Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of October 4, 2021
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Federal Workforce Vaccination Update for NPS Employees
As we continue working toward our goal of having a fully vaccinated workforce, please be aware of the dates by which federal employees need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
For those wanting to request a religious or medical accommodation to the vaccine requirement, speak with your supervisor to get more information about how to request a reasonable accommodation. Supervisors will work closely with HR to understand and consider any accommodation requests.
Some important dates to keep in mind specific to the type of vaccination received:
- To meet the November 22 deadline, you will need to get your first dose by October 11 if you are getting the Moderna vaccine.
- If you are getting the Pfizer vaccine, you’ll need to receive the first dose by October 18.
- November 8 is the deadline for the second dose of both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and for receiving the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine
- By November 22, covered Federal employees must be fully vaccinated or actively working with your supervisor and HR on a reasonable accommodation request.
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Arizona and Grand Canyon Community Statistics
Case numbers in Arizona increased this week to 2,601 new cases per day compared to last week’s average of 2,501.
As of Tuesday, there have been a total of 250 cases in the 86023 zip code since the beginning of the pandemic. Of those, approximately 66 cases have been in the park. There are four new confirmed cases in the park this week and the individuals are isolating.
To date, Coconino County is reporting that the Grand Canyon community is 71.8% fully vaccinated. Thank you to those of you who have been fully vaccinated!
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Reporting COVID symptoms is critical to limiting exposure and keeping our staff and community safe.
If you think you may have been exposed to COVID, regardless of your vaccination status, immediately isolate and report your situation to your supervisor and Public Health Consultant, Ronan King, and await their instructions.
Following this protocol and Ronan’s instructions is extremely important so that any community spread can be contained as quickly as possible.
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Public Health Contacts
Ronan King, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service
For all email correspondence, please also cc: Chris Glime, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service
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Messages and Grand Canyon News
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Indigenous People’s Day, October 11
This year we recognize Indigenous People’s Day on Monday, October 11. At Grand Canyon, park leadership continues to work on the Indian Affairs Strategy with positive feedback coming to us from our NPS colleagues in the Intermountain Region and Washington. The draft strategy is gaining traction to the point where the work we are doing may be shared at the Tribal Nations Summit being planned for the White House in November. There will be virtual events held in recognition of Indigenous People’s day across the nation, and the city of Flagstaff is hosting an event on Monday, October 11 through a virtual platform. The event, titled Honoring the Four Sacred Elements of Life: Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandparents Water and Fire, will be available on-line from 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Registration can be made in advance for this event is free and can be made by following this link. NPS Fire Archaeologist, Jason Nez, will be speaking at this event about Diné cultural relationships to Fire between 3:15-4:30 p.m. To learn more about the tribes that call Grand Canyon home you can visit the park website, Grand Canyon Conservancy site or the Grand Canyon Trust’s, The Voices of Grand Canyon website.
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North Rim Begins Transition to Winter Operations
The North Rim will begin transitioning to winter operations next Saturday, October 16. At this time, the Grand Canyon Lodge will close and limited services will be available to visitors.
Keep in mind the following changes:
- The North Rim Visitor Center, operated by the Grand Canyon Conservancy, will close on October 15, and the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk will close on October 17.
- The North Rim campground will accept reservations through October 31 and will close for the season on November 1.
- The Camper/General Store will offer limited groceries while supplies last, and retail items Tuesday-Saturday from 9 am-5 pm.
- After October 31, water will only be available at the North Rim Backcountry Information Center at the North Rim Administration Building.
- The North Rim Backcountry Information Center will close for the season on November 1st.
The entrance gate on State Route 67 will officially close for the season at 5 pm on November 30th, or after the first major snowstorm if prior to that date. The self-serve gas station, including diesel, will be available for as long as State Route 67 is open.
Anyone traveling to the North Rim between now and November 30 should be prepared for winter driving conditions on State Route 67 and throughout the park. Snow, ice and rain are common during this time of year.
Please call Arizona Highway Information to check road conditions at 1-888-411-ROAD (7623) or the Grand Canyon Roads line at: 928-638-7496 (PLEASE do not call Grand Canyon dispatch to check road conditions).
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Upcoming Trail Work at Nankoweap and Deer Creek
Beginning next week, NPS Trail Crew will launch a trail restoration and trail rehabilitation river mission.
