Grand Canyon to Sedona (Did I make it out of the Grand Canyon?)

Much of my visit to the South Rim of The Grand Canyon was permeated with the question of whether I would make it out today due to the storm that came in last night.

We did get a significant dump, but I would estimate it at about six inches of light powder. The staff at the Yavapai Lodge were at work at first light plowing the roads and parking lots. The staff even helped us remove the snow from our cars!  Jeff was working in our parking lot and he could not have been nicer or more helpful. Lucy II made short work of the small drift piled up by the snow plows. Once the front windshield had been cleared, I drove her right out of the parking space, no problem. She did request, however, that I pick up a shovel and scraper as I still have Utah, Colorado and New Mexico to contend with. Duh. You would never know that I lived in Boston for six years, you would have thought I was a driving-in-snow novice. I will add an extra pair of warm winter gloves to that list. Then I can add them to the several existing pairs in my drawer at home.

While some delays were reported due to crashes, the roads to Sedona had been plowed, at least to clear a single lane. Progress was slow, mostly due to the trucks who had to proceed very slowly due to the continuing hazardous driving conditions. We had mixed precipitation the entire time, ranging from snow to sleet to rain. There were areas of high winds, as well as portions of the drive that were practically white-outs. Think an entire line of cars creeping along, all with their hazard lights on. The median and shoulders were littered with vehicles whose owners had apparently made some poor decisions.

All in all, it was a far better situation that predicted. Even with the slow stretches, I made it to Sedona in three hours. I checked into the Sky Rock Inn, where I had stayed a couple of years ago with an Art Wolfe workshop . Marriott has since purchased the property.

As has become my habit, I headed over to the bar to grab a drink, a snack and chat with people. Lisa, Sarah, Michelle and Wendy were fellow travelers. Lisa and Sarah are from Texas and shared some tips for places to visit there. Oci and Robert were my bartenders (and food preparers) Oci had great tips about local spirits and brews.

Rain is, yet again, predicted for tomorrow. The axiom that there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothings continues to hold.