2 Major Winter Storms Coming

Above, the ol' homestead two years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like we're in for some major snowstorms this weekend.

Two storms are on the way, they will be hitting northern Arizona first and then move into New Mexico tonight.

According to the Williams-Grand Canyon News:

WILLIAMS, Ariz. – Two major winter storms are on the way to northern Arizona this weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Flagstaff.

A winter storm warning is in effect beginning Saturday, Jan. 14 with total snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches forecast for Williams, Flagstaff and Grand Canyon South Rim. Grand Canyon North Rim is also forecast for 12 to 18 inches.

Elevations above 5,000 feet can expect higher accumulations; the first storm will begin around 8 p.m. Saturday and continue through most of Sunday. A second storm will roll in Monday and continue through Tuesday.

Both storms are expected to produce snowfall. The first storm could bring 6 to 8 inches of snow in Williams, and 8 to 12 inches in Flagstaff. The second storm is projected to bring 4 to 6 inches to Williams and 6 to 8 inches to Flagstaff.

So far, the winter season has been disappointing in snowfall amounts. Maybe these will produce several inches of the white stuff.

To read more, go here. 

Grand Canyon Open, Some Activities Close

Above, interpretation programs at the Desert View Watchtower are closed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who are planning to spend Spring Break in Grand Canyon National Park, there's good news and bad news.

The park remains open, but some some activities within the park are closed.

According to the Williams News:

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park remains open, however, because of public health concerns related to COVID-19, some park facilities are closed and some related activities have been cancelled. 

According to the park’s website, all South Rim visitor contact stations are currently open. This includes Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Yavapai Geology Museum, Verkamps Visitor Center, Kolb Studio, Tusayan Museum and Desert View Watchtower. 

The Visitor Center Theater and the Science on a Sphere© Theater located at the South Rim Visitor Center are closed until further notice. 

Interpretation Programs on the South Rim are also suspend until further notice, including those at Desert View Watchtower. Desert View Cultural Demonstrations will be suspended through the month of March. 

Contact stations in the Canyon at Indian Garden and Phantom Ranch are open.

To read more, go here. 

NPS Lifetime Senior Pass, Another Reminder

Above, a natural bridge or arch at Bryce Canyon National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The National Park Service lifetime senior pass is currently at $10.00, but that will change in the not too distant future, according to the Williams-Grand Canyon News.

The price hike to $80.00 (still a "steal") will likely come by the end of the year, according to the headline. Three national parks visits to parks that charge $30.00 for 7-days per carload will more than pay for the pass once the price hike is in place.

According to the Williams-Grand Canyon News:

Up until now, older Americans have been able to access more than 84 million acres of federal land protected by the National Park Service (NPS) for only $10, but that will soon be changing. 

The lifetime Interagency Senior Pass, previously known as the Golden Age Passport, will be eight times more expensive soon — costing $80 for Americans who are older than 62. And while the federal governiment is uncertain when the price surge will take effect, the beginning of summer is a good opportunity to remind older Americans to purchase their passes before the price goes up. 

The NPS system includes 417 areas covering land in every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. These areas include national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House. 

The agency offers a variety of passes for Americans to enter the 137 sites that charge for admission. Smaller parks have lower entrance fees, but larger parks, such as the Grand Canyon, charge $30 a carload for a seven-day pass.

The lifetime senior pass can be ordered online (Google it), but an additional processing fee of $10.00 is tacked onto the price.

To read more, go here.