Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Aug. 22-25, 2022

Community level LOW–masking requirement indoors OPTIONAL

On Thursday, August 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the Coconino County Community Level to LOW. People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.

Last week, we mentioned the CDC had made several changes to their COVID-19 guidelines. Additionally last week, the Safer Federal Workforce Taskforce and the Department of the Interior released several documents on how we are to proceed with those CDC changes. The Grand Canyon’s Adaptive Management Park Operations workgroup is currently going through these documents and will be adjusting operations as needed per the updated guidance.

There were 5 new cases reported in the park this week. This week’s new cases bring the park total up to an estimated 363 cases, and 445 cases for the 86023 zip code, since the beginning of the pandemic.

Total COVID cases in Arizona for the week of August 4 to August 10 was 12,244. For the seven-day rolling average, the state is averaging 1,749 cases per day.

Della Yurcik receives National Harry Yount Award

We are pleased to announce Backcountry Ranger, Della Yurcik has been selected to receive the 2022 NPS Harry Yount Award for excellence in the field of rangering.

Since 2004, Della has served as a backcountry law enforcement officer and an Advanced Life Support provider, flight medic, short-haul and technical rescuer. She has also served on high profile search and rescue missions, complex law enforcement cases, and provided life-saving medical care in the remote backcountry of Grand Canyon.

Della is widely known throughout the backcountry and river communities as being one of the most knowledgeable, fair, friendly, and professional rangers Grand Canyon has ever seen. In 2015, her peers in the Canyon District were so weary of being asked by everyone if they knew “Ranger Della,” they had stickers created that read, “FWD-Friends with Della”. She is a treasure trove of good humor, stories, and phenomenal encouragement and support to those who meet her. Visitors regularly return to Grand Canyon and ask if Della is in the canyon so they can reconnect with her.

Congratulations, Della, on this accomplishment and your service to Grand Canyon!

On September 5, Desert View will have its last sunset talk for the summer season.

The sunset talk on September 1 at 5:45 p.m. will feature Cultural Demonstrators, Bennard and Frances Dallasvuyaoma from Hopi. Their program will highlight the Hopi connection to Grand Canyon and also their personal connection through past relatives who have worked in the park.

Frances and Bennard Dallasvuyaoma are a husband and wife team who both left successful careers to become full-time jewelers. Their innovative jewelry is a dramatic blend of both ancient and contemporary traditions, techniques and materials. Cut and polished by hand, the natural gems and stones are set in a modern version of the ancient mosaic style. “We design each piece of jewelry to signify balance and harmony,” said Bennard. “When we talk about balance and harmony, we mean that there is an order to everything and nothing is in disarray.”

Frances and Bennard will also be demonstrating as part of the Cultural Demonstrator’s Program on September 1 and 2 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Desert View. Both are amazing Hopi silversmiths and enjoy mixing traditional and contemporary styles into their work.

Cultural Demonstrators this week

Stop by Desert View this Friday, August 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to meet, Laverine Greyeyes and Louise Nez – Navajo Weavers

Louise and Laverine are mother and daughter, who have made weaving a career and have passed the skill of weaving handmade woven rugs on to the next generation. Louise Nez has made hundreds of rugs since she started weaving in 1943. She has woven most of the traditional patterns and began to weave pictorials around 1980.  (Pictorial rugs include images of the landscape, animals and people, woven into the overall design). Laverine Greyeyes specializes in pictorial rugs. One of her creations portrays the animals found in the Desert View area and features the Watchtower in the background.

Astronomer in Residence Last Evening Program

Award winning poet and Astronomer in Residence, Lauren Camp, will give her last evening program entitled, “The Poetry of the Stars,” where she will present a short poetry reading under night skies. Her reading will be followed by an informative constellation talk with a park ranger.

The last formal program of her residency will be Sunday, August 28. To participate, meet in front of Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 8:30 p.m.

Hazardous Communications – External Audit Prep

Every work center is required to have a Hazardous Communication (HazCom) program – which includes:

• A written program
• An easily accessible Safety Data Sheet (SDS library (which should only have current SDSs AND historical SDSs going back 30 years should be archived separately)
• Training and documentation of training for each employee
• Properly labeled materials
• ALL materials should be fully and properly labeled – even if they are moved to a temporary/smaller container
• NEVER placed in a former food container

All employees are required to be trained upon starting in their departments and whenever there are changes to the program (chemicals added to the inventory, storage options change, etc.). For a copy of the training template, please contact: christina_ryan-miller@nps.gov.

