Incidentally, the last four or five days have brought near record rainfall for California, and heavy snow (measured in feet, not inches) in the higher elevations of Arizona. The first round on Sunday/Monday prompted me to bypass the Grand Canyon due to road conditions. Then, checking the road conditions and weather forecast this afternoon, I decided to exercise caution and to not attempt navigating the icy roads to see the Grand Canyon. Nearly five feet of snow has fallen there in recent days, and the roads are said to be treacherous. While it’s a bit disappointing not to be able to visit the Grand Canyon on this trip, I feel it is the wiser choice. As such, I am taking a more southerly route for the next few days. I hope to make it as far as Tucson on Friday.
--Larry Spears [Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010]