Menu

Tag: snow

Smooth sailing first day back to work

April 25, 2016

IMG_20160425_122033594

8am start time came early for me after six months of unemployment, or as I’d rather call it semi-retirement. The end of April is time to go back to work. Five returning Rangers met our new Admin Assistant and the Boss to do paper work, it’s the government you know. Plus we had to catch up with each other’s winter doings. And it started to snow, grapple really which is unfortunately very dry stuff when we need the moisture. Came down hard most of the day. Back to winter. At least it held off a few days to get settled in. Seems it usually snows the day I arrive or the next day.

Then the boss talked about some changes to our program scheduling. Nothing too major. Exchanged an hour long mid-day kid program with a 20 minute morning “Geo Glimpse”. Think I’ll talk about fossils. Also added a guided hike on the Widforss Trail mornings that staffing allows. Being the trail is named after painter Gunnar Widforss I might try to focus visitors to look at nature with an artist’s eye. Heck every body carries some kind of camera these days. Yet I’m not sure I’m qualified to teach photography.

Instead of working four 10-hour days like in the past many seasons we’ll be working a 5/4/9 schedule. As soon as I figure that out I’ll let you know. It adds up to 80 hours over a two week pay period. So one week we work five days with two days off and the next week we work four days with three days off.

The first two Artist-in-Residence arrive on opening day, May 15th. More on them as I find out.

Another Ranger and I will be marching in Kanab’s Amazing Earthfest parade May 14th. I think a float is being sent over from the South Rim. Lots of activities are happening for the week of May 8-14. More on that coming also.

Next week we’re going to the South Rim Monday to Wed/Thurs for training.

After lunch we all tackled a long overdue clean up in our tiny offices. Four piles for broken and antiquated stuff: trash, recycle (none inventoried electronics to Kanab’s Earthfest), surplus to the South Rim, and the I don’t knows. Opened up a little space to rearrange what’s left. Then we all fought and won with the computers trying to log on with IT’s help and do some more official business.

We still have much to do get ready to open. Going to be a great season.

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, National Parks and Monuments , 17 Comments

Almost ready to go camping for Christmas

Both RVs with snow Crazy Horse RV Park Kanab UtahBill and I will be using the truck camper at his son’s house near Salt Lake City over the holiday and we’re almost ready to go camping for Christmas.

Hole for hot water tank 5th-wheel Crazy Horse RV Park Kanab UtahI’ve had a water leak on the 5th-wheel since setting up in Kanab a month ago.  First it was a cracked valve right by the water heater which I paid to have fixed.  But a week later I had icicles.  I suspected the hot water tank itself might be leaking but there are other hoses and junctions I couldn’t really see.  So I spent a week experimenting.

Hot water tank 5th-wheel Crazy Horse RV Park Kanab UtahFirst I turned off valves to bypass the tank.  The dripping slowed down but was still there. Could be residual.  Then drained the tank and after two days barely a drip.  Damn, I didn’t want to spend $400 on a new tank.  But what else could I do and have hot water.  It does look a little cruddy and you don’t even want to know what came out with the water so I’ve learned a lesson about replacing the anode tube—slows down corrosion inside the tank—annually.  The new tank is scheduled to be here Tuesday.  So hopefully will be put back in Wednesday and I’ll be back to having hot water.

Wood in truck bed Kanab UtahAlso been waiting for a window of relatively warm temperatures to put the slide-in camper back on the truck.  Sunday was the chance with a high of 48F.  Had to rearrange the bed of the truck to make it flat and even with the 5th-wheel hitch out there is a 1 1/4 inch high bracket.  Originally there were 2x4s and 4x4s arranged in the bed but it wasn’t completely flat and I noticed a buckle on an inside wall.  Looked into removing the bracket but the bolts under the truck are very difficult to get to.  So I bought two pieces of 3/4 inch plywood and had them cut into three pieces to fit around the brackets.  Then screwed them together.

