Red Rabbit

Here is a link to the USGS gauging stations on the various AZ drainages to help keep trak during this and future storms (possibly next week Tue&Wed). Runoff is cranking in some places. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/current/?type=flow

WAVE SPORT ACE 5.1 Great condition: used on river only 5 times Includes rear flotation bags $500 PADDLES Werner straight shaft 45* offset 197cm $100 Perception Gradient TAP 200cm $40 MOUNTAIN SURF Kevlar Spray Skirt Large deck $100 KOKOTAT Gore-Tex Dry Top Brand new gaskets Size large Very good condition $150 Or take it all for $800 Pick-up in Flagstaff

I'd hang on for unit 10 for a few more years. This may help: http://monstermuleys.hunterstrailhead.com/...n&year=2009

If you are concerned about the weight, consider a pair of Leica 10+15 Duovids.

In 10x, I'd choose the Zen-Ray 10x43 ED2 for a great optical view at less $$. Doug at CameraLand said he may begin carrying them, or you can order directly from Zen-Ray. If you bowhunt or hunt elk or muleys in the timber more, I'd go with something in 6X to 8X. If you hunt open mountains, I'd get two pair, 10X and 15X.

Don't know if Santa had a rifle fall off the sleigh, but.. Why did she not like the 7-08? Excessive recoil, muzzle blast, poor rifle fit? No one has mentioned choosing a rifle built to fit and 11 YO girl. How about a Rem 700 Compact for easy handling, cut the stock to the right length and put on a cushy Sims recoil pad. Then you can buy a full size replacement stock for when she grows bigger. Chamberings: 7-08 in 700 Compact with Managed Recoil ammo to start. 270 Win in Rem 700 Youth with managed recoil ammo. Finding a rifle in 243 WSSM may be hard for the dying cartridge, as would be finding ammo.

The week long parade of snowstorms across Arizona were set to break Saturday, so when the Interstate highways reopened, I headed up to the south rim of the Grand Canyon to capture the breaking storm. I hoped to see snow deep in the canyon, various shades of gray clouds and streams of light onto the eroded rock faces. The scenery did not disappoint. The road to Hermit Rest and Desert View were closed, so I was anchored at Yavapai Point with a just a few other photographers and tourists. I spent from late morning until the last of evening glow in awe of the changing conditions in this spectacular location. Truly one of the better days I will probably spend this year. Hope you enjoy the images. Lingering snow squalls raced across the canyon. As the afternoon progressed, the clouds parted more and allowed rays of sun to light the canyon walls and bring out more color to contrast against the white snow. It was a gusty afternoon causing swirls of snow and ice crystals to be carried up the rim face and around us along the viewpoint. Finally, the sun lowered towards the western horizon, providing longer shadows and more color to the sedimentary rock layers, temples, finger ridges and remaining clouds. Doug~RR

Those dogs sure stand out against the white snow when the come in. Sounds like you had a fun day.

One of the final ones taken as the soft light after dusk turns the eastern sky soft pastel colors. I had to stay around late and be sure that I was the last person out of the parking lot

Thanks all. I did not what to expect when I left Saturday morning as I-17 and !-40 had been closed earlier. ADOT did a great job as travel was on wet road with only a few slushy spots. Besides creating great scenery, the storm had another blessing in that there were not many tourists at the park. I had been waitng for a significant winter storm that had a snow level dropping to 4000 feet. Glad I went to the Canyon as opposed to Sedona. Doug

Julie must have been in heaven. Dogs sure do love romping in the snow, bringing on a new friskiness and aura of bizzerkness.

Taken out the back door. Snow is up to about 4' in Rica's 6' pen. If they open the Interstates 17&40, I hope to get to the big ditch this weekend.

Mike, Just put your bass boat in at Kohls Ranch. You'll be to Roosevelt faster than you can drive.

Wow! the Tonto is at 32,000 cfs and increasing. The Colorado R throught the canyon is only 16,000 cfs

Looks Good! Oatmeal and Red Yeast Rice for breakfast tomorrow? <grin>

NOAA's map shows it to be on the SF peaks, which would coincide with the 9700' elevation and snowcover. The lat/long must be wrong. Snowslide Spring is in the inner basin between Agassiz and Humphreys Peaks http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/mwmap.php...fgz&map=fgz

Phil, Sure looks like great country from the pic of you and Ron glassing. Hope to read some success stories . I feel like a horse with all your carrots dangling in front of us readers. Doug~RR

Congrats Allen on your dual success.

