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National Geographic
4 days ago
- National Geographic
The best summers of my life were spent at the Grand Canyon Lodge. Now it's gone.
I'm not usually one to get weepy over a hotel, let alone a patio and some rough-hewn wooden furniture. But when Arizona's famous Grand Canyon Lodge and a number of smaller adjacent structures burned down on the night of July 12 in the Dragon Bravo Fire, a blaze that to date has consumed 11,344 acres and remains entirely uncontained, it left a hole in more than just the conifer forest of the North Rim. My heart, my friends' hearts—there's a hole in each of these now. And there are similar holes in the hearts of thousands of folks across the globe who also loved, and still love, and will forever love, that rustic palace, that gobsmacking view, that superlative place. In 2024, close to five million visitors experienced the beauty and wonder of Grand Canyon National Park, but only ten percent of them ventured to the high, green, thrillingly remote North Rim. For those that did make the five-hour drive from Las Vegas, or the six-hour drive from Flagstaff, or the seven-hour drive from Salt Lake City, the Grand Canyon Lodge, which until this past weekend perched at an elevation of 8,000 feet near the tip of Bright Angel Point, was invariably the destination. Designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood and built in 1928 with local ponderosa pine and Kaibab Limestone, it was destroyed in 1932 thanks to a runaway kitchen fire. Phoenixes rise from ashes, though, and in 1937 it opened again for business—the business of blowing minds. (Did you know the Grand Canyon is a Dark Sky Park?) The Dragon Bravo Fire burns on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona early Sunday morning July 13th, 2025. The fire was started by lighting and left to burn under managed conditions for fuels and resource benefits, but strong winds caused the fire to jump containment lines and burn out of control. Photograph by Stuart Palley Picture a sprawling mansion, solid, heavy, grounded, yet paradoxically hovering above the glowing abyss, the dizzying emptiness of geologic time. Picture old-growth logs framing gargantuan windows, splinters and chandeliers, earthiness and elegance in equal measure. Picture stepping out, stepping through, whispering a few celebratory expletives, shouting a G-rated version of the same, and taking a seat at sunset on the patio of your dreams, the patio of—what a crazy lucky blessing!—my reality. Mike, Ally, Zak, Zig, Jeff, Tara, Sophia, Zig, Carrie, Richard—my friends and I differed considerably from the tour-bus-and-zoom-lens crowd. US Forest Service raptor scientists, we resided in a barebones field station 40 washboard miles from the Lodge and bushwhacked, week after week and month after month, the whole vast Kaibab Plateau (both the National Forest and National Park) in pursuit of molted feathers, crying hawks, active nests, data for the boss' demography and habitat studies. Richard, a brilliant septuagenarian ornithologist sporting a handlebar mustache and chunky silver belt buckle, had been conducting research on the Kaibab for 17 years already when I joined the project in 2008. Over the next four summers, alongside my fellow bird nerds, I became intimate with the North Rim's secret vistas, its hidden backcountry delights. (A park ranger's guide to the Grand Canyon) Sunset from the lodge on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Brahma and Zoroaster temples bask in the warm light of the setting sun. In the distance, clouds cling to the distant rim of the canyon after a summer monsoon storm, 2015. Photograph by Adam Schallau The Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim of Grand canyon National Park, 2011. Photograph by Adam Schallau Honestly, we were snobs, eco-elites, wilderness cognoscenti accustomed to musty sleeping bags who scoffed at the idea of the Lodge's clean sheets. But even hardcore nature freaks need a little civilization—a cold beer and slice of pepperoni pizza—on occasion. If the North Rim was our backyard (it was), the Lodge was our clubhouse—a clubhouse that happened to be listed as a National Historic Landmark. Every third or fourth Friday evening, we would pile into the trucks and crash the sunset party, i.e. try to snag, then defend, a block of benches and rockers amidst the oohing and ahhing crowds. There's Zak, chatting about Coconino Sandstone and the Hermit Formation with a stylish French lady. There's Ally, dodging a Texas oilman's bulging belly as she seeks a fresh angle on Zoroaster Temple and Oza Butte. There's Richard and Zig, carrying a pie to split and a round of IPAs, their Adirondack chairs lost due to my negligence, my absence, my piano playing. (The least crowded trails at Grand Canyon National Park) Interior of the Lodge on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Photograph by Elliot Ross (Top) (Left) and Photograph by Elliot Ross (Bottom) (Right) Yes, piano playing. In a lecture hall