Sunday, August 3, 2014

Southwest Wanderings: 300 More Miles for a Penny!


Okay, I admit it, my car is far from new, but I like my car a lot. During our trip through Northern Arizona last weekend, we were all set to go again on Monday morning when we were surprised by a dead car. I mean flat line, no life, no beeps, no lights, nothing at all.

We had just replaced this battery two weeks earlier, so we found that pretty odd. The desert eats batteries about every year so its something one needs to stay on top of.

Well, my husband and companion wanderer is one of those MacGyver types. After getting a jump (yep we always carry cables) from fellow travelers, he confronted things under the hood and found that the....okay you guys, this is in layman's terms, this is a gal who does not know cars writing this!......  He found that the connection to the battery post was loose and would not close all the way. I was dismayed as I thought we'd need to high tail it back home and give up this last leg of the trip out to the Vermilion Cliffs and Marble Canyon. In fact I suggested we do so and not risk the car going dead again. 

Stalling in the middle of the desert, miles from any service is not my idea of a hot date ! (yes, that pun was intended)
Well  Bob said, "Nope, we'll handle it, just give me a minute and I need to find a couple of tools." So, after a good breakfast and borrowing a few things from the local gas station, Bob set to work. After a bit of banging under the hood he came and asked me for a penny.

I said, "A penny?"  He said, "Yes, a penny.  My wife wants to see the Vermilion Cliffs, and I just need a penny to get you there."
God love him!

He added, "I just need to close that connection (thingy)  with something conductive (?) that will hold through the rest of the trip until we get home and I can fix it properly." (My hero!)

I handed him a penny, and more pounding and banging ensued........

 Now, I need to add that Bob is an electrician and mechanic who worked years in manufacturing, fixing heavy equipment and programming production lines as a process control engineer.  Like I said, he's awfully handy to have around for various reasons. So don't any of you go trying this if you don't know what you're doing, okay? Yes, the engine was running while he was banging on things and fixing the "thingy", and that always makes me a bit nervous. After a bit, Bob said, "Okay, good to go!"

 As you can see in the pictures, the penny is wedged into the "thingy" and closed the electrical connection to keep the battery charged as we drove.

So that is how a penny bought me an extra day's drive, to the Vermilion Cliffs, Marble Canyon, Navajo Bridge, back to the Kaibab Plateau, a stop at Pipe Springs National Monument, and a 4 hour drive back home to Vegas. Over 300 extra miles. A very good deal, but honestly, it's that husband of mine who is priceless!

Here are some more of the views that penny bought me...

Marble Canyon and the Colorado River

Boulders that have fallen from the cliffs

Rock Dwellings

More fallen boulders

The Vermilion Cliffs (Kaibab Plateau in the distance)

View North of the Kaibab into Utah

Pipe Springs National Monument
Lee's Ferry Lodge
Inside the castle at Pipe Springs National Monument







