Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Aug. 12-16, 2024

Water conservation measures reimplemented for South Rim

As of August 13, the South Rim has returned to water restrictions. This is in response to a new pipeline break identified between Cottonwood Campground and Manzanita rest area along the North Kaibab Trail.  Water conservation measures require all park residents to conserve and reduce water usage whenever possible.

As a reminder, mandatory water conservation measures include:

• No watering lawns/plants
• No washing cars, boats, bikes, or any outside vehicle
• Utilize dry precleaning methods to scrape off food items before thoroughly washing dishes.
• Fill the sink with water while washing dishes to avoid running water
• Take shorter or less frequent showers
• Turn water off while you shave or brush your teeth
• Use low water cleaning techniques and reduce toilet flushing to the minimum necessary
• Report drips, leaks, or other water loss to appropriate offices
• Remove outside hoses from spigots when not in use

As a result of this pipeline break, water along the North Kaibab Trail is currently off until further notice. For the latest inner canyon water status updates, please reference the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates page here.

Lightning Safety Reminders

With the recent uptick in monsoon activity, it’s a good time to remember principles of lightning safety on the rim and in the inner canyon.

Safety tips on the rim:

• Seek shelter immediately. There is no safe place outside.
• Do not stand on the rim or any peaks. Lightning is more likely to strike areas of higher elevation.
• Find a metal topped vehicle (if shelter is unavailable). Do not touch the sides of the vehicle.
• Avoid tall objects and open fields. Lone trees, boulders, and tall metal poles act as conductors and put those nearby at risk. Try to stay near short vegetation.

Safety tips in the canyon

• Seek shelter immediately. If you can hike up, keep hiking.
• Avoid the river. Large bodies of water act as electricity conductors.
• Be aware of flash floods. During a storm, side canyons can become deadly.
• Tents do not protect you from lightning. Tents are not grounded shelter and other forms of shelter should be sought out.

More information on lightning safety can be found on the park’s website here.

SAR Team successfully recovers parachute below Yavapai Point

On Wednesday, August 14, a team of 27 technical rescue responders completed a challenging recovery operation to remove a parachute stuck below Yavapai Point. This recovery was crucial to addressing a known helicopter safety hazard and ensuring the safety of park visitors and aviation operations.

The parachute was located on a difficult cliff face, which presented significant obstacles to removal. However, the Search and Rescue (SAR) Team, known for their innovation and expertise, rose to the challenge.

The team employed a rarely used technique called the “two-rope offset system.” This method allowed rescuers to move horizontally across the canyon’s cliff face using two complementary rope systems. By redirecting their movements away from the walls and rock faces, and navigating around an overhanging cliff ledge, they successfully reached and removed the parachute.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the skilled and brave responders who made this complex operation a success. Their creativity and teamwork not only resolved a critical safety issue but also demonstrated the exceptional capabilities of our SAR Team. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!

Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Working Group meeting

The Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) will hold its next public meeting on August 21 and 22. The meeting will take place both in-person at the Shrine of the Ages on the Grand Canyon South Rim and virtually. On August 21, the meeting will run from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PDT, and on August 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PDT.

During the meeting, the AMWG will focus on several key topics, including updates on current basin hydrology and water operations for 2024, the implementation of new experiments, the status of threatened and endangered species, and the new Triennial Work Plan recommendations.The group will also address other administrative and resource issues related to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program.

This is the first time this meeting has been hosted at Grand Canyon National Park and residents and staff are welcome to attend. More information on this meeting can be found at the link here.

Employee Spotlight!

Steven McCabe Barto, Lead Recreation Fee Technician

Brief Bio: Second Generation Park Service. Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies with a Minor in Applied Psychology and a Certificate of Conflict Dispute Resolution from Oregon Tech.

How long have I worked at GRCA: 5 years as of April 13th, 2024. Started as a GS-5 RFT at Mather Campground, worked there for 3 years, then got a GS-6 Lead detail at the South Entrance in Feb 2022, fully promoted later that year and continued into a GS-7 Lead position a year later.

Most memorable experience working here: Working with the park during the 2019 Centennial and experiencing all of the excitement and positivity from the staff and public in celebrating the 100^th anniversary year of Grand Canyon National Park.

