Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon, Sedona, & the Southwest
With Grand Canyon’s first snowfall remaining (disturbingly) elusive, short days, thin crowds, the random Santa hat, and a decked-out lobby in the historic El Tovar Hotel are the only signs that the winter holidays are upon us. It’s not unusual these days to see locals and visitors alike traipsing about in shorts and t-shirts—a clear …
The free shuttle bus service provided by the National Park Service on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park transports millions of visitors annually to viewpoints, trailheads, restaurants, hotels, and visitor centers. One of the most popular routes traverses the seven-mile Hermit Road (formerly West Rim Drive) from the Historic Village District to Hermits …
Conservationists lost a true hero this month. Katie Lee was a feisty no-holds-barred champion of wild places in general, and western rivers in particular. Her main focus for the last half century was the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam and the natural and cultural treasures that were sacrificed as a result. The 700-foot tall …
Since 2005, Mike Buchheit has been writing an article for Hit the Trail twice a month. So when Mike told me that he and his wife, Kim, were going to be taking a vacation to Italy to celebrate their 25th anniversary and asked if I could cover the article this week, obviously I said “yes!” …
There are plenty of nonprofit organizations doing great work in Grand Canyon country. The Grand Canyon Association (my employer for two decades), Grand Canyon Trust, Grand Canyon River Guides, the Whale Foundation, and the Grand Canyon Wildlands Council to name a few. These are all worthy organizations devoted to furthering the understanding and protection of …
Fresh off my first Colorado River trip through the Grand Canyon in several years, I am readjusting to life in the “real world.” The 10-day, one boat, motorized charter with Arizona Raft Adventures was organized by the Grand Canyon Association Field Institute, for which I am the director. Geology was the primary focus, a topic …
Grand Canyon National Park is known for many things: geology; whitewater rafting; wildlife; botanical wonders; archaeology. However, it would be a stretch to add fall colors to this list, unless you’re lucky enough to be on the North Rim in late September/early October. That’s the window of time when the aspen leaves traditionally turn from …
The Trump administration wasted little time plucking the low hanging fruit that would appease both business interests and those of his supporters that hold a dim view of environmental protection. One of the most recent examples was the lifting of a ban on the sale of plastic water bottles in national parks. Though only 30% …
One week each fall, the very best Grand Canyon painters from around the country gather in the park for the Celebration of Art. They come here to capture the canyon on canvas, interact with visitors, display and auction their work in support of the arts in Grand Canyon National Park. It is a marvelous opportunity …
It’s been said that to really experience the Grand Canyon, one must venture below the rim by way of an established trail that tumbles off either rim. In the entire expanse of the 277-mile long canyon, there are only a few dozen such thoroughfares that lead one into the majestic backcountry. Most date back to …
The annual monsoon has finally arrived at Grand Canyon National Park; later than usual, but welcome nonetheless. Roughly half of the annual precipitation that falls in the region arrives during the July-August rainy season, and the plant and animal life truly rely on this predictable weather pattern for their very existence. Photographers flock to the …
Ominous statements from President Trump and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke are signaling big changes for public lands in the near future, including national parks. The two politicians have been outspoken proponents of privatizing public lands as a means of easing the pain of looming double-digit budget cuts for the national land management agencies, …
On a walk last evening, in the forest adjacent to Grand Canyon Village, I came across two juvenile elk playfully chasing one another and rearing up on hind legs in mock battle. They appeared unconcerned with my presence, and they certainly brightened my day with their delightful antics. In my twenty years in the park …
If you think the big views at Grand Canyon disappear when the sun goes down, you’re missing half the show. With its lack of humidity, infrequent nocturnal cloud cover, and famously limited light pollution, northern Arizona has long been considered one of the greatest places in this hemisphere to view the night sky—and Grand Canyon …
It’s time to weigh in again in defense of public lands that most Americans hold dear. President Trump has recently ordered Ryan Zinke, Secretary of the Interior, to “review” all national monuments larger than 100,000 acres that were created using the Antiquities Act after 1996. Though this doesn’t directly affect Grand Canyon National Park, it …
The good news for lovers of Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim is that the National Park Service will be opening the gates on May 15, following the annual winter closure. The caveat is that overnight lodging will be delayed by a week or two due to major damage sustained by the Trans-Canyon Pipeline. The …
A recent article posted on the American Rivers website highlights the growing threats to America’s ten most endangered rivers. The Colorado River has made the list yet again in 2017. The combined risks of increasing population in the Southwest, climate change, and rollbacks in environmental protection by the Trump administration spell big trouble for this …
Would you guess this ominous title is that of an upcoming summer blockbuster movie — or, rather, an informational video about Grand Canyon’s aging Trans-canyon water pipeline? Congratulations if you chose the latter. The nine-minute video narrated by NPS resource managers describes one of park’s most critical pieces of infrastructure, and outlines the major repairs …
I invite all of you living in the Phoenix area to stop by Tilt Gallery in Old Town Scottsdale to view a selection of photographs from my portfolio in an exhibit entitled, “Grand Views, Intimate Spaces: The Grand Canyon.”
Grand Canyon’s legendary backcountry offers profound beauty and solitude to those willing and able to venture below the rim. However, the vast majority of visitors (over 90%) enjoy the grandeur from the top due to the challenging nature of trekking in and out of the canyon. The same rugged terrain that draws enthusiasts from around the world makes …
Did you know that non-native animals outnumber endemic animals in Grand Canyon National Park 23 to 20? Or that the Moapa Band of the Paiute Indians is one of the American Indian Tribes with historic ties to the Grand Canyon? These are but a few of the facts that can be found in the 2015 Park …
A fierce winter storm lasting five days left the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park blanketed in nearly three feet of fresh snow. Life in Grand Canyon Village ground to a virtual halt as NPS snow-removal crews struggled to keep roads passable, and trail crews battled shoulder-high drifts on the South Kaibab Trail.
When wintry weather settles in at the canyon, and the world-famous gorge is filled with clouds, it can be a real challenge to meet the expectations of the average visitor. No platitudes offered by the locals can soften the disappointment of a family that has traveled across the state, country, or globe to see the Grand Canyon, …
A record six million visitors, a change in park leadership, and the National Park Service Centennial activities were but a few of the noteworthy events in a busy year at Grand Canyon National Park. In addition to headline makers, visitors were treated to another week of plein-air painting during Grand Canyon Association’s Celebration of Art …