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Arizona and Local Statistics
As of October 20, the CDC Community Level for Coconino County continues to be Low.
Total COVID cases in Arizona for the week of October 13 – 19 was 5,438, which is an increase of 3,038 cases from the previous week. For the seven-day rolling average, the state is averaging 776 cases per day. There were 3 new COVID-19 cases reported in the park this week.
As a reminder, be sure to promptly report any illness, to include possible COVID-19 symptoms, COVID exposure, or a positive COVID test to your supervisor and our Public Health Consultant, Ronan King. Ronan can be reached at: 202-891-8599 or Ronan_King@nps.gov. |
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| Two ambulances from Yellowstone National Park are on loan this winter as the park’s ambulances receive needed repairs and maintenance. These ambulances are a similar model to the park’s and we are thankful to have these additions to our fleet! |
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Seasonal water shut-offs begin this week
This past week the North Kaibab Trailhead water was shut off.
On Wednesday, October 26, water was shut off at Supai Tunnel and Plateau Point.
One and a Half Mile Resthouse and Three Mile Resthouse along the Bright Angel Trail are scheduled to be turned off on Sunday, October 30. Grand Canyon Water Utilities is planning to shut off water to Cottonwood along the North Kaibab Trail the week of October 31.
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Dark Skies update; lighting retrofits continue through fall 2022
We have a few exciting updates to share regarding the park’s progress with our continued International Dark Sky Park status. Starting this month and into the fall, the park will begin the next phase of lighting retrofits. This includes the remainder of the North Rim lights with additional retrofitting to take place at the Bright Angel Campground and Phantom Ranch.
On the South Rim, the next phase of lights to be retrofitted will be those in and around Market Plaza, including Yavapai Lodge, Trailer Village, and Parking Lot B. This is scheduled to also start this fall. We will also begin retrofits on the rest of the pole lights in the park, which includes Parking Lot A at HQ, and the Rec Center parking lot lights.
Upon completion of these retrofits by year’s end, the park will have 85% – 88% of its outdoor lights dark-sky compliant. To maintain our Dark Sky status, we are required to achieve 90% compliance by five years after certification, which will be June 2024, so we are in a great position to meet this milestone!
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Conduit install to Ranger Ops successful; next steps looking ahead for improved NPS telecommunications
We are happy to report that on Tuesday, October 25th, contractors completed the remaining section of conduit install for the fiber connectivity project tying in the Albright Training Center, Ranger Operations, and Station One/Emergency Services buildings.
The next steps for this project will involve the install of the inner-duct and optical fiber cable along these same lines. Work is tentatively expected to be completed before November 11, pending project delays or periods of inclement weather.
Following the completion of this project, these facilities will have fiber connectivity to the GRCA HQ Local Area Network (LAN). Additionally, the Magistrate’s building and the Community Building, already connected to Ranger Ops via fiber, will also link the HQ LAN, increasing the bandwidth they share with Ranger Ops.
This project also prepares for future fiber connectivity to extend to the NPS Trail Crew offices, Backcountry Information Center, and the South Rim Wastewater Treatment Plant. Appreciation and thanks go to the contractors as well as Lowell Head and Pete Jones who have continued to progress this telecommunications project forward.
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Cultural Demonstrators next week at Desert View
Stop by Desert View Watchtower on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, November 1, 2, and 3 to meet Cultural Demonstrators, Otto Lucio, Zuni Silversmith, and Arielle Tsinigine, Navajo Beader.
Otto Lucio has been making jewelry since 2006 as a full-time occupation. He was self-taught and learned how to do lapidary work and solder silver through trial and error. Otto creates unique designs and shapes that are inspired by his Zuni culture, historic photographs of Zuni Pueblo, and his many walks and hikes around Zuni lands.
Arielle found that she needed income during her college years, so she turned to her mother for instruction and began beading under her direction. Arielle credits her mother, Rosabelle, as the person who continues to inspire and encourage her to try different techniques. Arielle says the inspiration for her artwork comes from colors found in Mother Nature and her Diné culture.