Saturday, August 2, 2014

Southwest Wanderings: Vermilion Cliffs & Navajo Bridge


The Vermilion Cliffs in late morning light (looking west)
After 2 days on the Kaibab Plateau, we decided to get up early and take some extra time to head further east on Hwy 89A to see the famed Vermilion Cliffs and Marble Canyon. As we were ready to go, we discovered that the car wouldn't start, thanks to jumper cables, my personal MacGyver,  and a penny,  we got going again..... but more on that later.
As an artist I've heard this name for decades but had yet to see them for myself. They have been painted countless times by expert and famous artists. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is located in north central Arizona just below the Utah border. It is basically another plateau, which south west facing edge is made up of bright vermilion red cliffs that really glow in the sun. The northern part of the Kaibab Plateau is just west of the Vermilion Cliffs plateau. As we approached them from Kaibab with the sun in our eyes, they were fairly dull, then as we rounded the curve to where the sun hit them, they turned brilliant red and stretched for miles. It had just rained that night and all the little stream beds were muddy with moisture.  To the south of the cliffs lay countless miles of  sage filled desert We then continued on toward the famed  Marble Canyon and Navajo Bridge.
Vermilion Cliffs, center section
As we rounded the bend and turned north toward Marble Canyon and the Navajo Bridge at Lee's Ferry, the cliffs turned more gold  and copper than red. They were brilliant in the morning sunlight and the green sage was a pleasant contrast. This is an area full of pioneer history. The Navajo Bridge at Marble Canyon is one of the only bridges that crosses the Colorado River, and is actually jointly part of Grand Canyon Park and the Navajo Nation. There are 2 bridges, the older one is now a walking bridge, and the newer one is the one you drive across. From the walking bridge you can look down into the gorge at the Colorado River, which was bright green in contrast to the surrounding rocks. Lees Ferry is just up stream from this bridge, and is the point where early explorers launched boats down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. It is also where modern day Grand Canyon rafting trips launch.
Cliffs above Lee's Ferry
Colorado River from Navajo Bridge
Navajo Bridge, newer
The Navajo Bridges
As I walked out on the bridge, it swayed and bounced with the many footsteps of the visitors. The ends of these suspension bridges are anchored into the canyon walls, so the bounce is a natural part of how they work.  
There are just no colors quite like those of the US South West. Originally an ocean person (and of course I'll always remain so), the desert has grown on me. The expanses of space, the bare bones of the land exposed for all to see, the sweeping views, the mountains like alpine islands in a dry sea, and the ever dramatic weather are stealing my heart, bit by bit. Time to dip my brushes again.....- Michele
To see more pictures from this part of the trip, check my flickr album. 

Southwest Wanderings:The Magical Kaibab Plateau


Rain along the Arizona Strip near Colorado City

Sunset  on the Kaibab Plateau
The Kaibab Plateau is better known as the place that makes the North Rim of the Grand Canyon possible. It is basically a high elevation alpine plateau ending at the grand canyon.  I have long wanted to visit the North Rim, which is only open in the summer season. Finally, we made it last week-end.

We headed out about 9 AM on Saturday. 2 hours from Vegas to St. George, Utah, then turn south at Hurricane UT, through Colorado City AZ and across the western part of what's called the Arizona Strip to Fredonia AZ and south to the Kaibab Plateau to Jacob Lake and checking in at the very friendly Jacob Lake Inn. We arrived at the Inn about 2 PM, mostly because we take stops for pictures and to just soak the scenery in. As we drove across the Arizona strip to Fredonia, there was a lot of thunderstorm activity that was just beautiful to watch. Of course catching a shot with lightning was elusive but I did get a few. Pictures can only whisper of these vast places. The smell of the desert sage in the rain, and the incredible immensity of the views. Then there are the multiple climate and ecosystems, the ever changing skies etc, etc. .....wow

After having lunch at the Jacob Lake Inn and checking into our room. We headed south down the plateau to the North Rim visitor center and Lodge. The entire drive is a view of beautiful alpine meadows, forests of ponderosa pines, spruce, aspens, the local herds of bison and grazing mule deer. Wildflowers were abundant in the meadows and the roadsides and the clouds made for constantly changing light. The road also takes you through large burned areas from the 2006 fire, which are filled with young aspen trees that seem to be aggressively taking over those areas from the pines.
Flowers at Jacob Lake Inn
Kaibab Meadows

After rising out of the high desert, it was wonderful to be surrounded by this alpine scenery being constantly refreshed by the summer monsoon rains. Once we arrived at the lodge and had been wowed by the view in the sun room, we did what most people do there. Found a seat on one of the two viewing terraces, put our feet up on the balustrade, sipped a drink and munched on sandwiches from the lodge deli. We relaxed while chatting with people from multiple states and countries. Then waited for the sunset to hit the canyon. The North Rim is not crowded, even during the short tourist season, and the lodge has a very intimate, relaxed and friendly atmosphere which envelopes everyone. Children played games in the sun room and a park ranger answered questions from small groups of people on the east terrace, while others soaked up the fading rays of the sun on the west terrace. We did not hike out to Bright Angel Viewpoint, which is a short hike from the lodge, but many did. The next day (Sunday) we drove the Walhalla Plateau.