behind our favorite patio (the Lodge boasted many), I found an underutilized, almost-in-tune upright. We had guitars and banjos at the field station, but no keys, so I always seized the opportunity to pause between drinks and improvise simple spacious ambient jams, music that matched (I hoped) the chasm's hollow moody mysterious depths. One epic Friday of bruised purple skies, rain and thunder, meteorological tympany, I grooved in concert with the storm's pulsing energy, and when I finally looked up from my reverie, twenty-odd strangers—toddlers and elders, Alaskans and Germans and Mongolians and Tucsonians, a uniformed ranger—had gathered to listen. Of course, their backs were turned to me, their eyes fixed on the distant horizon, the flashing lightning, the desert immensity, the real show. 'Nicely done,' an Aussie said. 'Thanks for the soundtrack, mate.' The sun rises above Grand Canyon National Park Sunday July 13th, 2025 as smoke from the Dragon Bravo Fire fills the canyon. Phantom Ranch and other lower trails were closed and evacuated due to a choline gas leak after a water treatment plant was damaged by the fire in the North Rim visitor area. Photograph by Stuart Palley This memory and a dozen others came to the surface, vivid and warm, the moment I learned that the North Rim was closing for the rest of the season, and that the popular inner corridor hiking trails were closing too, and that the Dragon Bravo Fire was expanding, and that the Lodge, my Lodge, our Lodge, everyone's Lodge, was officially gone. Gone? Seriously? I sent a message to Mike, my dear pal from the Kaibab, my best buddy from the absolute best summers imaginable, the individual who, I was certain, understood the weird mixed feeling, a braid of sorrow and joy: 'Dude. It burned. Terrible. Tragic. But damn am I grateful to have shared such sweet times there with you and the gang. Unbelievable privilege. Unbelievable spot. The Lodge is dead, long live the Lodge!' He responded: 'Let's meet on the patio in three years, once it's rebuilt. My daughter—I've been meaning to call you, we're expecting a baby girl!—will be eager to see the sunset.' Ashes, phoenixes, indeed.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
ComfortDelGro to introduce new taxi cancellation, waiting fee policy
To help its customers ease into the changes, ComfortDelGro will implement a waiver period. SINGAPORE - Singapore's largest taxi operator ComfortDelGro will be introducing a new cancellation and waiting fee policy from July 31. In a Facebook post on July 16 announcing the change, ComfortDelGro said that charges under the new policy will be applied only after a waiver period – from Sept 1 for the cancellation fee, and from Oct 15 for the waiting fee. During this period, no charges will be applied even if the fee conditions are met, which ComfortDelGro said allows both customers and drivers to familiarise themselves with the new policies before it is fully enforced. Under the new cancellation policy, customers are accorded four free cancellations a month, usable only when a taxi has yet to arrive at a pickup point. After these are used, a $4 fee will be charged. However, if a taxi has arrived at a pickup point – determined by its GPS data – and a customer cancels the ride, the $4 fee will be charged regardless of the remaining free cancellation quota. A no-show by customers, defined as them not being at the pick-up point more than five minutes after the taxi arrives, will incur a charge of $5. A waiting fee will be charged if the taxi waits for them for more than four minutes. For every additional five minutes of waiting, $3 will be added to the customer's fare, up to a maximum of $9. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore Singapore Strong argument for cockpit video recording, says Iata chief in wake of Air India crash report Singapore Here comes the sun: Less rain, more warm days in second half of July Singapore Baby died after mum took abortion pills and gave birth in toilet; coroner records an open verdict Asia Former deputy minister seen as surprise front runner for Malaysia's next Chief Justice: Sources Business Tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter Kuok Hui Kwong appointed CEO of Shangri-La Asia Describing its new policies as 'fairer', the transport operator said that the move was so 'everyone's time is respected, and drivers are fairly rewarded when plans change last minute'. On its website , ComfortDelGro clarified that the fees are mutually exclusive - a waiting fee will only be charged if a customer completes a trip, while a cancellation or no-show fee is only applicable if a customer fails to complete the trip. Customers using cashless payment methods will have the fees deducted automatically, while those paying by cash will see the fee added to their next ride's fare via ComfortDelGro's Zig app. ComfortDelGro also assured customers that drivers will also suffer consequences for cancelling, and that there are 'policies are in force to ensure that both parties are treated fairly'.
