Interesting arrival at Grand Canyon National Park

I just missed a shot of the dog wearing goggles.

Native American Heritage Days at North Rim Grand Canyon National Park

Benn Pikyavit, Paiute tribal teacher & National Park Ranger from Pipe Spring NM, Arizona, spoke about how his ancestors lived with the land.
Many people have called the Grand Canyon home long before it was a national park.

Hopi tribal teacher Debra Onsae shared the story of learning for a girl growing up by the Good Way.
Archeological evidence dates back to about 800AD when the first Ancestral Puebloans (aka: Anasazi) camped in shallow caves along the Colorado River corridor.

1st & 2nd Attendants to Miss Hopi 2009
The Hopi people living in northeast Arizona share ancestry with the Ancestral Puebloans.

Hopi artist & teacher Ramson Lomatewama talks about the concepts of Kachinas.
Many continue to teach their young the old ways while encouraging growth and creativity into the now and beyond.

Hopi Derrick Suwaima Davis & young son performed the Eagle Dance
This youngster absolutely stole the show.

David Nighteagle has made and played the flute since 7 years old.
David brought children and adults out of the audience to set the beat with drum and rattles.

Navajo flute player Milton Tso
Demonstrations went on throughout the day including Kachina carving, basket weaving and soap making from the Yucca root.

Derrick performed the Hoop Dance with Ryon Polequaptewa accompanying
The canyon visitors seemed to enjoy all the events over two days and most got up and danced in a circle after the Hoop Dancing.

Sky Watch Friday - Here comes the rain

Last Thursday and Friday Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim celebrated the 16th annual Native American Heritage Days to celebrate the cultural connections of native people to the park. (I’ll post about it soon.) Prior to a flute performance in the Lodge’s auditorium this is what we watched coming our way. Yet barely any rain fell on us.

To see more skies from around the world, or to share your own, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

Change in plans

So, I’m not going camping because I’m trying to figure out what to do about my just discovered leaking hot water heater. Right now I’m draining the semi-hot water but there doesn’t seem to be a bypass to turn the main water line off to just the tank. Dam it! I’m not a plumber and don’t want to be one. Also very far away from possible repairs. There goes having fun on my days off. Guess it could be worse and the roof could be leaking in a hard rain. But then I’d just throw a tarp over it. Hmmm. What to do?

Remember Whensday - Wedding Day

My Dad, Mom, husband, me and the two kids June 27th, 1980
I was married outside at Morton Arboretum, Illinois where you aren’t suppose to have large gatherings. It was only 40 people and we left right after the ceremony for the reception at Jerry Sharkos restaurant where I worked as the night manager and also where we met. Everybody had to pay $1 to get into the wedding. My two step children participated as flower girl and ring bearer.

Sally from The (Mis) Adventures of Karl and Sally has started a new meme where the past is remembered through sharing old family photographs and this is #10. I love the idea and hope you will too. So join the fun by clicking here.

Going camping

View from nearby Fire Point taken last summer
OK, I have three days off. Actually 2 ½ at this point in the day. So I’m going camping. Heading out into the Kaibab National Forest to the edge of the canyon. There’s a couple points I’d like to check out, Stina, Timp, North Timp, Locust, Fence and Parissawampitts (say that three times fast) . I’ll just see how it goes. Be back in a few days with more pics and posts.

MWT - Cedar Breaks National Monument - Part 2

Columbine Ridge and Lavender Canyon
My second day (first day) at Cedar Breaks I drove the 5-mile (8 km) park road to the farthest viewpoint called North View at 10435 feet (3180.5 meters) where it was cold (mid 40s F) and so windy (gusts up to 50mph). I was sure every photo would be blurry as I could barely hold on to the camera and stand upright. Sure glad it wasn’t blowing towards the canyon.

Opposite the canyon to the northeast stands Brian Head Peak, 11315 feet (3448.8 meters).

The Jr. Ranger yurt complete with skylight and woodstove
Next stop was the Alpine Pond trailhead and although it’s only a .5 mile (.8 km) trail I was too cold to go that far. If there had been a fire and Jr. Ranger program going on in the yurt I’d have been there.

I wonder if these elderberries will ever ripen at this elevation and short growing season.

Jericho Ridge, Arch Creek drainage, Bristlecone and Chessmen Ridges
Just down the road at the Chessmen Ridge Overlook the scene changed again.

Some kind of thistle
The Southern Paiute who first lived in the area called Cedar Breaks u-map-wich, meaning the place where the rocks slide down all the time.

Sunset View overlook west into Arch Creek drainage towards Cedar City
Later, American settlers named the area Cedar Breaks; Cedar for the misnamed juniper trees, and Breaks which is a term for badlands.

Fleabane
Back at Point Supreme where the visitor center is located was a little protected from the fierce wind.

I watched in awe as cloud shadows flowed across the canyon. Yet it was cold and still windy so I headed home via The Rock Stop posted below.

To see more of life around the world, or share some of your own, go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.