunday with a 10am start, no programs, and way too many hours at the visitor center.  By CDC rules we are back to requiring masks worn inside the building, staff and visitors, and limited entry to 80 people.  A most boring job, other than people watching, sitting at the door with a counter app on the ipad.  Gets especially difficult with lightning filled storms intermittently causing Rangers to move in and out of the building.

Sierra cat looking for Meowie Jane in RV Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

Meowie Jane catnip replacementRanger R, a botanist who has a love of galls, gave me a Japanese gall called Meowie Jane, Actinidia polygama, Silvervine, a catnip replacement and asked for a quote how Sierra reacted to it.  I don’t feed her catnip very often and she mostly ignores toys filled with it.  However, when I held the gall towards her she quickly responded with a sniff.  When I put it on the floor she rubbed all over it then started batting it around like a soccer ball.  Scored three goals under furniture and as goalie I dutifully retrieved them.  Hope we don’t get in trouble and wonder if Meowie Jane is legal in Utah, or the USA. 😉

Ranger Gaelyn recommended and endorsed book Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThe next morning started at the information desk for an hour then off to present the 11am hoodoo geology talk.  Because I had to cover an hour as door counter at 2pm I roved after the presentation and before lunch, which is basically hanging out at Sunset Point and answering questions.  Day ended with two hours back at the information desk.  Way too much time at the desk, IMHO.

White & Pink members Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahHowever, I looked forward to the next two days going to Rainbow Point and my happy place with the huge view from Yovimpa Point.  Also meant getting up early to open the visitor center and staff the door for two hours.  Morning coffee at 5:30am requires a heater by my side and a warm lap cat.  Temperatures range from low 50s to low 80s throughout the day at 8000-9100 feet in elevation.

smoky view SE Pink Cliffs & beyond Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahYovimpa rises just over 9100 feet at the southern tip of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.  The 100 mile view makes me feel on a mountain summit but I let a vehicle do the climb.  Sadly a smoky haze from hard to say where diminished the view to about half.  Yet could still see the typical four out of five cliff steps of the geologic Grand Staircase, the story I share of what can be seen.

hoodoos Pink Cliffs view South Black Birch overlook Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

trees White & Pink Members Black Birch overlook Bryce Canyon National Park UtahOn the return drive I stopped at a couple overlooks.  Not sure I’d ever had space to park at Black Birch overlook.  Every place offers a different view.

Peregrine Falcon bird Natural Bridge overlook Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

Peregrine Falcon bird Natural Bridge overlook Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAt Natural Bridge, where many stop yet don’t stay long, I saw a Peregrine Falcon and took some lousy yet identifiable photos.

Ranger Gaelyn Yovimpa Pointt Bryce Canyon National Park Utah by TimSame schedule on Wednesday—my Friday—and between home and work my NPS keys disappeared off my pant loop.  I retraced my steps several times and looked between the seats.  Maybe my eyes just aren’t too open at that early hour.  After opening and two hours of door counting I took off to Yovimpa with hotdog lunch on the way. Was very quiet out there, and once again smoky with diminished view.  Ranger T came out for a while on project time.

empty view truckcamper Natural Bridge overlook Bryce Canyon National Park UtahStopped at Natural Bridge and had the entire place to myself, briefly.

Torch hoodoo Natural Bridge overlook Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSo I enjoyed the view of what I call the torch hoodoo.  I was able to leave a little early knowing with Lynda’s short visit she’d probably beat me home.  That’s what happened and was of course just fine especially as she brought home-made lasagna for dinner.  I searched again for the missing keys and found them almost gone between the truck seats.

NE to SE view from Head of the Rocks SR12 Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument UtahMy first day off I don’t like to be rushed yet we did leave the park before noon.  With Lynda as my driver and guide we explored east on SR12 past where I’d been before.  Such a treat being behind the camera instead of the wheel.  OK, so I do shoot while driving but not with the big camera.  Distant views were obscured by the smoky haze that settled on the horizon.  Temperatures rose into the 90s so our stops where short yet sweet.

  Calf Creek sandstone cliffs SR12 Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument UtahCalf Creek Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Wow, was my word of the day as we traveled across this sandstone landscape of benches and canyons where sometimes flowing water created brilliant green strips through the mostly soft white and warm pillows of rock.

  Deer Creek trees cliffs Burr Trail Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument UtahDeer Creek Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

trees Escalante River cliffs Burr Trail Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument UtahEscalante River Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

At Boulder we turned onto the Burr Trail and continued through the dramatic and contrasting landscape of the Grand Staircase National Monument.

