Flash flooding at the bottom of Grand Canyon in the area of Phantom Ranch has claimed lives over the past couple days. These stories pain me, because I have an intimate knowledge, and personal experiences tied to the specific area where this is happening. I’ve attached 10 of my personal photographs from this area.
Before I went to the bottom of Grand Canyon, I did a ton of reading and research about potential dangers so that I could be prepared, avoid dangers, and even know how to react in the face of certain dangers. The one that fascinated me the most was the potential for flash floods. Many have died in the canyon over the decades due to these flash floods.
I remember this was on my mind constantly on my way down, and on my way out. I was constantly evaluating each area, imagining the path a flash flood would take, and looking for the best routes of escape. The very nature of the geological formations down there means that most of the time you are traveling between tight walls, which are basically the perfect chute for water to travel between.
At least 15 hikers missing as flash flood sweeps through Grand Canyon
Dozens evacuated as flash floods suddenly strike the Grand Canyon with wall of water wiping out trails
In Appalachia they get confused as ‘haints’ or otherworldly creatures roaming the dark woods. Hearing this, you can probably understand why. They make a downright spooky sound in the dark, Appalachian backwoods!
We need Alfred Hitchcock to come back and do a movie about this.
In all seriousness, I’m glad both people are ok.
Have you ever been attacked by an unlikely animal? I almost got into a fist fight with a white-tailed deer once. My grandpappy’s hens always tried to kill me when grandma would send me to the henhouse to collect eggs. I’ve had a few feisty run-ins with geese. On another occasion, a shrew about the size of my pinky toe didn’t like me camping near her burrow and she was going at me pretty heavy.
I like this picture I took of these three tomaters from my garden. The colors of each one compliments the colors of the others.
I would have loved to have checked in over the past several days, but I just couldn’t do it. No signal, no internet!
It’s always frustrating for about the first day when you can’t check messages, emails, posts and the like, but after a while you slip into the new data-devoid reality, and it’s really quite nice. You come back refreshed.
I hope y’all are doing well out there.
