Rain in the hills means flood on the plains

On the road to Hurricane, Utah

Even without a drop of rain flash flood almost swept me away (read more)

The Big and Small at North Canyon - Kaibab National Forest

On my last days off I took a drive into the Kaibab National Forest and headed to Marble View. Unfortunately the last .25 mile becomes very narrow with low branches so I set up camp overlooking a finger of North Canyon.

The sky continued to boil and brew but the storm kept skirting around me towards the west.

It’s like the weather really couldn’t decide what to do. Yet even with all this cloud cover I sunburned my back.

Desert Paintbrush about 3 inches tall
This open patch of ground on the rim is much like tundra in that the plants grow very small. Probably not much depth of soil over this broken up limestone.

Hairy Golden Aster

Wrinkled Grasshopper (yes that's what it's called)
I had my nose down low to the ground searching for fossils and saw this creature blending in with the rocks.

Fossil hunting
Some fellow Rangers showed up unexpectedly and also assumed the fossil hunting position.

This strange bug I can’t identify showed up on one of their hats. (This bug’s for you Joan.)

taken at 6:18pm
As the sun began to set the wind increased. Can you tell which way it blows by the tree on the right? Another reason for the small plants.

taken at 7:09pm
Here you can also see smoke low on the horizon from a prescribed burn near Dry Park to the west. I’m sure the rising heat had some effect on the clouds, but that’s not smoke high in the sky. The burn was almost out by the next day from rain.

taken at 8:09pm
As the storm blew in over me the temperature dropped and a little rain fell.

The wind rocked the camper but I was snug.

House Rock Valley and Marble Canyon
In the morning I walked out to Marble View at the very end of the narrow road. I might try to drive out there next time to camp. Yet I liked the western sunset view where I was. And I had the place to myself.

Oh yea, I promise to show you the fossils collected tomorrow, or the next day.