Lynda & Bailey Monks Alcove Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Utah

trees cliffs Monks Alcove Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Utah

Monks Alcove Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument UtahOne place cool enough to walk with Bailey, a small slot canyon.  Waited only briefly for a mom and lots of noisy kids to leave and allow their echo to disappear as we soaked up the rock cooled and shaded air.

Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm Boulder UtahOur return route was via the famous Hell’s Backbone Grill and Farm in Boulder.  More Wow!

Orchard Zinger Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm Boulder UtahWe both started out with an Orchard Zinger cocktail that went down sweet with a zing.  Dinner was served on the patio, with Bailey in his bed just over the low rail.

Jenchilladas Hell's Backbone Grill & Farm Boulder UtahLemony Cluck Backbone Bar & Grill Boulder Utah

Lynda ordered her favorite Jenchilladas and I the Lemony Cluck.  Hard to describe how delicious.

Apricot Smash recipe from Hell's Backbone Grill and Farm Boulder UtahTheir apricot harvest is almost over so I bought a bottle of Apricot Smash.  I will most certainly return to this area in the fall when cooler and eat here again.

hoodoos valley smoke Bryce Canyon National Park UtahSecond day off was boring catchup and chores then back to work Saturday starting with two hours as the door counter again followed by the 11am hoodoo talk.  I realized it was smoky when I left the building but was still taken back by the diminished view and hazy amphitheater full off hoodoos.  The Aquarius Plateau only 14 miles east was totally obscured along with the valley below.

Great Basin Rattlesnake Bryce Canyon National Park UtahAfter the talk I once again roved in the area and good thing as a couple came to tell me the lady had sat on a tree root up the trail and a rattlesnake struck her boot.  Somehow I didn’t hear her scream but she was fine.  I called it in and they lead us to the tree.  Sure enough, a Great Basin Rattlesnake still hanging around.  Ranger R got the snake catching kit and quickly caught, bucketed, and relocated it.

Sunday was my late day and began at noon, yes once again as the door counter.  At our current visitation it’s not hard to maintain 80 people in the building with some being reminded to mask up, and we have masks to give away.  But when two tour buses traveling together arrived a little chaos ensued.  Especially when one of their guides asked public to leave the building so the group could all get in at once and overflow the theater with a current 25 seat capacity.  Once the dust settled and they were all outside again I asked to speak to the person in charge and told her they needed to plan better while traveling during a pandemic and suggested they break the group up, especially if going into federal buildings.  She apologized and told me they’d called ahead, sorry no record of that or we would have more people to deal with this.  I can only hope the same didn’t occur at their next stop.  After dinner I covered the information desk a couple hours then helped closed the visitor center.  When I arrived at 8:25pm to set up for my 9pm slide presentation about Wildlife there were already people sitting in the outdoor amphitheater.  Had a crowd of about 50 including two obnoxious, not precocious, kids that I nipped in the bud after three interrupting comments about volcanoes.  I have to keep on time, and subject.

light on hoodoos Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThe next day I started 10am at the information desk and two hours later was informed our tap water is possibly contaminated, all public water access is closed, we are on a “boil tap water” order.  Turns out one of three wells tested positive for E coli before it hit the chlorination process.  That well was closed and the water being retested.  I presented the 2pm hoodoo talk and roved until 5:30 when I called it a day.

Peregrine Falcon Yovimpa Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahTuesday was my Friday and back out to Yovimpa Point after two hours of door counting.  Most of the smoky haze was gone but clouds danced overhead with an increasing chance of rain through the afternoon.  I hung out from 11:30-3 talking to many visitors about the Grand Staircase geology and national monument seen below this awe inspiring view.  Then it started to sprinkle and as I was walking away I saw a Peregrine Falcon and snapped a few lousy shots.

clouds Natural Bridge Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThe rain didn’t last long so I stopped at Natural Bridge to rove about an hour watching the clouds continue to build.

Cottonwood tree Monks Alcove Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument UtahEnd of work week with ten days off.  How did I manage that?  Well the first is a paid project day I took off for mental health.  Then it’s my three day weekend.  I have the first four days of next week off to drive to St George and get help taking the camper off the truck for future repairs when the temperatures drop there.  Then I’m back to two normal days off.  I could get used to this.

Push my buttons!

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Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Places I've been, United States, Utah monsoon, Park Ranger, smoke 20 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

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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