Most unusual or interesting job I’ve ever had (other than the current one): While all of my professional career has been tied to the Park Service, I had a significant period of time in high school where I volunteered with special needs students in a Theater environment (I was a die-hard Theater kid at the time) and helped them learn various social skills and build self-confidence through the improvisation and live performances.

Next Tuesday through Thursday, August 20-22, your Grand Canyon Firefighters will be completing a biennial refresher training. You may see them at various places around Grand Canyon Village training on skills such as: rescuing trapped victims, climbing ladders, fire hose deployment, gas leaks, and more.

Realistic training in buildings around the village makes your community’s firefighters better prepared to respond when called. On Thursday, August 22, firefighters will be doing live-fire training and smoke may be visible along Hwy 64 in the area north of South Entrance.

This training will not only have firefighters and instructors from Grand Canyon, but also from Tusayan Fire Department, Zion National Park, Death Valley National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and even Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska!

If you see the crews out training, feel free to stop by and check out what they’re doing!

North Country Healthcare offers free HIV/Hepatitis C screening event

North Country Healthcare is offering a FREE HIV/Hep C testing event on Tuesday, August 27 from 4-6 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Recreation Center. The first 20 attendees will receive a $10 Starbucks giftcard.

More information for this event can be found in the attached flyer here.

Save the Date! Tusayan Fall Community Gathering and Drone Show slated for September 26

The Town of Tusayan is hosting a Fall Community Gathering and Drone Show on Thursday, September 26 starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Tusayan Sports Complex. Free food, games, live music, and giveaways will be offered.

More information on this event can be found in the attached flyer here.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Cafeteria, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Maswik Pizza Pub, 4-10 p.m.
• Bright Angel Fountain, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Harvey House Café/Fred Harvey Burger Restaurant, Breakfast 6:30-10:30 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Dinner 4-9 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
• Arizona Steakhouse, Lunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Dinner 4:30-9 p.m.
• El Tovar Dining Room and Lounge – Breakfast 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dinner 4:30-9:30 p.m., Lounge, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Food until 9 p.m.), Patio closed until further notice.
• The Grand Canyon Kennel, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Rec Center, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Delaware North

• Yavapai Dining Hall: Breakfast 7-10:30 a.m., Dinner 5-9 p.m., Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m., Coffee Shop: 6:30 a.m. -5 p.m.
• Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Deli 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Camper Services laundry and shower: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Trailer Village Kiosk: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Other

• Grand Canyon Clinic: Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Bright Angel Bikes, Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Café 7 a.m (.-5 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): Open daily from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Verkamps and Yavapai Geology Museum-8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, Visitor Center Plaza-8 a.m.-7 p.m., Kolb Studio-8 a.m.-6 p.m.,
• The Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Monday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday 5:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday 2-4 p.m.
• Canyon Community Yoga & Wellness (at the Rec Center) June schedule: Fitness Classes (under the ramada): Sunday 9 a.m., Tuesday & Thursday 6 p.m. Yoga (in the SPR): Monday & Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Use discount GCLOCALS at checkout.

Desert View

• Desert View Trading Post and ice cream and coffee shop, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Desert View Watchtower, 8 a.m.- 7 p.m. daily. Stairs and tower access available until 6 p.m.
• The Desert View Deli, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The Desert View convenience store, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

North Rim

• North Rim Visitor Center (GCC), 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
• NPS Backcountry Information Center, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-5 p.m. daily
• Camper Store by campground (Aramark), 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
• Guest Laundry and Showers, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. staffed, unstaffed from 7-10 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Lodge Gift Shop (Aramark), 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily

Please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website for a complete list of closures and available amenities.

• Enhanced auroral activity as seen from the South Rim near Pipe Creek Overlook on 8/12 (Photo courtesy of Chad Larrieu)
• While NPS Water Utilities works to fix the current break along the North Kaibab Trail, this crew is working on the new Transcanyon Waterline below Plateau Point (NPS Photo/Morgan Ross).
• Technical rescue responders during parachute recovery operation on 8/14 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
• SAR Responder, Matt Graden, detaches the parachute from the canyon wall on 8/14 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
• Glen Canyon Dam (Photo courtesy of USGS)
• Steven Barto, Lead Recreation Fee Technician (Photo courtesy of S. Barto)
• Live structure fire training during last refresher, 2022 (NPS Photo/M. Jenkins)