Tag: National Parks

Fog in Northern Arizona

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We woke up to a foggy morning in Flagstaff and a quick check of satellite data clearly showed widespread fog across northeastern Arizona but not across the remainder of the state. We quickly broke out of the fog and into sunny skies as we drove south of the Mogollon Rim for a trail run with our running group.

Visible satellite image showing widespread areas of fog across the west.
Visible satellite image showing widespread areas of fog across the west.

Intrigued by the fog, I traveled to the Grand Canyon in the late afternoon in hopes of getting some interesting photographs. At Yavapai Point on the South Rim there were few visitors. After all, who wants to see a canyon filled with fog! Visibility was on the order of a hundred meters or less and driving was an interesting challenge.

Fog at Yavapai Point, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park.
Fog at Yavapai Point, South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park.

Leaving Yavapai Point, I drove east on the Rim Drive to the first pullout. Moments later, the fog briefly cleared and I could see the North Rim above the top of the fog. Then, just as quickly, it filled back in. A short while later, this clearing repeated itself. This time I captured an image that shows a vast expanse of fog filling the canyon and the North Rim just barely peeking above the fog.

A break in the fog along the South Rim, Grand Canyon.
A break in the fog along the South Rim, Grand Canyon.

A sea of fog fills the Grand Canyon and the North Rim peeks above the fog.
A sea of fog fills the Grand Canyon and the North Rim peeks above the fog.

Then it was time for some fun. I set the camera to take long exposures and shot a photo every time a car drove by. The red streaks of the vehicle tail lights and the fog being illuminated by the lights created interesting images.

Vehicle tail lights illuminate the fog on the South Rim, Grand Canyon.
Vehicle tail lights illuminate the fog on the South Rim, Grand Canyon.

A Return Visit to Cathedral Wash

It’s been many years since I have visited Cathedral Wash — located near Lee’s Ferry, Arizona — and it was time to return. My last trip was so long ago that I was shooting with a film camera!

Cathedral Wash narrows into a sinuous slot with reflected light illuminating the walls.
Cathedral Wash narrows into a sinuous slot with reflected light illuminating the walls.
One of the many water holes encountered in the wash.
One of the many water holes encountered in the wash.

With perfect weather — warm temperatures, clear skies, and light winds — it was a good time to visit this short wash that leads down to the Colorado River. What we hadn’t thought about — but should have — was that the extremely rainy summer season might have left lots of water and mud in the wash. It had.

The very first water/mud hole we encountered could not be bypassed on the ledges above and we resorted to removing our shoes and socks and wading through the thigh deep water. We were concerned that there would be other water/mud holes and they might not be passable at all but it turned out this one — the first one — was the only problem. All others were easily bypassed.

Hiking along the benches above the canyon floor in Cathedral Wash.
Hiking along the benches above the canyon floor in Cathedral Wash.
Cathedral Wash turns out to be a great place for yoga!
Cathedral Wash turns out to be a great place for yoga!

Once back at the car we drove the short distance from the wash to the river. We were impressed with the tremendous amount of erosion that had occurred during the rainy season. Washes had been deeply scoured and many large boulders from the cliffs above had been washed down to the road. It was an ineresting lesson in how quickly geological change can actually occur.

Lightning in Sunset Crater National Monument

A late afternoon storm developed near the San Francisco peaks the other day and I hoped that I would be able to get some lightning images as the sun set and twilight developed. Unfortunately, the initial lighting strikes were too close and I had to retreat to the car for safety. By the time I was able to reset the storm had drifted north and the best lightning was striking behind the cinder hills. Still, the light of the setting sun was making the rain glow.

Lightning behind one of the many cinder hills in Sunset Crater National Monument.
Lightning behind one of the many cinder hills in Sunset Crater National Monument.

As the sun set the colors faded into blue twilight and the storm moved between two cinder hills for a brief time allowing the lightning to appear in the gap.

Lightning behind the cinder hills in Sunset Crater National Monument.
Lightning behind the cinder hills in Sunset Crater National Monument.

Lightning at twilight over the Painted Desert

The North American Monsoon is in full swing with daily thunderstorms — all presenting opportunities for photography. I finally got a chance to photograph some twilight lightning while looking out over the Painted Desert from — where else — the Painted Desert Overlook between Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument.

Double flash of lightning over the Painted Desert of northern Arizona.
Double flash of lightning over the Painted Desert of northern Arizona.
Lightning flash behind a volcanic cinder cone.
Lightning flash behind a volcanic cinder cone.

Shortly after these images were taken rain began to fall and I called it an evening. The drive back home was slow and difficult in the torrential downpour that was constantly interrupted by brilliant flashes of lightning. It was one of the most active nights of lightning in the Flagstaff area of the season. And it did rain hard! One automated raingage reported over 4 ½ inches in two hours.

Comet PanSTARRS – IV

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Last week the crescent moon was very close to Comet PanSTARRS and made for a fabulous image. With the passage of a week the moon is now past first quarter and becoming very bright.

Comet PanSTARRS above the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Comet PanSTARRS above the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

With this in mind a trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was warranted. The combination of the comet above the rim of the canyon and the moon filling the inner canyon with soft light was extraordinary.

The comet is now moving away from the sun and gradually growing dimmer. Hopefully it will remain bright enough to get some photographs as it passes through the constellation Andromeda and near M31/Andromeda Galaxy in early April.