After a tinder dry Autumn, the first significant snowfall of the year is blanketing northern Arizona with a welcome dose of precipitation. From canyon cliffs to conifers, a pristine coat of powder is … [Read more...]
Lights, Camera, Accolades! Grand Canyon National Park Orientation Film a Winner
Viewing the official orientation film has long been a part of the visitor experience in many of the national parks, monuments and historic sites. It’s a great way to get your bearings, fine-tune your … [Read more...]
Grand Canyon Field Institute Rolls out its 20th Season
If you have enjoyed this column over the years, then you owe a tip of your hat to the Grand Canyon Field Institute (GCFI), a leading outdoor education program that has kept this writer gainfully … [Read more...]
Haunting Season is Upon Us
In a national park that is home to a landscape often described as “foreboding”, it is astonishing to this longtime resident that there aren’t a plethora of “credible” ghost stories (I’ve heard a … [Read more...]
A Tip of the (Flat) Hat to a GC Legend
The name Eddie McKee has long been synonymous with science at Grand Canyon National Park. As the park’s first official naturalist, McKee helped research and catalog the diverse flora and fauna during … [Read more...]
Separation Anxiety: A Squirrel’s View of Climate Change
With average global temperatures on the rise, large wilderness areas such as Grand Canyon National Park will become increasingly important to the well being of the planet’s biotic communities. As both … [Read more...]
The Hills are Alive: Summer Rains are Bringing on the Green
With much of the country in drought, it feels a bit indulgent to remark at what a wet and wonderful summer rainy season we’ve had in the park. Though the monsoonal bounty is only slightly elevated by … [Read more...]
Falling into a Rut
One of the signature sounds along the South Rim during autumn is the nocturnal bugling of the male elk. Their plaintive “whistles” attract female attention during the mating season (or “rut” as its … [Read more...]
Popular Plein Air Painting Event Returns to the Canyon
Not unlike the bugling of elk, the flocking of jays, and the switch to gold for the aspen leaves, the annual Celebration of Art has become one of the rites of autumn at Grand Canyon National Park. … [Read more...]
Young Readers, Meet an Old Canyon
Longtime readers of this column have asked on occasion if I have a Grand Canyon book in print. I’m pleased to report that my standard response has changed from “some day” to “yes indeed!” A fun … [Read more...]