Spotlight On…

SIP Intern, Julia Roome

Julia Roome is the 2022 North Rim Scientist-in-Park (SIP) intern. Originally from Olney, Maryland, she grew up attending Quaker school and camp which not only ingrained in her the importance of community, equality, and stewardship, but also introduced her to the outdoors. Her time off was typically spent visiting her father’s family in South Africa, visiting her mother’s family in Montana, and spending a few weeks hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail. Part of what led Julia to the Grand Canyon are her passions and hobbies – travel, reading and learning, being outside, mycology, the environment, snowboarding, surfing, rock climbing…and loving national parks! She believes if you love something, you should care enough to be critical of it and try to improve it.

As an undergraduate, Julia double majored in Anthropology and Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice Studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada. During this time she studied abroad in New Zealand, Denmark, and Italy. Julia recently received her MSc in Anthropology, Environment, and Development from the University College London where her master’s thesis focused on Yellowstone National Park and how different groups interacted with and perceived the park at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Julia has been an outstanding member of the 2022 North Rim Interpretation team by contributing to all facets of the operation from greeting visitors at the outdoor “Ranger Roost,” to creating and facilitating three different interpretive programs (including a special Juneteenth program), to roving the trails, and helping with special events like Star Party. A highlight of Julia’s internship at Grand Canyon has been working with Junior Rangers and having the opportunity to watch them make connections with the resource.

What’s next for Julia? Following her internship at the North Rim, she’s aiming to find a career where she can continue to be outside and make a positive impact on the world. As a lifelong learner, she hopes to one day go back to school to study either ethnomycology (cultural uses and stories about mushrooms) or mycoremediation (using fungi to help the environment). Thank you, Julia for your outstanding service as the 2022 North Rim SIP!

School Zone Speed Limit Reminders

The need for pedestrian and bicyclist safety within our community, especially involving young students, cannot be overemphasized.

The speed limit in Arizona, unless otherwise posted, is 15 miles per hour (mph) when passing through a school zone while the presence of children is clearly visible from the roadway, and while children are arriving or leaving schools.

Be sure to SLOW DOWN and pay attention as you drive near school zones. These include the following areas:

• Mohave Street (entering and exiting the road to and from the Rec Center and the Kaibab Learning Center)
• Albright Street
• Center Road
• Coconino Street
• Boulder Street
• Any greenway paths that cross a roadway

Thank you, and as always STAY SAFE!

Community Blood Drive at Rec Center on September 16

The Rec Center will again be hosting a community blood drive through Vitalant on Friday, September 16 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Appointments are suggested, and to schedule, individuals can visit www.donors.vitalant.org with blood drive code: “grandcyn.”

More information on this event can be found in the attached flyer and also through the Grand Canyon Rec Center.

Xanterra

• Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Bright Angel Coffee Shop, 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.
• The Arizona Steakhouse, Tuesday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Kennel-daily from 7:30 a.m.-5 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, located in front of the El Tovar/Hopi House Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (weather permitting)

Delaware North

• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Camper Services: Laundry and shower hours, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• The Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast, 7 a.m.-10:45 a.m., dinner, 5 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Other

• Grand Canyon Clinic: 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Bright Angel Bikes
• Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Cafe-8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): Daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., operations held outside of the GCVC building
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Visitor Center Plaza, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, Yavapai Geology Museum, Verkamps, and Kolb Studio 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.,
• Kennel Operations: Overnight boarding is only available from Friday through Sunday nights. Pick-ups and day boarding are available on Mondays. Contact Xanterra Switchboard or Xanterra Fire and Security for afterhours pick-ups.
• Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 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.
• The Desert View Deli, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• The Desert View Service Station Retail Store, daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Desert View Information Table (staffed by NPS), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (as staffing levels allow).

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., planning on closing October 15, 2022 for the winter season
• North Rim Service Station, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• GCC Bookstore/Visitor Center, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., beginning August 21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• Roaring Springs Kiosk information, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The following closures are in place:

• Maswik Pizza Pub

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

• Monsoon rains continue to descend over Grand Canyon the week of August 22 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
• Della receives the Harry Yount Award from NPS Director Chuck Sams and Deputy Secretary of DOI, Tommy Boudreau (NPS Photo)
• The iconic “FWD-Friends with Della” sticker (NPS Photo/J. Baird)
• Photos of and jewelry made by Bennard and Frances Dallasvuyaoma (NPS Photos)
• Laverine Greyeyes and Louise Nez next to a traditional loom (NPS Photo)
• Photography by Imma Barrera, Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence, May 2022
• Julia Roome, SIP North Rim Intern (NPS Photo)