Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of November 8, 2021
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Mask Reminders
We recognize many of us have “covid fatigue” and are tired of all the precautions, especially mask wearing. As a gentle reminder, we ask all of you in our community to lead by example and wear your masks. The NPS has mandatory mask areas for some of our highly trafficked outdoor spaces such as the rim trail between the El Tovar and Bright Angel Trailhead.
We still have mandatory mandates for all indoor spaces. This includes all federal buildings and concessioner operated facilities like hotels, restaurants and the grocery store. Please do your part. Wear a mask and encourage others to be safe and conscientious by wearing theirs too.
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Arizona and Grand Canyon Community Statistics
Case numbers in Arizona increased slightly this week to 3,053 new cases per day compared to last week’s average of 3,001. As of Tuesday, there have been a total of 263 cases in the 86023 zip code since the beginning of the pandemic (of these, approximately 71 cases are in the park).
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Clinic Update
New COVID-19 vaccine demand remains low, however, the Clinic is seeing an uptick in booster shots and requests for boosters. As a result, the Clinic is going to be ramping up booster availability in the near future. Currently, there is no plan for the clinic to offer the Pfizer vaccine.
The Clinic reports low numbers of confirmed Covid cases, averaging 0-3 per week over the past several weeks. Cases have been mild to moderate, with no hospitalizations recently. There are still a mix of breakthrough cases and novel cases, with a mix of visitors and residents. COVID-19 testing still remains available, please call the clinic to schedule.
Significant changes to patient workflow at the clinic are expected in the coming weeks due to the upcoming painting project. Patients should pay close attention to signage and anticipate the potential for prolonged waits at times due to the maintenance/painting.
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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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Honoring Our Veterans
On Veterans Day, we take a moment to salute the men and women who serve, and have served in our nation’s military. Many people have repeated Colonel Walter Hitchcock’s famous words, ‘Freedom is not free’ because it succinctly captures the essence of military service.
We want to express our great appreciation for every GRCA employee and resident who has served in the armed forces. We especially want to thank all of those who sacrificed and shared in the sacrifices of military service members. The nation owes a debt of gratitude for service members and their families and their sacrifices.
Thank you, Veterans!
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Native American Heritage Month
Throughout the month of November, the NPS and Grand Canyon will be promoting Native American Heritage Month. This theme will highlight the heritage, culture, and experience of indigenous peoples both historically and in American life today. For those of us who are visitors and recent settlers to Grand Canyon, we gratefully acknowledge the Native peoples on whose ancestral homelands we gather, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities who make their home here today. This month our staff will be providing great information on the park social media sites about ways to know and understand the importance of Native Americans in our communities. Go to the park website, follow the hashtag, “grandcanyonfirstvoices” on our park’s social media channels. Throughout Native American Heritage Month, we are spotlighting Indigenous employees through a series of video interviews. Our first features Jason Nez, Fire Archaeologist, who talks about his connection to the land.
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Prescribed Fire Planned for Next Week on South Rim
Fire managers at Grand Canyon are currently in planning discussions for initiating prescribed burns on the South Rim as early as next week Tuesday, November 16.
Three units near the southern boundary of the park are planned to be burned, totaling an area of 2,182 acres. These units were last treated with prescribed fire between 2006-2007.
The Grand Canyon Fire Management Program views the wise use of fire as an important tool in the effort to reduce hazardous impacts and restore the balance to our ecosystems. For more information on the Fire Management program, watch this video on our park website.
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America Recycles Day-November 15
This Monday, November 15, the Grand Canyon Green Team is celebrating America Recycles Day. The day is all about recycling – how to recycle, which recycled products to buy, and how to reduce waste.
Grand Canyon is preparing to celebrate National Recycling Day by scheduling the roll-out of our new cadre of ‘Bearsaver’ collection containers. You should see these containers making their debut at South Rim starting December 1, 2021.
These new containers represent the park’s Single-Stream Recycling Program messaging and a challenge for all of us to Rethink – Reduce – Reuse consumer packaging consumption and waste in our daily lives.
