Atmosphere
A whiteout snowstorm is not what we were expecting as our rental car skidded into Grand Canyon National Park one afternoon in March of 2021. Once the snow flurries stopped, it seemed like an opportune moment to head out to the south rim ridge, and evaluate the trail that we would be starting down early the next morning. The addled and discombobulated weather had calmed, but visibility was still minimal due to the thick clouds that enveloped the air. The feeling was almost eerie, not being able to see down into the canyon. The air was very cold, even creating icicles on my eyelashes as my breath condensed through the mask to my eyes. A feeling of stillness dominated. It seemed that we would not get much out of this trail reconnaissance mission. Then, as rapidly as the snow had started earlier, the clouds and fog began to lift, exposing small bits of glorious red and orange rock little by little. Eventually, the blue sky would similarly become unveiled. For a moment, the atmosphere was simultaneously both still and alive with movement; both chilling cold and filled with hopeful warmth. It was a flawless symphony conducted by mother nature, and is a moment that I will never forget.