Keith, Happy Birthday. Enjoy your day! We are getting plenty of white frosting up here for you. You can ski free on your birthday , just have to make it up I-17 (which they have closed due to jack-knifed rigs ). Doug

JLG, One of the NOAA forecasts had the snow levels down to 4000' Friday morning. I would think there will be snow at Cordes/Dugas then. Also very high winds expected as the front moves through. http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?si...&glossary=1 AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ 330 PM MST WED JAN 20 2010 .SYNOPSIS...THE LAST AND MOST POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM IN THIS SERIES WILL BEGIN TO MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ARIZONA TONIGHT. THIS NEXT SYSTEM WILL BRING HEAVY LOWER ELEVATION RAIN EARLY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...WITH THE THREAT OF FLOODING. EXTREMELY HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL WILL ALSO OCCUR WITH THIS STORM. CONDITIONS WILL SLOWLY DRY OUT BY SATURDAY NIGHT. && .DISCUSSION...HIGH CLOUDS FROM THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM ARE ALREADY PUSHING ACROSS ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON AND RAIN AND SNOW IS PUSHING ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA. PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE THIS EVENING AND INCREASE IN INTENSITY OVERNIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING MODERATE TO HEAVY PRECIPITATION TO CENTRAL AND WESTERN ARIZONA BY THURSDAY MORNING. THE COLD FRONT WITH THIS STORM WILL MOVE ACROSS ARIZONA LATE THURSDAY NIGHT OR EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. THIS STORM IS THE LAST AND STRONGEST STORM THIS WEEK. WE HAVE ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF NORTHERN ARIZONA AND A FLOOD WATCH FOR THE LOWER ELEVATIONS SOUTH OF THE MOGOLLON RIM FOR THIS EVENT. SNOW LEVELS WILL CHANGE DRASTICALLY AS THIS STORM SYSTEM PROGRESSES ACROSS THE STATE. INITIALLY...COLDER AND DRIER AIR WILL ALLOW THE FIRST WAVE OF PRECIPITATION TO WET-BULB...WITH SNOW LEVELS AS LOW AS 5500 FEET TONIGHT. STRONG MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL RAISE THE SNOW LEVELS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT SNOW LEVELS WILL RISE TO 7500-8000 FEET FOR SEVERAL HOURS THURSDAY EVENING...BEFORE DROPPING AGAIN LATER THURSDAY NIGHT AS HUGE COLD FRONT MOVES FROM WEST TO EAST. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED FOR AN HOUR OR TWO JUST AHEAD AND BEHIND THE FRONT AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE STATE. HEAVY SNOW IS ALSO EXPECTED BEHIND THE FRONT WITH MUCH LOWER SNOW LEVELS EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. THE HEAVY SNOW AND LOW ELEVATION RAIN SHOULD CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. COLD AND UNSTABLE AIR BEHIND THE FRONT WILL LINGER INTO SATURDAY... WITH AREAS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE PRECIPITATION CONTINUING. THIS IS A MAJOR STORM SYSTEM. RAIN AND SNOW AMOUNTS WILL BE TREMENDOUS THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT...IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. POWER MAY BE DISRUPTED BY HIGH WINDS AND HIGH SNOW LOADS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK FOR UPDATES.

Nice view for sure. Bet it will really be white Saturday morning.

Flag got 8" of white stuff last night. I didn't take a shower outside though. The prickly pear pads I have seen while out quail hunting have been drawn and withered from lack of moisture. Hopefully, some spring rains will continue and there will be more plump in the pads and good flowering/fruits later. We are to get 24-50" of snow possible from Thursday's storm. 4-6" of rain possible below the rim.

My reference books say late October after the rut to December for shedding. The horn starts growing back quickly, and you should see some new horn growth now. I am suprised Eli Grimmett does not have an antelope biology section on his website. If your depredation hunt includes bucks, expect no trophy horns this time of year.

Wondering if one could cut a cross section from a used bicycle inner tube and trim to fashion a wing. Slide the wing onto the outside of the Minox eyecup.

One of my goals this year was to capture a set of photographic images that could be used to create a calendar showcasing the various landscapes of scenic Northern Arizona. Amanda and I have talked about selling this calendar on her website to help defray her wesite costs and my production costs. The calendar has been published and a few copies are on the way for our review. The photos for each month are pictured above. I expect to receive the sample calendar next week for inspection. The calendar is 17"x11", with 8.5x11" pages of 100# gloss stock that are coil bound. Final price has not been set, but will likely be less than twenty dollars. We are trying to gauge interest in these to determine how many should be ordered. Post below if you may have an interest in ordering a calendar for yourself, or more that you may use as Christmas gifts. Thank you, Doug~RR