Let’s Talk about the Weather
Everyone thinks that the Grand Canyon is static, the same year after year. It certainly seems to look exactly the same. And the weather. We all think the weather is the same year after year. But the Grand Canyon, like human beings, is a living system and that system changes from year to year.
Last year I knew that the Grand Canyon was different weatherwise. Last October, it was much wetter than expected and we had snow earlier 17.5 inches the last week of October. In the past, my bosses have laughed at me, telling me that I am wrong to worry about snow because it’s not a problem until December. Last October hunters were snowbound on the gravel roads of the forest after that storm. All last winter, it snowed steadily and the opening of the North Rim was delayed until May 16th. Diane, my roommate, has picture showing snow piled higher than cars along a narrow stretch of road that was opened for employees the very end of April.
It rained all through May and June and was very cold. Some employees hiking in Kanab Creek drainage were caught by a flash flood and had to wait out the waters for 12 hours. Then the sun hit was a vengeance, impelling me to cut short by trip to Kanab creek not because of flash flooding, but because of excessive heat I could not stay hydrated. I couldn’t put the water my body needed in fast enough.
Now, yesterday, we are back to torrential downpours followed by merciless sun. The Canyon weather is no more stable than the Canyon itself.