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I Cannot Tell of Such a Thing, You Must Let Them See
I cannot tell you of the Grand Canyon, it is something you must see for yourself. Arizona is a unique place. There are many sayings about Arizona.
“When the big rain came, forty days and forty nights, southern Arizona got half an inch.” “Whisky is for drinking, and water is for fighting.” “What doesn’t bite you will stab or sting you.”
Mike Olbinski can you show you the Summer Monsoon season in Arizona.
I lived in Arizona about 20 miles north of Tucson in what I call the Arizona House. The house is still in the family, set at 3,300 feet in elevation. Less than a mile from the house, the ridge lines of the Santa Catalina Mountains are around 7,300 feet in elevation. In the Summer Monsoon season, the clouds at times dropped below the ridge lines. You knew that the window-shaking thunder, the lightning strikes that sound like explosions, and the dust storms were soon to come.
Mike Olbinski, through his artistic photography, can show you what I cannot really tell you.
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Published in Art
This is so true. Been there twice, and “awe-inspiring” barely scratches the surface of reality. “Sublime” as C.S. Lewis may have put it (see The Abolition of Man).
I cringe watching his videos–they are spectacular and terrifying. For me the sand storms called haboobs are the scariest, as they steamroller the landscape. Yikes!
Very cool. Just watched on my phone. I’ll have to watch it again later on bigger screen.
Don’t think it doesn’t come to the city. I think I told members here that back in July, 2018 my daughter and her husband’s house just off N. Central in Phoenix was nearly totaled by a more than mature Eucalyptus tree felled by a monsoon rain one evening about seven o’clock while she was preparing dinner. The two of them, their three children and the dog were in the house. No injuries, thank the Lord. It took over two years to get back in the house.
I love this state.
It is truly spectacular. My wife and I backpacked down to the bottom (and back up) many years ago. To be honest, I can’t really recommend that, even though you can buy a Snickers bar down there. The views are best from the top, frankly, and also certain death is only a few feet away as you hike, which is a situation best avoided.
You have to watch out for the California condors that live there; too. They’ll snatch your baby, if you bring one. Not to eat, of course (they only eat carrion), but rather to carry them back to their nests as toys for their young. The park rangers are of surprisingly little help when that happens, mostly because they’re pretty busy selling keychains and mugs, but also because they’re basically on the Condor’s side.
But, yes, it’s still well worth going to.
The view is great from the river. I’ve rowed through the canyon four times on two week trips. Have to rate the trips as some of the best experiences in my life.