NORTH RIM, GRAND CANYON 2015

Enjoyed the drive down to the North Rim from Bryce Canyon. It is a lovely rural drive through a couple of small towns. In Kanab we stocked up for breakfasts and snacks while at North Rim. I also tried to see Charlie at the Willow Canyon Outdoor Store, but he was not in town.

The drive South from there is a beautiful drive through some plateau country, ponderosa forests, and beautiful long meadows after we left  Jacob Lake. At the Jacob Lake Lodge we treated ourselves to their famous milkshakes. We were at North Rim by about 1300. We checked in with our various hosts – Ranger Gaelyn, and dining room server Sharon. We got an assessment of the drive to the Basin where we enjoyed a couple of hours photographing it’s show of wildflowers and meadows.

SCARLET GILIA/SKYROCKET

SILVERSTEM LUPINE

We then headed for Cape Royal for sunset with stops along the way at Vista Encatada, Roosevelt Point, Walhalla Overlook, and a dinner stop with a view at Wedding Point at Cape Royal. The sunset did not disappoint at Cape Royal. 

MT. HAYDEN from VISTA ENCATADA

BEARDLIP PENSTEMON AND CANYON DETAIL

VISHNU TEMPLE

ANGEL'S WINDOW

 The sunset did not disappoint at Cape Royal. 

WOTAN'S THRONE from WEDDING POINT

WOTAN'S THRONE AT SUNSET

CANYON AND SKY

COLORFUL CLOUD

The next morning we were off to Point Imperial for sunrise. It was quite overcast but we got some lovely “God Rays”, and dark and moody photos of Mt. Hayden. 

POINT IMPERIAL VIEW TO NORTH EAST

MT. HAYDEN

MT. HAYDEN WITH CANYON DETAIL

Back at the village we enjoyed our breakfast at the Rough Rider Coffee Saloon where I was able to visit with my friend Robert, the barista. Afterwards I took Mike and Lin to Bright Angel Point so they would have a feel for our sunset opportunities that afternoon. 

PINYON PINE OVERLOOKING B. A. TRAIL

PAINTBRUSH

Well, the afternoon got overcast and rainy. 

RAINY AFTERNOON AT THE CANYON

I was able to connect with a few friends, but also missed others who were probably taking advantage of their days off to go to town or hike out in the neighboring wilderness.There was no sunset to speak of, and much as we would like to have seen some lightning around the Canyon, it never happened. We enjoyed a late dinner in the dining room with my friend Sharon as our server.

Sharon invited us to breakfast in the morning so we could visit, and was willing to get up early as we had to drive all the way home today. Before our breakfast we were able to go out a ways on the Bright Angel Point Trail to capture some of the weather in the Canyon. The inversion makes for some truly different views of the Canyon which those of us who have worked there thoroughly enjoy. 

THROUGH NATURE'S WINDOW

CLOUDS IN THE CANYON

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH ON CANYON EDGE

We were on our way about 0830 for San Diego. It is about a 15 hour drive home. 

ARIZONA STRIP VIEW

GEOMETRIC ANT HILL

RURAL MAIL BOXES

TRACTOR WITH A VIEW

FARM LAND

We got through Las Vegas fine, but things changed as we headed South. We stopped in Primm for a rest break as the traffic was backing up. To get back onto I-15 was an act of negotiating a very busy and full parking lot and access to the highway. The traffic was very heavy as we headed South into California. We had heard of the fire along the grapevine the day before, but thought that could not have been the problem today. We turned off to bypass the traffic and go to Kelso and onto Fallbrook via Twentynine Palms. At Twentynine Palms we learned that there had been a severe rain storm and there was flooding along the route. We learned this while getting gas, and grabbing some sandwiches. Luckily by the time we had grabbed our sandwiches, the road we wished to use had been cleared and we were able to proceed. Finally in Fallbrook about 2130. I picked up my car and headed for home.

This two week adventure was full of wonderful experiences – new and old landscapes, magnificent mountains and wildflowers, and great traveling companions.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

We were then off to Bryce. Regrettably we got there a bit late so there were not many photos taken in the evening.  The Canyon faces East so it goes into shadow early. We did decide to return to the same overlook in the morning and looked forward to the sunrise opportunities.

