A Grand Trip

“Fair warning this is a long post so you may want to get a cup of coffee. I hope you enjoy it.”

Being here in the Grand Canyon State it would be a shame not to see it. We are about 200 miles from the canyon and about 5000’ lower in elevation from the south rim. With the rising price of diesel fuel we knew this would cost us a bit but like I said, it would be a shame to miss it.

On Friday we started out about 7:00 A.M. heading north and then east toward the canyon. Right off the bat the big Dodge had to make a 12 mile 6% grade climb to the higher ground. That is just the first set of mountains we cross over on our venture. It is basically uphill all the way traversing several mountain passes along the way. It is all interstate so the roads are pretty goods.

The temperature in Bullhead City has been in the 80’s and as we neared the canyon we watched the outdoor temp. drop into the low 50’s. We also began to see snow on the side of the road and on the mountain peaks, some of which towered over 12,000’.

Not flip flop weather

On our arrival at the canyon we had to put on our warmer clothes. I had to put on a heaver shirt and jacket. Victoria had to change out of her shorts and flip flops into more appropriate gear. Wake up in shorts and tee shirts and by lunch long pants and jackets.

This is only an overnight trip so we have one day here and we want to pack in as much as we can. We went right to the canyon rim and Boom, Bang, there it is. If you have never been to the Grand Canyon, you must put this on your bucket list. This is an awesome place. The colors and rock formations are hard to describe. We took a ton of pictures none of which come close to showing the huge vastness and beauty of this national park. I hope you enjoy the ones I post.

Huge and awesome

I have to say we are all truly fortunate to have these special places set aside for us all to enjoy. Working with the National Park Service, we have gotten a glimpse of how much effort and dedication it takes to keep these places open for us all to enjoy, not to mention the money.

The tourist

We walked along the rim for a mile or so stopping what seemed to be every few feet to take in the spectacular vistas. We sat and had a snack right at the rim. We took pictures of each other pretending to jump in. That is not recommended as it is hundreds if not thousands of feet to the bottom. We walked and watched the local wildlife. We saw a couple real healthy squirrels and some beautiful birds.

Chippy "for Stacie"

We eventually wound up at a small museum at the rim that explained the geology of the canyon. It had all kinds of info in the form of pictures, graphs, and displays. They also had binoculars so we could look down into and across the canyon. I could see rafts down on the Colorado River. The same river that forms Lake Mohave where we are staying over 200 miles away.

The color is unreal

After all that walking we decided to take the park bus to the Canyon Village. Here we had a bowl of chili which was very tasty and a good choice for this cool day. We then walked up to the El Tovar Hotel where Victoria rested her tired dogs on the front porch while I hunted up some coffee. We sat sipping on our hot drinks enjoying the cool air and spectacular surroundings of the canyon and the grand old hotel.

We were tired and it was getting late, we decided to take the red line bus for a scenic trip along the canyon rim. This was great because we could get off and on the bus at different overlooks. We spent time at several of them taking pictures and owing and awing at the colors of the canyon. When we were ready to move on we hopped the next bus that ran on scheduled stops about every eight minutes. We rode all the way out to the end of the canyon and back getting back just as darkness was setting in. This was a fantastic day, a day that will remain in our minds for the rest of our lives.

Word and pictures can't describe this

We headed out of the park to our overnight hotel in Flagstaff. Between the canyon and the interstate is a two lane road that goes through a mostly unpopulated area. It was dark and there was no moon so I pulled the dually onto a side road and shut off the engine and lights. Pitch black and a gazillion stars. We even saw a satellite floating across the sky.

We arrived in Flagstaff about 9:00 P.M. and “We Were Hungry!!!”. One of the rangers we work for use to live here and gave us some recommendations of places to eat. We chose Oreganos, a pizza place. It was a funky little place that specialized in thin crust pizza. Being traditional when it comes to pizza we ordered a 16’ pepperoni. It was good but we both decided we like our crust a bit thicker. I really don’t think I have had a great pie since I moved from N.Y.

We then headed to the Roadway Inn for the night. What a dump, I usually do pretty good in choosing a place to stay but not this time. Roadway will not get any more of our business. If it was not so late we would have found another place but we were tired so we slept, got up, showered and hit the road.

We drove around Flagstaff’s historical section and checked out all the old building and some great architecture. We found a local bagel shop, “Biffs’ Bagels”, where we had great bagels and flavored cream cheese and a good cup of Joe. The place was decorated with pictures of dogs. They were all memorial pictures with the dates of the dog’s birth and death. A bit weird, but the pictures were cool.