Truck going under camper Kanab UtahWell it took almost 4 hours to crank up the four corner jacks high enough to get the truck under—that’s slow with 5-10 cranks on each corner at a time round and round—line things up and get the camper back on.

Between camper and truck bed Kanab UtahThere is little margin for error when sliding the camper in between the wheel wells.  Two metal tie downs were removed from the truck bedrail.  Finally the tie downs which caused me confusion until I remembered the camper now sits at least 2 inches closer to the truck.  I can’t thank Bill enough for helping me with this chore and his patience at my frustrations.

Snowy morning from RV Crazy Horse RV park Kanab UtahJust in time, as this is what I woke up to this morning and more predicted throughout the day.  Partly sunny tomorrow with a high of 34F, nighttime temps are approaching single digits when 3 electric heaters only keep the living room at about 60F, that really at the desk where I spend the most time indoors with 2 heaters pointed right at me dressed in layers, wrapped in a blanket, wearing a hat and finger-less gloves.  For typing you know.  And making photos through my Imax windows.  What a view!

We’ll be taking off early next week towards Provo, Utah to spend Christmas with Bill’s son and DIL plus other family members to the count of 20+ so it will be really nice to have the camper in their drive for our own room to sleep and run away to if needed.  Be able to plug in to 110 power so can warm the bed with electric blanket and hopefully keep warm with one electric heater.  Or propane if we’re feeling desperate.  Not easy to keep us desert rats warm.  Note to self: remember to winterize the 5th-wheel before leaving to go camping for Christmas.

Snowy view with crystals from RV Crazy Horse RV park Kanab UtahAlthough I don’t like to be cold I can appreciate the look of this red rock Utah winter wonderland.

RV living, Utah , 32 Comments

Snow on opening day at the North Rim

Welcome to Grand Canyon where we have snow on opening day at the North Rim on May 15th, 2015.  Last year it was in the 90s.

Storm clouds over canyon from RV North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThursday, the day before opening, it was bitter cold with rain, snow, hail and graupel.  All our staff had the day off and  I stayed inside all day.  After a brief morning view the canyon was nonexistent as fog and clouds filled the great abyss.

Foggy canyon at Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWoke up Friday to a blanket of white but that didn’t slow down our visitors much.  They came in droves wondering when and if they’d see the canyon.  Rangers just hate the “When will it stop?” question.  But really, most everyone was just happy to be at Grand Canyon.

Canyon & cloud North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaIf they have patience, and watch the canyon fog it will drift in and out providing window views that provide the most spectacular show.

I’m sure there were a few cancellations at the Lodge and campground especially.  One woman camping in a tent asked if there is a shelter to block the wind so she could cook dinner.  Sadly there is not.  People arrive with shorts and T-shirts only expecting all of Arizona a desert.  I’ll bet a lot of sweatshirts and jackets were sold.

Opening day is really big for rim to rim hikers.  I spoke to many who said it rained on them the last seven miles up from Cottonwood camp and the trail was a muddy mess.

I gave my first Condor talk of the season in the afternoon, quickly scanning my notes beforehand.  After 6 months gone I always feel like I’ve forgotten everything.  Although I had to check for one date, when I opened my mouth it just all fell out.

Clouds over Widforss Plateau from RV North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSaturday started off with a thick sky.

Frosty trees North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaWhen I left for work in the morning the trees wore a frosty coat.  But the sun worked hard to break through and it was drippy all day.

Brahma & Zoroaster temples surrounded by clouds North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAt the lodge clouds drifted in and out of the canyon.

Canyon from Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBy afternoon the view was clear with fantastic clouds sliding over the canyon and the snow was gone except for the distant peaks.

Sunset from RV North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd the sunset was divine, although a little cluttered in the foreground which is part of my Imax window’s view.  All in all, a magical start to the 2015 season with snow on opening day at the North Rim Grand Canyon.

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim , 24 Comments

Lijit

© Copyright 2008-2024. Geogypsytraveler.com