Express Tribune
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Pippa Middleton returns in Duchess Sophie's favorite summer shoes
Pippa Middleton made her first public appearance of 2025 at the British Grand Prix on July 6, stepping out in a summer outfit that embraced the season's biggest royal-approved trend: espadrille wedges. The sister of Princess Kate was joined by her husband James Matthews and brother-in-law Spencer Matthews at the race event, drawing attention not just for her rare outing, but for her stylish nod to fellow royal Duchess Sophie's go-to summer footwear. While Duchess Sophie favors 4-inch Penelope Chilvers wedges, Middleton opted for a lower, 1.5-inch ivory ankle-tie pair from Spanish brand Castañer—a label long loved by the Middleton sisters. Pippa looked effortlessly chic in a sleeveless, belted white dress by London label Usisi Sister, a brand known for its sustainable, all-natural fabrics and female-led production. She layered the look with a camel suede Zig jacket from Sézane and accessorized with a matching Emmy London purse, another brand closely associated with the Princess of Wales. Her sunglasses were by Finlay and Co., the same brand Princess Kate was spotted browsing earlier this year. Last seen in public at Kate's Christmas carol concert in December 2024, Pippa's latest fashion moment may hint at a potential appearance during Wimbledon—especially if her sister, the Princess of Wales, attends the finals. With espadrilles ruling royal wardrobes this season, Middleton's return proves she's still very much in step with the most elegant summer style cues from the palace.
Business Insider
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Zimbabwe's gold-backed currency faces credibility test despite central bank optimism
Zimbabwe's gold-backed currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), continues to face skepticism from both the public and financial analysts, despite central bank assurances of stability and full reserve backing. Zimbabwe's gold-backed currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), faces public and financial analyst skepticism Past economic issues, including hyperinflation and currency shifts, continue to erode public trust in new currency measures. The share of transactions using the ZiG has increased, though many citizens still rely on the U.S. dollar due to past economic turmoil. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) claims the currency is supported by more than 100% in reserves, including 2.5 tons of gold and $100 million in foreign assets. The ZiG, Zimbabwe's sixth currency attempt in 15 years, was introduced to curb inflation and restore confidence in the local monetary system. Yet many citizens still rely on the U.S. dollar for daily transactions, with past economic turmoil continuing to erode trust. Although the International Monetary Fund has expressed support for the ZiG and its potential to become a full national currency, uptake remains limited. Government efforts to boost usage have yet to overcome deep-rooted doubts among both consumers and investors. According to Reuters, the RBZ kept its benchmark interest rate at 35% on Monday, citing exchange rate stability. It also reported total reserves of $701 million and noted that the share of transactions using the ZiG jumped to 43% in May, up from 26% in April when the currency was launched. The Zig's credibility issues Last year, Zimbabwe introduced a new gold-backed currency known as the ZiG, or Zimbabwe Gold, in a bid to curb longstanding currency instability and decades of hyperinflation. The Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), has however, continued to face a significant trust gap, as evidenced by persistent premiums in the parallel market, where it trades below the official rate. This skepticism persists despite the central bank's assertion that the ZiG is now backed by more than 100% in reserves, comprising gold and foreign currency. The country's tumultuous monetary history, marked by hyperinflation and abrupt currency shifts, has contributed to this lack of confidence. While responding to Reuters, Reserve Bank Governor John Mushayavanhu reaffirmed the central bank's commitment to the ZiG, stating: ' ZiG is our national currency, and we are committed to ensuring its success by maintaining all the fundamental characteristics of sound money, including its function as a reliable store of value. ' He added, ' The Reserve Bank has learned from previous currency failures that maintaining an optimal money supply and ensuring monetary stability is vital. ' Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube remains optimistic, expressing confidence that monetary reforms will pave the way for $2.6 billion in bridge financing by mid-2026. However, global investors are cautious, with Jetro Siekkinen of LGT Capital Partners stating, " We wouldn't invest in Zimbabwe at the current stages. The country needs to have a lot more development before we would consider it," as reported by Reuters. Analysts have also raised concerns about Zimbabwe's overall reserve position, noting that the country holds just 0.8 months of import cover, well below the International Monetary Fund's three-month benchmark. Other factors include past policy failures, doubts over gold reserve transparency, limited convertibility, and persistent inflation which all fuel skepticism. A strong black-market presence and continued reliance on U.S. dollars further weaken confidence.
eNCA
16-06-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Vendors and businesses reject Zig-only idea
HARARE - Small businesses in Zimbabwe say being restricted to using the Zimbabwean gold currency would destroy their livelihoods. The International Monetary Fund has suggested the sole use of the Zig in order to stabilise the economy. The currency replaced the Zimbabwe dollar in April last year. But the rand and the US dollar remain legal and popular currencies. Local and foreign supermarket chains have already closed shops in Zimbabwe, citing Zig instability.