Flagstaff is at about 5 to 6,000’ and there was still snow on the ground in spots. A mere 14 miles away and 3,000’ higher is The Snow Bowl, a ski area. Back in the truck and up we go along a twisty turny road to the base of the ski area. The peak is at 12,000’. The elevation change in this part of the county is amazing.  

Snow on the mountains

Victoria and I walked around the ski area watching people ski and snowboard down the steep mountain. If we had more time I would have done a little skiing, oh well, maybe the ski resort will still be open in Jackson Hole when we get there.

Skiers at the Snow Bowl

We descended down the mountain and headed for Walnut Canyon National Monument.  This is another wonderful park provided by our tax dollars. Walnut Canyon is the site of ancient cliff dwelling of the Pueblo Indians. They inhabited the cliffs hundreds of years ago. They lived in stone structures built right into natural overhangs in the cliff.

The cliff dwellings

The park is designed so you walk down about 185 steps to an area that is like an island in the canyon. There is a foot path that goes all the way around the perimeter and passes by several of the cliff dwellings. The park service is restoring many of the structures on the island. On the opposite side of the canyon we could see the ruins of more of these ancient homes.

A cliff house

As we walked we explored the cliffs and read the provided plaques that gave information about everything from the people who inhabited the canyon to how they lived and what they ate. Walnut Canyon is a much smaller and different than The Grand Canyon but Victoria and I felt it was just as impressive in its own way.

The great explorer

It was getting late in the afternoon and with a 3 hour ride ahead of us we climbed into the big Dodge and headed west on I-40. We arrived back at our little home on wheels about 8:00 P.M. where the temperature was a warm 77 degrees.   

Here Kitty,Kitty

This week Victoria and I have been doing some cleaning and inventorying for the rangers. This is not a lot of fun but not really very hard. It is part of what is required for us to earn our keep. So we have gone at it and gotten it done.

Ranger talking to the kids

We have also gone on a few more hikes and field trips with the rangers. This is more enjoyable as we are outside and enjoying the weather. We have had great weather all week. There has been only light wind and the temps have been in the 70’s. It is a little warm in the sun but all and all not bad. I even got a short bike ride in.

We went for a walk the other night down to the marina. It was a perfect night. The wind was still, the water was flat and the sky was lit up with stars. This is a big marina and the docks extent out into the water a long ways. We walked along the lighted dock enjoying the cool night air and checking out all the boats.

This is just part of the marina

As we walked Victoria said, “Oh look a kitty. Here Kitty, kitty “. I said, “That sure looked like one big cat to me. I don’t think that is a cat, maybe a dog. No, it’s a raccoon”. We had a good laugh thinking about the TV commercial where the woman is calling in her cat and let’s a raccoon in her house because she can’t see well.

The coons live under the floating docks in the framing. As we walked closer they would scurry into opening in the deck and hide in the framing. Just after we passed by they would reemerge and go about their business.

So it has been a fairly busy but uneventful week here at Lake Mohave. We are enjoying our time here and keeping track of the weather as we move closer to our tentative departure date for Jackson Hole.

We have plans for some fun this weekend so keep watching for our future posts

This is just a cool rock

Field Trips & New Digs

Victoria Setting Up

It’s been a busy week. Tuesday and Wednesday we went on field trips with the rangers. We chaperoned first and second graders on nature hikes.  These hikes were to show the kids some of the animals of the desert and how they live. The rangers talked about the different animals, what they ate and where they lived. They gave examples of how different critters have a part to play in the food chain.

Ranger Jessica Talking To The Kids

The kids had to look for evidence and count how many species they could find. They looked for the actual animal like small lizards and insects. They also looked for places the creatures may live and what they might eat. They found plants and had to identify what animal ate them. They found burrows and holes that might be used as shelter. They also found the scat (poop) of animals and tried to figure out what animal made it. The rangers gave them workbooks to draw pictures and make notes of their discoveries.

All of the kids and parents were great. Everybody seem to have a good time and enjoy being in the great outdoors. I enjoyed myself as did Victoria. I have very little experience with little kids so I was probably the most nervous person on the hike. Watching these little guys hike up and down these mountain trails was a bit stressful for me. They all did great and we had no incidents so I guess I worried for nothing. After the hike, we helped load everyone on their bus and waved goodbye.

Hiking The Trail

Ranger Robin Taking A Question

Today we moved, we have about a month before we have to be in Wyoming. We will take about two weeks to travel from Arizona to Wyoming. So we have a couple of weeks to kill. Our rent is due at the RV park and by the month it is a good deal but not so good by the week.

We talked to Amanda the head ranger and offered to extent our stay and help out if they could provide us with an RV site for the duration. She had to go through the chain of command to her supervisors and we were quickly approved. After filling out more government paper work we were set to move to Katherine’s Landing for the next couple of weeks. We have to put in a few more hours a week of work for the site but that is ok, we are having fun helping out.   