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Chase Bank Closing-
February 8, 2022
Customers of Chase Bank will be receiving a formal notice in the coming days that the Grand Canyon Chase branch will be closing on February 8, 2022. Chase’s ATM will remain in place and customers with existing Chase accounts will not need to take any action.
We know that this closure may be a hardship on some of our community and we, along with other community leaders, are exploring alternative options for banking at Grand Canyon.
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Cedar Ridge Composting Toilet Closure
From November 16-18 there will be a full closure of the Cedar Ridge Composting Toilets in order to evacuate it.
Signs will be posted at the South Kaibab Trailhead and at Cedar Ridge informing visitors of the closure and to plan accordingly.
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Grand Canyon Community Corner
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Grand Canyon Food Pantry Seeks Americorps VISTA Volunteer
The Grand Canyon Food Pantry is currently seeking applicants for an Americorps VISTA volunteer. The VISTA volunteer will institute nutritional quality, management, and development plans for the Grand Canyon Food Pantry by developing a sustainable management model to increase its human capital. The anticipated length of service for this position is January 2022-January 2023.
More information, including details on how to apply can be found in this flyer. Questions on this opportunity can be directed to Mike Scott, Grand Canyon Food Pantry Director, at 207-229-1228.
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Lion’s Club Rummage Sale-November 20 from 7 a.m.-12 p.m.
- This year the Grand Canyon Rec Center will be hosting the annual Lion’s Club Rummage Sale from 7 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, November 20.
- For more than 50 years, the Grand Canyon Lion’s Club has served the community through a wide range of activities including providing eyeglasses for local students, providing financial aid to families in need, and giving grants to assist with local educational, cultural, and social efforts.
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Current Operational Hours
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Note: Items marked in red are new changes as of this past week
South Rim
Xanterra
- Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Bright Angel Fountain and Coffee House, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Fred Harvey Burger, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Xanterra Food Truck, 11:30 am-3:30 pm.
Delaware North
- Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-9 p.m.
- Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-2 p.m.
- On Friday, November 12, Delaware North will be closing the Canyon Village Market and Yavapai Gift Shop one hour early at 7 p.m. to conduct annual physical inventory.
Other
- Bright Angel Bikes, Rentals: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Cafe: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Grand Canyon Visitor Center information table: 9 a.m.-4 p.m, Thursday-Monday.
- Grand Canyon Conservancy stores (Kolb Studio, Verkamps Visitor Center, Visitor Center Plaza, and Yavapai Geology Museum), 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 Closure: The Desert View information table is now closed for the season. Interpretation staff will be roving around the Desert View area during the day, but not staffing the table until spring when seasonal staff return.
North Rim
- General Store, Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (while supplies last)
- Self-serve gas station (credit/debit card only)
The following park closures remain in place:
- South Rim Visitor Center (indoors)
- Headquarters Information Desk
- Yavapai Lodge Restaurant
- Maswik Pizza Pub and the Arizona Steakhouse
- North Rim Backcountry Information Center (closed for the season)
- North Rim and Desert View Campgrounds (closed for the season)
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Photo Credits (in order of appearance)
- Desert Senna (Senna covesii) in bloom near Boat Beach (NPS Photo/J. Baird)
- Veterans within the NPS ranks stand at Mather Amphitheater on November 10. Alphabetical order of service: Stephanie Auten (Air Force), Chris Burnette (Air Force), Csaba Conner (Marines), Kacie Dodds (Army), Doug Joseph (Air Force), Ed Keable (Army), AJ Lapre (Army), Lucas Minton (Marines), Rob Parrish (Marines), Justin Reynolds (Army), Louis Rowe (Marines), Duane Smith (Marines), Treacy Stone (Navy) (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
- “Rock Your Mocs” event sign provided by nps.gov
- Wildland Firefighters reduce hazardous fuels near Market Plaza in 2011 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
- Line of new recycling containers rolling out on December 1, 2021 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
- Chase Bank sign on the South Rim (NPS Photo)
- View from the South Rim Village this past week (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
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