As such, there will be two trail closures in place on the Nankoweap Granaries Trail and the Deer Creek Trail. The Nankoweap Granaries Trail will be closed from October 13th-16th and the Deer Creek Trail from October 21st – 24th. Both of these trails receive heavy backcountry travel and have received limited maintenance in the recent past.
These closures are necessary for the crew to safely and effectively maintain and rehabilitate these trails. Visitors will be allowed to hike these trails during the hours they are not closed for trail maintenance. I have seen the work our trails crew have done all over the park. They do great work. Thank you to Trail Crew leads Adam Gibson, Shayne Rasmussen, and Daniel Schweitzer, who have helped coordinate this river mission and the much-needed repairs to these trails.
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ALERT: Inner Canyon Water Availability Changes October 11
Due to an incoming cold front and predicted freezing overnight temperatures next week, our Water Utilities staff will be shutting off water to select locations on the Bright Angel and North Kaibab trails on Monday, October 11. Water will be off for the season at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile resthouses along the Bright Angel and at Supai Tunnel on the North Kaibab Trail.
Seasonal water stations are usually turned off for the winter sometime between Oct 10th and 30th dependent on location and associated temperatures. More information can be found on the ‘Critical Backcountry Updates’ page on the park’s website.
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Leadership Spotlight
Grand Canyon HR Lead,
Cori Stonebridge
Cori Stonebridge is the new HR Lead for Grand Canyon and comes to the park with more than 10 years of experience with the NPS.
She started her HR career in Denver as a part of the Human Resources Operating Center (HROC) Processing Branch. From there she moved to Montana with her oldest son, Aiden, to work in the HR office at Glacier National Park.
“The stunning beauty of Montana led me to the love of my life Matt, and we had our youngest son, Micah” says Cori. “Two years ago, my husband received an awesome job opportunity with the Midwest Regional Office in Omaha, NE, which lead me to the Arizona SHRO.”
Cori spent the last two years supporting a handful of small parks across Texas and New Mexico, growing her staffing skill set and training incoming HR staff. She looks forward to growing relationships with staff at Grand Canyon, ensuring HR announces vacancies timely and developing clear HR processes for both the HR and GRCA staff members.
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Current Operational Hours
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South Rim
- Maswik Lodge Cafeteria: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Bright Angel Fountain and Coffee House, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m.
- Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Bright Angel Bikes, Rentals: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Cafe: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Grand Canyon Visitor Center information table: 8a.m.-5p.m.
- Fred Harvey Burger: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
- On Sunday, October 10, the four Grand Canyon Conservancy stores on the South Rim, including Kolb Studio, Verkamps Visitor Center, Visitor Center Plaza, and Yavapai Geology Museum will be transitioning their hours to 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
Desert View
- Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
- Desert View Watchtower, staffed by GCC Saturday-Wednesday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Watchtower will be closed to the public on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Desert View Information Table (staffed by NPS)- Most days will still be staffed from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., however, due to staffing levels, some days will only be staffed from 12:30-5 p.m.
- Desert View Campground is accepting reservations through October 17 with the campground closing for the season on October 18.
North Rim (through October 16)
- General Store, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
- Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk, NPS staffed from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily
- North Rim Visitor Center, GCC staffed from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- North Rim Lodge dining, 4:30-9:30 p.m. daily
- Deli in the Pines, 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily
- Rough Rider Saloon, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
The following park closures remain in place:
- South Rim Visitor Center (indoors), information table staffed 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily
- Headquarters Information Desk
- Yavapai Lodge Restaurant
- Maswik Pizza Pub and the Arizona Steakhouse
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Photo Credits (in order of appearance)
- Visitors stand at Lipan Point with the Unkar Delta visible below (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
- Cape Royal Road on the North Rim vibrant with fall colors (NPS Photo/K. Thomas)
- Tribes Call the Canyon Home symbol near Mather Point (NPS Photo)
- North Rim Entrance Station with fall colors (NPS Photo/L. Cisneros)
- Nankoweap Granaries overlooking the Colorado River (NPS Photo)
- The North Kaibab Trailhead during a busy Rim to Rim weekend (NPS Photo/L. Derr)
- Photo of new GRCA HR Lead, Cori Stonebridge (Photo courtesy of Cori Stonebridge)
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