Yesteryear to Reappear at History Symposium

Yesteryear to Reappear at History Symposium

Hardy Native Americans, grizzled miners, political visionaries, audacious explorers, tireless scientists, and slightly crazed river runners are among the many characters woven into the cultural tapestry of Grand Canyon. The January 26-29, 2012, Grand Canyon History Symposium will showcase a great many of these noteworthy souls. The third installment in a series that began in 2001, the symposium features expert lectures, informative tours, great food and a canyon-sized sense of community. The event has been organized by the Grand Canyon Historical Society, and will be conducted in partnership with Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon Association. Space is limited, so follow this link and register today http://www.grandcanyonhistory.org/symposium.html

A Splash of Color

Though not on the scale of the vast deciduous forests of the Midwest and East Coast, the display of fall colors on the Colorado Plateau is no less impressive. The leaves of the gambel oak, cottonwood, and sycamore trees (just to name a few) typically change color from late September through early November. My personal favorite are the aspen, whose delicate leaves turn a shimmering gold, and stand out remarkably against the deep green of their coniferous neighbors such as the firs and pines. There is thought to be but one grove of these high-altitude beauties along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The dozen or so trees are located in a cool, moist ravine east of Grandview Point—one of the highest spots on the entire South Rim. After several gallant attempts to find the stand, I successfully stumbled upon them recently—their fluttering gold leaves guiding me in from an adjacent cliff. With the sedentary months of winter just around the corner, this was the perfect way to end another year of hiking, backpacking, and river running in my favorite place on Earth.