Our New Digs

Katherine’s does not have the amenities of the RV park but we are in a national park with lots of wildlife and great views of the mountains. We will enjoy doing some hiking and maybe biking and the lake is just down the road. When we have to work the commute is about 150’ away. I think it will be a nice stay.

As I am writing this we have our first visitor. Check this guy out. Evidently he is regular in the neighborhood.

Wiley Coyote

Wings and Wildlife

We have had a couple of busy and fun days. The National Park Service put on an event at nearby Davis Camp. A campground and day use park on the Arizona side of the Colorado River just below Davis Dam.  The event was called Wings and Wildlife. They did this in conjunction with several other federal, state, and local agencies. There were also area clubs, organizations, and businesses involved. This event was to promote the many outdoor opportunities in the area and how these groups provide services to protect both the enviromenent and people utilizing the outdoor area.

On Friday, Victoria and I helped our ranger supervisors gather and move supplies from ranger headquarters to Davis Camp. We loaded tables and boxes of supplies into their trucks and moved them to the park. Victoria sharpened about 100 pencils to give to the event participants and folded handouts to prepare for the following day.

Saturday we arrived at Davis Camp at 7:30 am and Amanda our ranger supervisor made introductions to all the volunteers and we started setting up. She asked me and several high school students to set up tables and easy up tents for each of the groups that will have booths. Many of these kids were on the field trip we went on last week so we knew each other. Victoria manned sign up tables with some of the other women volunteers.

Happy Volunteers

Amanda "The boss Lady"

Official Officials

Guest had the opportunity to take guided bird watching hikes, photography hikes and kayaking down The Colorado River. All of the booths were manned by represenitives of the different organizations. Many of them had examples of what there group was involved in. There were live examples of native animals and bones and fossils of extinct creatures. All the booths had educational information and displays of how man and nature interact and how each effects the other. There was everthing from fish and game to water reclamation, coast guard to law enforcement.

Game and Fish booth

It's a monster (not the boy)

Some of the kids who attended

This was a family oriented event and we had a lot of young children and lot of hand outs for them. They all gathered up different rubber bracelets and coloring book and whistles. The NPS had a fire truck there and they could climb in it and wear a fire helmet. There was a fire hose so the kids could spray water from the hose.

Fun with the fire truck

Some of the booths

One of the big highlights of the event was appearances by Smokey the Bear and Puddles the Blue Goose. They were a hit with guest both young and old. I found it funny how many of the parents seemed to enjoy Smokey more than the kids. We (us older volunteers) decided it was because when we were young the commercials featuring Smokey were always on TV.

Smokey & Puddles with one of the kids

The small kids had mixed reactions to the two characters. We had everything from thrilled excitement to downright fear. These two almost 7’ tall furry fellows could be a bit intimidating to small fry. Most of them warmed up to the two and hugs and high fives abound. Smokey and Puddles human helpers handed out bracelets and posters to all the children while the pair posed for pictures with the kids young and old.

And another kid

At the end of the day everyone did their part and we left the park looking like we were never there.  We all agreed the day was a great success. There was not an official count but we believe we had 300-400 people attend. Even the weather was perfect, sunny and a high of about 75 and NO WIND, just a light breeze in the afternoon which is appreciated in the desert sun.

This was a fun day and Victoria and I agreed that it was great to be a part of it. We met so many people and made some new friends. We worked hard and were tired by the end of the day but this kind of tired I’ll take any time. We headed home to clean ourselves up and then went out to try another local pizza place. We went to Vito’s Pizza in Bullhead City. One of the high school volunteers worked there and he made us a great pizza.

Grapevine Canyon

Saturday we had another day of volunteering for the NPS. We were sent to Grapevine Canyon. This is a nearby location about 15 minutes from our RV park on the Nevada side of the river. We had visited the canyon one other time when we first arrived at Bullhead City and said we wanted to go back again so this volunteer gig was a perfect opportunity.

We first had to go to the ranger station at Katherine’s Landing to pick up a backpack full of handouts, a camera, a walkie talkie, and a government vehicle. Can you believe the U.S. Government would entrust us with one of their SUV’S?  

Can you believe this?

We drove the 30 minute drive up to the canyon which is located about 2 miles off the main road. The road to Grapevine is a dirt road that is also used as a back country pass over Spirit Mountain. The pass is called Christmas Tree Pass. Grapevine Canyon is at about 2500 feet elevation. The top of Christmas Tree Pass is much higher and has a pine forest at the higher elevation.

