Grand Canyon News

….with emphasis on the “kinda-sorta-unofficial.”  Good morning and Happy Monday everyone! 

It’s a Happy Monday for me ‘cauase it snowed at the Grand Canyon over the weekend - yaaaaay!  The South Rim got a few inches here and there, the North Rim close to a foot in some places.  Much of it has already melted, and believe it or not, Highway 67 to Grand Canyon North Rim is still open.  All the in-park lodging and dining facilities closed about a month ago, but the Jacob Lake Inn 45 miles away is still open (it is year-round).  It has cabins, a small diner, gas station, etc.  The South Rim, of course, is open for business, as it is year-round.  Ditto for Grand Canyon West over on the Hualapai reservation.   

….. For those of you going “Wait – whaddaya MEAN it snows in Arizona?!?!!”  Surpriiiiiise!  It snows in Arizona.  That little factoid probably takes the most people off-guard during our conversations with would-be Grand Canyon vacationers at this time of year.  Yes, this is the desert, but then again it’s not.  At altitudes ranging from 6,500 to 8,500′, we experience true winters at the Grand Canyon.  Even places at lower altitudes, like Lake Powell (4,400′), gets the occasional dusting of the stuff. 

And guess what – “Arizona skiing” is not a complete oxymoron.  Nature permitting, Arizona is home to several wonderful skiing and snowboarding destinations anywhere from an hour to four hours’ drive from the Grand Canyon.  

Flagstaff’s Arizona Snow Bowl for instance, asks “where else can you ride a lift and see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon?”  Granted that’s from quite a distance, but the view is pretty darn cool (you can ride the chairlifts in the summertime, too).  Recently, though, this facility has become embroiled in controversy over whether or not artificial snowmaking should be permitted in an area considered sacred to many Native tribes. 

Further South, the Sunrise Ski Park in Greer is billed as offering “some of the finest skiing in the Western United States.”  They have the full range of activities from cross-country skiing to snowboarding for all levels.  Like the Snow Bowl, Sunrise also offers summertime chairlift rides and other activities.   

Both of these resorts are just a couple of hours from Phoenix.  

Just one hour South of the Grand Canyon is the Williams Ski Area, which has recently changed names to the Elk Ridge Ski Area.  This small park is very family-oriented and best suited to beginners and intermediate skiers.  Snowboarders are welcome too. 

For those who have never skiied, I actually suggest trying your ”snow legs” on a pair of cross-country skis.  If you can walk, you can cross-country ski, and a better workout never existed!  You will work muscles you never knew you had.  Luckily, Snow Bowl and Sunrise also have areas designated for this type of skiing also known as “Nordic Skiing.”  At the Grand Canyon, they sometimes have cross-country skis for rent at the Canyon Marketplace, and you can break trail just about anywhere in the forest. 

Are any of these places open yet?  Nope.  Usually they open around Thanksgiving, but ultimately, the decision’s not up to us.  Maybe this is just an exercise in wishful thinking on my part as last year’s snowfall was terribly disappointing.  Experts predicts another warmer than usual winter, but a weak el Nino might produce wetter conditions, which would be welcome. 

And you’ve gotta love the internet – now, it’s possible to get e-mail alerts whenever snow is reported anwhere in the world!  Just sign up for Yahoo! Alerts and select “snowfall” for the type of alert you want to receive.  Or visit www.onthesnow.com and select Arizona as your destination.   

Oh, and don’t forget to pray for snow! 

‘Til next time, Happy Travels! ~ Alley Kaye

P.S.  Find out what other things might surprise you about Arizona in wintertime – download a free copy of “The Insider’s Guide to the Grand Canyon: Winter Edition.”

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