View from the east terrace of the Lodge
The Walhalla Plateau, also part of the North Rim park, is a peninsula protruding south off the greater Kaibab Plateau. If you go to the North Rim, give yourself 4-6 hours (depending on how much you hike) to explore this plateau and all its viewpoints. These are some of the highest elevations in the park, the most distant sweeping views and the most lush forests and woodlands. Old growth forests with huge thick aspen trees were surrounded by dense alpine ferns and mountain laurel. Wildflowers, fed by the summer rains (it rained on us several times on this road) filled the roadsides. Point Imperial, the highest viewpoint in GC Park was the first stop. The viewpoint is 8,803 ft elevation. It was a bit hazy when we arrived about 9:30 AM and the vistas are to the north east across the canyon out to the Navajo lands and the Painted Desert. The Vermilion Cliffs are to the distant north.
View North from Point Imperial
View from Vista Encantada
Our second vista point on the Walhalla plateau was Vista Encantata. Elevation is 8,480 ft (2585m), and from here we could look back north to Point Imperial where we had just been. Again, sweeping views north and east across the canyon to the Navajo Nation lands beyond.
Our 3rd stop on the Walhalla Plateau drive was Roosevelt Point. Again, looking across this eastern part of the Grand Canyon to the Navajo Lands and the Painted Desert beyond. Teddy Roosevelt hunted and explored this area extensively and he was the president who initiated setting aside the GC as a National Monument which then became a National Park 10 years later. Also, a major geological fault line can be seen across the canyon from this point if you know where to look. We found it using binoculars.
View from Roosevelt Point

View to Angels Window














The scenic road on the Walhalla Plateau ends at Cape Royal and the final viewpoint is on top of Angel's Window.  Angels's window is an opening in the promontory. We did not hike out on top of that final viewpoint. Partly because of my fear of extreme sheer heights and partly because we were getting tired after many hours of tramping around in the sun above 8,000 feet. The vegetation at Cape Royal is quite different, and drier. Mostly cliffrose, mountain junipers and even some cacti. We enjoyed Angel's Window from the viewpoint near the trail head. Then as it started to rain a bit, we turned around and headed back down the Walhalla road to the North Rim Lodge and Dinner with a view.
Wildflowers along the road

After leaving the Walhalla Plateau, we arrived back at the North Rim Lodge. We had made window seat  dinner reservations the evening before, and the only time was early, for 4:30. That was perfect as we were absolutely starving at this point!! Also, since storms were moving fast into the area, we didn't want to drive back up to Jacob Lake in the dark. Before dinner, we waited on the east terrace once again, chatting with folks from all over and watching the big thunder clouds moving our direction from across the canyon. With good binoculars you can just make out the South Rim and Grand Canyon Village 10 miles away across the Canyon. Once seated, we had one of the best views in the dining room. Dinner was surprisingly affordable, less than many restaurants, and the food was very good. While we ate, we watched the "Show" of a summer storm move across and up the canyon and invited our neighboring diners to come to our window to take pictures. There was plenty of thunder and lightning, and one 12 year old from Tennessee (who was more proficient with his Iphone than I) caught 6 great shots of lightning from the storm. After dinner, we took one final stroll out on the terraces and then said goodbye to this marvelous "big hole". We then headed back up the road to Jacob Lake, lightning, thunder, and rain for much of the drive.
Sunset through the burned forest

Watching the storm at dinner
Now I'm back in the studio, sketching out paintings from this wonderful trip. I highly recommend a visit to the Kaibab and the North Rim, its a wonderful place with such varied beauty!
If you'd like to see more pictures from this trip, find me on flickr. - Michele