Key Messages-Week of October 10, 2022

COVID Updates

Flu and COVID vaccines available October 18 in Grand Canyon, October 25 in Tusayan

The Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccine Team will be coming to the park on Tuesday, October 18. The event will take place at the Grand Canyon Rec Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The team will also be in Tusayan at the Tusayan Fire Department on Tuesday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines will be available at this event (to include the new COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine) for those ages 6 months and older. See the attached flyer for the Grand Canyon event here and the Tusayan event here.

Arizona and Local Statistics

As of October 6, the CDC Community Level for Coconino County is Low. All counties in Arizona are in Low Community Level.

There were 4 new COVID-19 cases reported in the park this week. This week’s new cases bring the park total up to an estimated 392 cases, with currently no change in the 86023 zip code, which leaves us at 449 cases, since the beginning of the pandemic.

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.

Messages and Grand Canyon News

Fiber project to NPS buildings continues this week along Center Road

Contractors are currently working along Center Road to install conduit from the Ranger Operations building to the corner of Albright Ave and Center Rd., tying into the Horace Albright Training Center (HOAL)-EMS conduit installed last month.

Please slow down if you are driving down Center Road this week and be mindful of construction workers near the roadway. If there are no project delays, the team hopes to complete this portion of conduit installation by the end of next week.

After the conduit installation, the contractor will install the inner-duct and optical fiber cable from Ranger Ops to Station One and HOAL to Station One.

All work is expected to be completed by the end of the year and following this completion, HOAL and Ranger Operations 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. Please note, this project is NOT connecting the park or any of the park buildings to the fiber that was brought in for the Grand Canyon School. This is a separate project from the school fiber.

We would like to thank the entire project team and contractors for their continued efforts to increase fiber connectivity to NPS facilities.

South Rim Seminar launches on Tuesday, October 18—GRCA employees and community members invited!

The Interpretation and Resource Education division is excited to announce the creation of South Rim Seminar, a new brown bag gathering offered to GRCA colleagues and friends. These will be monthly lunch-time events hosted by different divisions throughout the park to share what they are working on and connect with colleagues across work units. Our hope is that these will provide opportunities for staff to learn about the amazing, diverse efforts done in different workgroups and to get to know each other better.

The first seminar will be on Tuesday, October 18 from 12-1 p.m. in person at the Shrine of the Ages. We’ll be learning about, “Effects of Hunting Pressure on Resource Selection and Movement in the Kaibab Plateau Bison Herd,” with wildlife biologist Miranda Terwilliger. If you have any questions or would like to present a future session, please contact Kylie Caesar at kylie_caesar@nps.gov. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

GRCA Cultural Demos

Cultural Demonstrators this week at Desert View

Join us this Thursday and Friday, October 13 and 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Desert View Watchtower, for a chance to meet Darren Seweyestewa- Hopi Silversmith/Jeweler, and Evanette (Eva) Sockyma – Hopi Basket Weaver.

Darren has been making jewelry since the late 90’s; he relates, “I am self-taught and started out making copper jewelry and progressed to sterling silver. I enjoy making jewelry and I usually use traditional symbols in my jewelry-making, such as water, cloud, feathers, and animal designs. I get the most satisfaction from being able to make pieces that bring joy and happiness to whoever acquires a piece.”

Eva was introduced to the art of creating handmade yucca sifter baskets by her mother, when Eva was ten years old. Eva draws the inspiration for her baskets from Hopi culture. Eva creates both traditional baskets made with natural dyes and tammarak, as well as more contemporary baskets made with commercial dyes and steel rings. Eva says, “Each variety has their place, with the traditional baskets used in everyday work life and contemporary baskets sold for display.”

Hawkwatch International presents raptor migration programs at Yaki Point

Beginning this Friday through October 31, join Hawkwatch International (HWI) interpreters at Yaki Point to learn about raptor identification, migration, ecology, as well as the program’s ongoing research efforts. Programs are held on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and from 2- 3 p.m.

Did you know, the flight path above Grand Canyon has one of the largest concentrations of migrating raptors known in the western U.S. and Canada? HWI observers have recorded 19 species of migratory raptors at count sites along the South Rim of the canyon, with around 10,000 sightings per season.

There is no vehicle parking at Yaki Point, so, from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, take the Eastbound ORANGE shuttle to Yaki Point. Follow the hanging signs to the west, along the dirt footpath to the observation site.

Grand Canyon Community Corner

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.

KLC Board Meeting open to the public on Wednesday, October 19

The Kaibab Learning Center will be hosting a board meeting that will be open to community members at the Albright Training Center on Wednesday, October 19 from 6-7:30 p.m.

For more information, please see the attached flyer here.

Current Operational Hours

*Please note: new changes to operations will now be 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 p.m. – 9:00 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: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Cafe-8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): Hours are now from 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, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily., Beginning on Sunday, October 16th, the GCC Watchtower store will move its hours to 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
Desert View Information Table (staffed by NPS), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (as staffing levels allow).
Beginning this weekend, the Desert View campground will close for the season on Monday, October 17th with the last night for reservations on Sunday, October 16th.

North Rim

North Rim Lodge Dining Room, Breakfast: 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dinner: 4:30-9:45 p.m.
In addition to regular breakfast service in the dining room, the Grand Canyon Lodge at North Rim is offering a breakfast buffet daily from 6:30-8:00 a.m.
Deli in the Pines, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Roughrider Saloon, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Coffee Saloon, 5:30-10:30 a.m.
North Rim General Store: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
North Rim Service Station (gas station), staffed 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
GCC Bookstore/Visitor Center, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Roaring Springs Kiosk information, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

*Please note: all above concessions operations with the exception of the pay at the pump gas station will be closing after Saturday, October 15th.

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

Photo Credits (in order of appearance)

The Full Moon rising over this canyon on October 9, as seen from Yaki Point on the South Rim. (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
Hikers gather outside of the Phantom Ranch canteen this week during a busy Rim to Rim season (NPS Photo/N. Mann)
Fiber conduit line being dug near Center Road this week (NPS Photo/P. Jones)
Darren Seweyestewa- Hopi Silversmith/Jeweler, and Evanette (Eva) Sockyma – Hopi Basket Weaver (NPS Photos)
Hawkwatch International volunteers stand near Yaki Point with binoculars (NPS Photo)
Desert View paving and work on the Amphitheater benches continues this week (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)

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.