From Tuba City AZ
to North Rim Grand
Canyon
then to St George
Utah
Distance traveled:
213 Hwy miles
+ 88 mile round trip to
Canyon North Rim
+ Rim Trail
 |
| puddles in Tuba City |
I
woke up so early that the sky was just getting light. I packed up in the rain! There were puddles everywhere! So here I am in the desert and I bring the
rain!
I
drove to the Mc’D’s just down the street to use the internet and send off a few
messages…not much battery power left but just enough! And yes, it was still raining as I left.
Next
I stopped at the Shell station to top up the tank as per Mel’s suggestion,
don’t know when the next station may be, so he suggested I fill up whenever the
opportunity presents.
 |
| Rainy Day - Water in the Washes |
It
was an interesting drive to the north rim in the rain. I got to see puddles and rivulets on the
desert! I saw water in the “Washes” (WASH - A narrow, constricting dry bed of an
intermittent stream, as at the bottom of a canyon, typically dry but subject to
rapid flow during flash flooding.)
The
next part of the journey was traveling North on 89. Where 89A went west I noticed that 89 that
continued north was closed. Construction
or Accident I don’t know, but I did reflect for a moment that I had chosen to
drive north to Page for accommodations last I would have been in trouble. There were no signs on the highway driving
north that gave any indication about the road closure, strange?
 |
| Vermilion Cliffs |
Hwy
89A travels westward into the hills and is also called “Vermilion Cliffs
Scenic Road
On
the right, to the north, there was a constant stunning array of red rock
mountains and to the south wide open views of yellow soil and sparse desert
vegetation.
Soon
the winding road started climb up toward the mountains. Then the road brought me to the Colorado
River. I stopped at the small parking
area to take some pictures of the view and the bridge over the canyon. There was some jewelry vendors set up along
the eastern perimeter of the parking area.
I have seen many of these at the “vendors” on sides of the road but this
one looked very clean and well maintained, there was a pride of ownership
showing here.
 |
| Navajo Bridge across the Colorado River |
I
took a moment to look at some of the wares and I bought a green jade elephant
pendant, said to represent Longevity along with other things (http://www.whats-your-sign.com/animal-symbolism-turtle.html). I also fell in love with, and had to have a
pair of silver earring designe to look like feathers.
The
jewelry artist woman, made some adjustments to my turtle so that I could put it
as a pendant on my silver chain. While
she did this I asked about the rain, thinking it was unusual for rain in the
desert. She told me this is the
“monsoon” season in the desert and that it is normal to rain during the
monsoon.
(For
information on desert monsoons: https://geoplan.asu.edu/research-and-outreach/outreach/basics-arizona-monsoon-desert-meteorology)
I continued on the lovely scenic road. The winding twisting roadway was spectacular with an ever-changing display of amazing vermilion cliffs and sparse desert grasses.
 |
| Rock House |
The
Rock Houses near Cave Dwellings was a most interesting scenic stop. The rain let up a little while I walked
around to take pictures of these unique homes.
Then
the real climb began. I think the Volvo
does not like altitude or rain or steep roads or a combination of the above, I
can see the gas gauge needle dropping!
The
higher I got into the mountain, the denser the cloud cover and the more rain. It went from spitting to pouring. The windshield wipers went from occasional use
to all the time use.
 |
| Lush forest on the Way to North Rim |
At
the turn off into the park from Alt Hwy 89A, there was a Chevron gas station so
I topped up yet again. This time there
was no need for a zip code at this Chevron, the attendant said it was because
they got so many tourists here. It is
still a 1 hour drive north from this turn off to the Rim, most of it drive
south is through a green luxuriant valley, and still the rain came pouring
down.
At
the North Rim Visitor Centre there were puddles and rivers of rainwater
covering the sidewalk. Impossible to
walk without getting your feet wet. So
even with an umbrella to keep the top half of me dry, I was wet up to my knees
by the time I got inside.
The
attendant gave out the map and directions and a ray of hope that a strong wind
would blow away the clouds and reveal the canyon. I drove the 45 minute route to the end point
of the Rim Observation Trail. At every
overlook point that I passed I looked out a dense cloud cover and what they
call “soup” in the canyon. There is zero
visibility.
At
the end of the road there is a huge parking lot and I joined the half a dozen
other hopeful souls waiting for a turn in the weather.
Since
I had no reserved camp site at the Park and had to get back down the mountain
and onto the main road, I decided to give the weather 2 hours to change before
turning around and leaving the park.
I
got cozy on my car bed and read and did some Sudoku and some knitting and at
the end of the allotted time, it was still pouring rain and if anything the
cloud cover and fog had gotten even thicker.
 |
| North Rim Grand Canyon in the Rain and the "soup" |
On
the way back down I stopped at the road side scenic overviews to see the canyon
shrouded in mist, and fog and rain.
What a contrast to yesterday’s views! I may not have seen the Canyon with a view,
but I did see the Canyon shrouded in mist.
It
takes almost 2 hours retrace the scenic trail and then to get through the park
and back to the main road, hwy 89A. Hwy
89A takes you west down the mountain once more.
This drive is all downhill it seems and the next 2 hours pass with the
rain clearing the further I get away from the canyon mountain. At a scenic rest stop on Hwy 89A there is a grand view toward the Vermillion
Hills to the north and the sun is shining beautifully in the west.
In the valley, at the town of Fredonia AZ, the sun is shining and late afternoon shadows create a stark contrast of light and shade.
 |
| Sunny Hwy 389 traveling westbound |
Turning Westbound on highway 389, I continue
driving into the setting sun. It is
shining brightly and looking west the weather is clear. Looking back over my shoulders, to the south
and east, the canyon area is in a dark patch of rain cloud…it almost seems centered
right over the park.
The amazing views of rusty red Vermillion Mountains is always on my right side and to the left a vast spread of desert scrub.
The amazing views of rusty red Vermillion Mountains is always on my right side and to the left a vast spread of desert scrub.
After
Colorado City I crossed the state border into Utah. I was not expecting that I
would be crossing into Utah during this part of the trip so it is kind of a
bonus. Then there is this spectacular drop into the valley into the town of
Hurricane Utah
 |
| Amazing Mountain View |
Arriving at Interstate 15, I was in awe of the mountain view all around. It just makes me want to sing praises to the glories of nature and the amazing landscape that I am traveling through. I didn’t know where to look first, but I had to keep my mind on the road at the same time, all I can say is that it was an amazingly scenic drive!
Just
a short drive south on I-15 brought me to St George where I found a quaint
little motel and settled in for the night.
By now it was 7:30. What a long
day, a much longer drive than I like to do in one day, but mission
accomplished…got to the north rim!
Didn’t see much but I can say that I saw the north rim in the fog and
rain.
Renate Dundys Marrello
2014 – 08 – 13
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