It must have gotten quite cold where you found it, Jeff. This is called "Hair Ice"; Fungus Exidiopsis effusa, found on all hair ice-producing wood. These rare, delicate strands of white hair sprouting from rotting branches and wood are actually ice, engineered by a fungus to grow in these peculiar yet beautiful formations. It grows on the rotting branches of certain trees when the conditions are just right, usually during a humid winter night when the temperature drops below 0 degrees C (32 degrees F) or, in the rare case of this specimen, when humidity and the cold, probably created by the depth of the canyon you were in, created the perfect conditions. So not only is it beautiful and quite rare, but the fact that you found and photographed it in summer is even more rare. Slap yourself on the back for a while and print and frame this one-of-a-kind capture. Kudos!!!

-Nik

This sure is something different, and I found the lead up by Nik, very interesting, so thank you both for a cool find, and good narrative.
tigs=^..^=

...I just thought you'd like to see it and learn about it.... I had no idea such a thing existed...Nik....

"Hair Ice" Makes you wonder about all that nature has to offer. Well think this is a double Kudos!!! one for Jeff and one for Nik.

Rob