For more information on the Cultural Demonstrators series, visit the park’s website here. |
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Protecting Wildlife at Grand Canyon National Park—reminders for residents
Because our community lies solely within a national park, Grand Canyon residents have an obligation to help protect wildlife in the park.
4 easy things that you do to benefit wildlife in Grand Canyon are to:
- Close trash bins. Every year several animals, including raccoons, skunks, ringtails, and squirrels get trapped in trash bins that are left open. This also prevents ravens from rummaging through trash and creating a mess.
- Do not leave food outside. This will attract and habituate wild animals to human food sources, and in some cases lead to euthanizing food-conditioned animals that become aggressive.
- Keep your pet cat(s) indoors. Free-ranging cats are responsible for killing millions, if not billions, of wild animals worldwide per year. Keeping your cats indoors also protects them from being killed from larger wild animals such as coyotes and fox that inhabit Grand Canyon’s developed areas.
- Never use rodenticides (poisons). Rodenticides are prohibited at Grand Canyon and build up in the food chain and inadvertently poison and kill unintended wildlife. Coyotes, fox, chipmunks, elk, and domestic cats have all died from rodenticide poisoning in Grand Canyon. Using snap-traps is the most effective way to control a rodent problem.
If you have questions, contact Brandon Holton at Brandon_Holton@nps.gov or 928-638-7752. For immediate wildlife concerns or emergencies, call Grand Canyon Dispatch at 928-638-7805.
NAU-TV films at Grand Canyon
NAU TV recently came to the South Rim to film a segment for their series ‘Forecast from Flagstaff.’ The half hour episode includes an interview with the NAU President, discussion on the Grand Canyon Semester program, and an interview with Superintendent Keable.
To watch the segment visit NAU TV’s YouTube channel here.
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Leadership Spotlight!
Christina Ryan-Miller, Safety Manager, Grand Canyon National Park
What agency or park are you coming from?
NPS – IMR Zone 8, overseeing Safety at 10 parks in Northern New Mexico
I have been married to my perfect match (Chris) for 23 years, and we have a daughter (Abigail) who is 21 and living in New Mexico. I have been a Safety Manager with the NPS for just over 5 years, with my previous career being in the Air Force and Air National Guard. Though we swore off dog ownership after we lost our Boxer in January, forever apparently meant 5 months and we are not proud pet parents to our new(ish) rescue – a totally goofy English Bulldog named Shrug.
What excites you about working at Grand Canyon?
I am excited to be working here to help build a robust safety program that embraces its overlaps with other major programs in the park – like environmental management, public health, and employee development. I also love some of the large wellness initiatives the park has been working on and implementing and can’t wait to help bring Safety, Heath and Wellness to the forefront of our lives here in the park.
What do you love about your job or the NPS?
I love that safety is being expanded to look more at the long term holistic health (including mental health) of each of our employees so that we are not only keeping people safe day-to-day, but also helping them stay safe and healthy throughout their lives.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any of your safety, health, and wellness questions/concerns/suggestions via email, Teams, or at 928-607-0025. |
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South Rim District Report available
Check out what South Rim patrol has been up to the last few weeks by reading the latest South Rim District Report here:
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| South Rim Patrol units conducted a pedestrian safety operation near heavily-trafficked crosswalks and school zones the morning of October 26. The operation yielded 18 contacts with locals and visitors alike. The speed limit around school zones is 15 mph, so please slow down and pay attention for pedestrians at crosswalks. |
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Fundraising efforts for 8th grade class underway
The fundraising for the 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. has officially begun!
The vision of the Washington, D.C. field trip is to engage students as citizens in American Democracy. The mission is to provide 8th grade students at Grand Canyon School an opportunity to capstone their 8th grade civics curriculum by engaging with locations that exhibit how people of the past and present change the world through the processes in American Democracy.
For more information, please see the attached flyer here. |
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Grand Canyon School Halloween Carnival, Oct. 28
Join the Halloween fun on October 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the Grand Canyon school field and multi-purpose room. Costumes are encouraged and the event will include a haunted house, games, prizes, and candy.