LATE AFTERNOON, BRYCE CANYON

BRYCE CANYON DETAIL

LOOKING NORTHEAST, BRYCE CANYON

 Friday morning we were up early and at our desired point, Sunset Point, with plenty of time to claim a space for our tripods and  set up. We swapped a few stories with a fellow photographer who was from Colorado.  

TENACIOUS TREE

GOING TO THE CASTLE

A MONOLITH

After photographing from the Rim, we took time to go down into the Canyon a short way in order to get a more intimate look at some of the hoodoos,  and different perspective. 

SENTINEL

WEATHERED FORMATION

DETERIORATING WALL AND NEEDLE

LOOKING OUT

A BRIGHT POINT OF LIGHT

 

By the time we finished the sun was getting quite warm and we were getting quite hungry. We returned to our motel, had breakfast, packed up, and then headed South for a two day visit to North Rim,

Grand Canyon.

COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT

After bidding farewell to our fellow photographers we were off to Utah and an evening shoot at Bryce Canyon National Park.

We decided to explore Colorado National Monument as we left Grand Junction. The Monument is located just West of Grand Junction and South of I-70. 

Our visit to the Monument was during the middle of the day so that the sun was high in the sky and made for quite contrasty images. It was still fun to explore a lesser known National Monument, and one that had not been in our plans.

It is red rock country and the views along the road were down into the main canyon. There were a couple of interesting formations,

CANYON WALL

BALANCE ROCK

and we saw bighorn sheep right by the road. As I was in the passenger seat, I was able to get a couple of photos of it. 

BIGHORN SHEEP

It would have been fun to investigate it more, but we did not have the time, and the heat of the season would have been a factor.  I imagine that the park gets a lot of visitation on the weekends due to it’s proximity to Grand Junction. 

OURAY II

Our third day in the Ouray the group was off to Cunningham Gulch, Grey Copper Gulch, and high country around Red Mountain Pass., and Silverton. I decided at breakfast that it would be best if I stayed behind. I hated to miss this day, but I am sure that it was for the best.

I spent the day taking a couple of naps, and walking into downtown for some stomach friendly food: bananas, and light snacks. I also visited Buckskin Booksellers where I found the book Wild about Wildflowers by Katherine Darrow. This is the book recommended to me by the RMBL (Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory). I have enjoyed reading it and using it to ID plants. It has wonderful quotations by naturalists, artists, and writers. It also at times gives history of the naming of various plants. I felt better in the evening, and ate up the leftovers that Lin had brought from last night.

ELKS LODGE

CAN BE, BUT NOT ALWAYS TRUE

Ouray Livery Barn

Our last day in the area I was ready to get back into the countryside and enjoy this wild country. Today we went first to Storm King Basin. 

STORM KING BASIN w/STREAM

PURPLE FRINGE IN STORM KING BASIN

A ROADSIDE VIEW

PARRY'S PRIMROSE AND MORE

ALPINE BUTTERCUP

 Then it was onto Cinnamon Pass. We were passed along the way by a couple of mountain bikers. 

 

ENJOYING THE BACK COUNTRY

In the afternoon we stopped at the abandoned Longfellow Mine. We had fun making compositions of the hardware and the decaying buildings. 

LONGFELLOW MINE

LONGFELLOW MINE VIEW

A PHOTO OP

The peak of the afternoon was the panoramic views along the Black Bear Pass road, another narrow four-wheel drive road. 

IN ROUTE TO BLACK BEAR PASS

ROSY PAINTBRUSH AND WATERFALLS

A  PASSING FALLS

MARMOT DOUG PEAKING OVER RIDGE

 Black Bear Pass Views -

TAKING IN THE VIEW

PANORAMIC BLACK BEAR PASS

It was a wonderful ending to our visit to the area.

BLACK BEAR VIEW II

Tonight we bid farewell to our driver at a private dinner at the Western Hotel, http://www.historicwesternhotel.com/, which is owned by the same people who own and run San Juan Scenic Jeep Tours. The hotel was built in 1891 and still contains its ornate beginnings. We enjoyed a good dinner and the sharing of our experiences. Tomorrow we head our separate ways from Grand Junction.