Long awaited moisture covers Page area with snow

It had been some three months since the Page area received any measurable moisture. On the night of January 29, clouds that had been building, finally released snow. The depth of snow varied on the ground elevation. At Greenehaven a rain gauge measured a third of an inch.

A rare snowfall covers the ground with Lone Rock shrouded in fog in Glen Canyon National Recreation area. Photos and captions by Phil Clark.

Not to let a bit of snow keep this reporter indoors, it wasn’t long before I was taking photos. Once the sun came out, the snow quickly melted. Until then, the generally reddish-brown landscape was white.

LeChe’e Mesa on the Navajo Nation appears frosted in the morning light.

Those willing to brave the calm, cold weather and sometimes slushy roads were treated to scenery rarely seen in this area. Once the sun started to shine, it seemed a person could almost see the snow melting. Highway 89 had snow on it as did the entrance roads to Glen Canyon NRA. By early afternoon, the roads had melted off and much of the low-lying snow was gone.

Left to right:

• The contrast between reddish brown sandstone and the snow is a stunning sight that isn’t often seen in the Page area.

• Shrouded in fog, “Beehive Rock” sports a white ‘cap’ above Glen Canyon Bridge and Dam.

• The Paria River flows through the snow-covered riverbed, near US 89 and breaks through the melting ice.

• A well-known local landmark, the “Cookie Jar” almost appears covered in powdered sugar.

The following morning the Page area was engulfed in fog. Lone Rock was playing hide and seek in the cloud bank that hugged the edge of the mesa forming Alstrom Point. Greenehaven was in the fog as was Page. It was surreal to see the Beehive Rock next to Glen Canyon Dam almost hidden in fog with a ‘cap’ of snow.

Driving around revealed a “Winter Wonderland”. Those who braved the cold breeze and last few snowflakes falling on the slushy roads realized it was worth exploring the area. Many hope the snow will help raise the level of Lake Powell. While the recent snow will help a small amount, what really matters is how much snow in these last storms fell on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains and in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

Next time it snows, consider getting outside and see what nature created!