For more information, see the attached flyer here. |
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Kaibab Learning Center Halloween Fundraiser Event, Oct. 29
On October 29 beginning at 4:30 p.m., the Kaibab Learning Center will be hosting a community fundraiser at the Big E Steakhouse in Tusayan. A costume contest, raffles, prizes, and live music will all be part of the event.
For more information, see the attached flyer. |
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Tusayan Trunk or Treat, Oct. 30
The Town of Tusayan has recently changed the date for their annual Trunk or Treat event. The event will now be held on Sunday, October 30 beginning at 4:30 p.m. As in previous years, the event will be held in the parking lot between Foodie Club and the IMAX.
To reserve a parking space, please see the attached flyer for more information. For more fall events in the Town of Tusayan, please see the updated flyer here. |
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Park Circle Trick-or-Treating Monday, October 31
For trick-or-treating this year, as in previous years, NPS Rangers will be present in and around Park Circle on Halloween (Monday, October 31). Park Circle will be closed to all non-residential traffic and suggested hours are from 4:30-7 p.m. for all trick-or-treating activities.
These hours are suggested in order to ensure resident’s and children’s safety in periods of low light or darkness. A full flyer for the event can be found here. |
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*Please note: new changes to operations are indicated in bold/italic
South Rim
Xanterra
- Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Canyon Coffee House at the Bright Angel Fountain, 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
- Bright Angel Fountain grab and go, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
- Fred Harvey Burger, breakfast 8:00-10:30 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., dinner 4-9 p.m.
- Arizona Steakhouse within Bright Angel Lodge is now offering dinner service from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. daily. Lunch service is from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
- Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
- The Grand Canyon Rec Center, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
- El Tovar Dining Room and Lounge-Breakfast, 6:30-10:00 a.m., Lunch, 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dinner, 4:30-9:30 p.m., Lounge, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Patio (limited menu), 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Fred Harvey Food Truck has relocated to the Train Depot area Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (weather permitting)
- Maswik Pizza Pub, located inside Maswik Lodge, is open Friday through Tuesday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. The pizza pub is closed weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Xanterra is now offering pizza delivery service from 4 to 8 p.m. Delivery is provided to Guest Rooms at Grand Canyon National Park Lodges Only.
Delaware North
- Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m., Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m., The Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast, 7 a.m.-10:45 a.m., dinner, 5- 9 p.m.
- Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Camper Services laundry and shower, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
Other
- Grand Canyon Clinic: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (clinic is closed on weekends and holidays)
- Bright Angel Bikes, Rental: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Cafe-8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Operations are now indoors for the winter season.
- Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Visitor Center Plaza, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, Yavapai Geology Museum, Verkamps, and Kolb Studio 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.,
- Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Canyon Closet (located behind Community Library): Mondays 4:15-6 p.m., Wednesdays 12:15-2 p.m., Saturdays 3-5 p.m.
- Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Mondays 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesdays 6-8 p.m., Wednesdays 6-8 p.m., Saturdays 2-4 p.m.
Desert View
- Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
- Desert View Watchtower, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
- The Desert View Deli, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- The Desert View Service Station Retail Store: CLOSED until further notice
North Rim
- Backcountry Information Center, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-5 p.m. daily through October 31
- North Rim gas station open, pay at pump only
Please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website for a complete list of closures and available amenities.
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Photo Credits (in order of appearance)
- A dusting of snow on the South Rim (NPS Photo/J. Baird)
- A Yellowstone ambulance parked on the rim of Grand Canyon (NPS Photo/M. Smith)
- A ranger sitting under Grand Canyon’s dark skies (NPS Photo/D. Pawlak)
- Cultural Demonstrators, Otto Lucio and Arielle Tsinigine (NPS Photos)
- Contractors install the conduit line near the Ranger Operations building (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
- Superintendent Keable being filmed for a segment for NAU TV (NAU TV)
- Safety Manager, Christina Ryan-Miller (Photo courtesy of C. Ryan-Miller)
- A South Rim Patrol Ranger uses a radar detector during a pedestrian safety operation this week (NPS Photo)
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| Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. |
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Grand Canyon National Park
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior |
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