We arrived at the trailhead of Grapevine Canyon where there is designated parking and pit bathrooms.  There were two pickups there when we arrived. Victoria and I gathered our backpack, water and put on our layers of clothing and headed for the canyon entrance.

Part of our job here is too count the people we observe using the canyon. This helps the park service with maintaining the park and how to allocate there resources. It’s pretty neat to think we are helping in this. To count all the people the rangers gave us one of those clicker counters. Victoria was in charge of doing this.

Walking up the wash and the canyon enterance

The actual canyon is a short walk up a wash. The big draw to this canyon are ancient petroglyphs. These are drawings made by the native people hundreds of years ago. We were told these drawings don’t have any particular meaning. They are not a language but a type of art. There are many different types of drawings. Some are geometric shapes, some were animals, some were human stick figures and some not so human type figures. Can anyone say “E.T. phone home”

There are many different shapes on the rocks

I think this one is E.T.

Animal and human shapes

There is a trail that goes up into the canyon. It is not a far walk and many of the hikers walked up the trail. We stayed at the canyon opening handing out information.  There is a spring that creates a small creek along the trail. It easy to see why the native people used this area. They had a water source and protection from the elements and enemies by the canyon walls. This was and still is a special place to the native people, hence the mountains name. “Spirit Mountain”

We sent about four hours talking with people who came up into the canyon. I took a few pictures with park service camera and handed out literature. Victoria also visited with the canyon guests and clicked away with the counter to keep track of number of the people. We figured we would meet maybe 10-15 people while manning Grapevine. By the time we left Victoria had counted almost 90 people. That was in about a 4 hour period.

Canyon visitors



The rocks are huge, can you see Victoria?



We talked with people from all over. A lot of them had come from the Vegas area for the day. I guess you can’t spend all your time in the casinos. Many of them were RVer’s like us wintering in the area. A lot of them were from northern states and several from California. We were surprised at the amount of people and we think it is great that so many are out utilizing our great national parks.

Jr. Ranger

We spent about 4 hours up at Grapevine Canyon in the wind and sun. We drove the Ford Escape back to the ranger station, reported in and drove home. We were beat, but really enjoyed our day and being of service to others.

Check out the colar in this cactus

Mister Ranger Sir

When we first came to this area we thought that with the casinos here we would be able to find some work until we head to Wyoming for our summer gig. That has not worked out so we have been enjoying exploring the area.

A couple of weeks ago Victoria was reading one of the blogs she follows about some full timers that were volunteering for the National Park Service in Lake Mead in exchange for a RV site. We thought maybe we could do that so we inquired. We were too late in the season to get a RV space but were told there were opportunities to help if we were interested. We decided it would be an interesting and fun thing to do. We interviewed with Ranger Amanda who is in charge of the Lake Mohave Recreational Area just up the road and we got the job.

Ms. Ranger Sir

Our first assignment was today. Amanda is working with several other agencies on a day use park that will soon be opening along the Colorado River on the Nevada side. Part of her involvement is working with the local high school students on designing and building the recycling containers for the park. Today the students were making a field visit to the park to learn about what is needed and to discuss the design and locations of the recycle bins. We went along as a couple of extra set of hands if needed and to help chaperone the students.

Amanda instructing the students

The park is going to have several different areas and uses. There is a paved path that wonders along the river for about a mile or so. The path is for walking and bicycles. The path starts near the casinos and you have to cross a beautifully designed walking bridge over the highway. It leads to a day use area that by car must be accessed from a different entry up the road.

The foot bridge

We next drove to the day use area and our first stop was at the equestrian area. There they have small corrals and paddock s for the horses. The area is the starting point of a back country trail system.

Next we went to the main area where there is going to be picnic areas a small water park and fishing on the river. This section still has quit a bit of work to be done to it. This part of the park is also at the foot of Davis Dam and you get some great views of the dam and the river.

More instructions

Lunch

Students measuring a dumpster for reference

When the dam was constructed neither Bullhead City nor Laughlin existed. The company that built the dam also built a small town to house the workers. It had a general store a theater and housing for the hundreds of workers. Ruins of the old town still remain. Another responsibility of the students is to make plagues with descriptions and maybe historical photos of the buildings. It is going to be a very impressive park when it is complete.

Fireplace from the old town

Our first day of volunteering was fun and interesting. We, along with the students, learned a lot about the history of area and the plans for the park from our guide Jason who works for the Bureau of Reclamation. The kids were great. They are all juniors and seniors so there was little chaperoning needed. They all seemed to have genuine interest in the park and the part they will have in helping with the design.

Our next assignment is roving a canyon that has petro glyphs in it and monitoring the foot traffic. We are looking forward to being outside and helping out.