Snow In August

Here in northeast Kansas this week, we’ve been having a heatwave. The heat index Monday was 119 degrees, and yesterday we had a cold snap where the heat index plummeted to 104 degreees. In an attempt to feel cooler, I’ve been thinking about last December when Harland and I took a road trip to Arizona and Utah.

We visited the Grand Canyon, and stayed there for a couple days. One morning we awoke to find it was snowing, and so we went out to the canyon rim early. No other tourists – just us and the canyon. The snow stopped, and the sun broke through the clouds.

The next morning found us at Bryce Canyon in Utah. We wanted pics of sunrise, so we got there in the dark. It was 20 degrees, snowing, and the wind blowing about 30 miles per hour. As the sun rose, it stopped snowing.

Another couple days later we were at Arches National Park in Utah where we hiked up a trail to view Delicate Arch at sunset. I use the term “hike” loosely. The trail was only 1.5 miles, but the elevation is nearly 5000 feet, and for flatlanders like us, it was more like a death march. Many times I stopped and bent over with my hands on my knees gasping for breath. I told Harland to go ahead without me, and asked that he just bury my body on his way back. He insisted I keep going, and encouraged me with promises of the wonderful view at the end of the trail.

And he was right.

Thinking about our trip, and looking at the pictures again, has made me feel cooler. If you’re in the middle of a heatwave, as I know many of you are, I hope this makes your day a little more bearable.

Up next: Horses in western Nebraska. Giddyup.

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Suzanne

Cattle, corn, wheat, beans, mud, snow, ice, and drought. Plenty of fresh air and quiet. Our life is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes joyous, but never boring.

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36 Responses

  1. Suzanne! These photos are breathtaking! I love the contrast of the orange earth and the white snow. When you mentioned 20 degrees and the wind blowing 30 mph. it did actually give me a chill thinking about it. This is definately a place I would love to visit someday. So beautiful!

    • Suzanne says:

      Hi Bonnie,
      If you have a choice between winter and summer, and you don’t mind the cold, we recommend visiting in the winter. Not blazing hot, and not as many tourists.
      Thank you so much!

  2. Tes says:

    Wow the pictures look incredible! I wish I could go there someday 🙂

  3. Great photos!!!!
    We’ve hiked up to Delicate Arch. It’s amazing. And, we’ve seen the Grand Canyon from the north rim, but seeing them with snow is spectacular. Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos. I needed those while watering last night. Stay cool!!!

    • Suzanne says:

      Hi Gardener,
      Did you have a hard time with the hike to Delicate Arch?
      Thank you, it’s some cooler today.

  4. Vivian says:

    Your picture of the Grand Canyon is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen. It looks almost like a rainbow. All of the pictures are beautiful – thanks for sharing.

  5. Wonderful photos! Thanks for the break from the heat wave since I am also in NE Kansas. I hear we might get a thunderstorm or two today! Hooray! 🙂

  6. Christina says:

    Oh my. Incredible photos! Thank you for sharing them!

  7. Julie says:

    So beautiful! I really want to visit there, one day and your photos just add to that desire! I’ve never seen them with snow–very nice (esp. since I’m in broiling Alabama).

  8. Glyndalyn says:

    Great pictures. Thanks for including us. 106 (actual temperature) degrees here in Tiny Hamlet in Middle TN.

    • Suzanne says:

      Hi Glyndalyn,
      Oh no. 106 actual temp? Makes me feel bad to complain about our weather. Our actual temps have been in the 90s with heat indexes in the 100s. Hope it gets cooler there soon.
      Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. Nance says:

    For the glory of the earth . . . wonderful photos. Thanks for the lovely images.

  11. Shailaja says:

    I had been to the Grand Canyon many, many years ago. What a contrast between what I saw in summer (June) and what you have shown of it in December! Splendid shots.

  12. I don’t remember ever seeing pictures of snow and the Grand Canyon before now. You are a great photographer. Thanks!

  13. Liz says:

    Hi,
    Thank you for posting all the beautiful pictures – I really enjoyed them. I also love all your cooking pictures and receipes. I wish I could grow corn like you do but down here in OK having a garden is pretty hard. We are from CA and I could grow anything there. My tomatoe plants are still alive but they tell me its too hot for them to set tomatoes, just keep them alive until it cools off. I am going to try to grow some corn next year just to see if I can. Thanks again for a great blog – I really enjoy it!
    Liz

    • Suzanne says:

      Hi Liz,
      I’ve heard it’s been mighty hot down there in OK lately. You might try starting the corn as early as possible so that it matures before the heat starts. Here in NE Kansas, we plant the corn in early April. You could probably start yours even earlier down there. Good luck!
      Thank you for visiting!

  14. Liz says:

    Hi Suzanne,
    Do you put manure in the ground before you plant corn? It’s been 100 for a week now I think and it continues. I am a quilt designer so I am busy working and don’t pay too much attention to it all. I try to walk at 6 am and have learn to water at night so I don’t get attack by bugs in the wet grass in the morning. Out in CA I could walk barefoot in the wet grass and loved being in my garden early. I am learning a lot from your website thanks for sharing so much information with us!
    Liz

    • Suzanne says:

      Hi Liz,
      We put a load of manure on the garden in the fall, and then turn it in. In the spring we turn the soil again, and plant. We don’t do any other fertilizing other than some nitrogen for the corn as it loves some extra. If you found a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen, you might try that.
      Oh, I love walking barefoot in wet grass after a rain. Ahh….
      Thanks for stopping by.

  15. Debbie says:

    Hi! I’m new here, but really enjoying your photos, comments and recipes! I live in the Kansas City area.
    I love these pics of the Grand Canyon in winter! Yes, we need some “chillin” pictures right now!

  16. I LOVE these pictures! So amazing. I’ve never been to the grand canyon or bryce canyon. I need to get out more!

    Mia @ City Girl to Country Girl
    http://www.citygirltocountrygirl.com

  17. Julie says:

    Your pictures are stunning and I had to laugh bc I’ve been to all of those places in September and we never had snow. Too funny.

    • Suzanne says:

      Julie,
      All these places are worth seeing in the snow. Gives a new dimension to the look of them.
      Thank you!

  18. Tina says:

    I see from your post, Snow in August, that you found my favorite place, the red rocks of Utah. We only live a couple hours away and I cannot get there enough.It is something in the red rocks and canyons that call to my spirit. I feel different inside, very peacefull there. I am so glad you got to see it and take those wonderful pictures. You even gave me a laugh describing your death march….what a crack up! I guess you are Flatlanders! That’s for the posts.

    • Suzanne says:

      Hi Tina,
      Harland (hubby) has been there many times. I think we would move there if we could. Would take us a while to get used to the elevation though. 🙂

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