Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: May 2-5, 2022

The CDC Community Level tracks a county’s ability to provide health care to COVID patients. We continue to register Low at the community level, and we have been at this level since early March.

The Coconino County Community Transmission looks at the number of COVID cases and positive tests. Coconino County is now considered Substantial in this metric while the majority of Arizona counties remain in Moderate Community Transmission. While substantial transmission doesn’t change our stance or mitigation strategy as a park, it’s important for us to understand that COVID transmission in the county is rising and we each may wish to make personal choices about masking, indoor dining and gatherings.

Total cases in Arizona for the week of April 21-27, is 2,350, which is an average of 335 cases per day for the seven-day rolling average.

There were 3 new cases reported in the park this last week. That brings the park total up to 218 and out 86023 zip code to 427 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

Fire restrictions remain in Stage 1 for Grand Canyon

Fire restrictions for the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests, as well as the Town of Tusayan, will be in effect beginning today Thursday, May 5. Under these restrictions, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal or wood stove fire, except within a developed recreation site, or improved site is prohibited on these lands. Additionally, smoking is prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building. Smoking is also prohibited in all federal buildings.

Grand Canyon National Park will remain in stage 1 fire restrictions, as we do year-round, which requires that campfires always be in a designated fire ring within a maintained campground. Inner canyon users can use gas cook stoves, but campfires and other open fires are never allowed below the rim. River users should continue to follow the conditions of their permit regarding fires along the Colorado River.

Visitors and residents should continue to be fire aware and use extra care including:

• Before going hiking or camping, check for fire restrictions and closures in the area.
• If you are using a portable stove, clear the area of grasses and other fine fuels and be careful to prevent the stove from tipping over.
• Consider alternatives to campfires even if they are allowed. During times of high fire danger unattended campfires are likely to escape.
• If you are a smoker, consider smoking only on paved surfaces or in an enclosed vehicle; and never toss cigarette butts on the ground. Use an ashtray or pack cigarette butts out in your pocket.
• If you are driving on unpaved roads, be careful of parking or driving your vehicle in tall, dry vegetation. Hot vehicle parts may start a fire.
• If you see smoke or fire within the park, note the location, and report to dispatch promptly at 928-638-7805

Grand Canyon Visitor Center building to reopen to the public May 8

The indoor operations at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC) will reopen to the public Sunday, May 8. After this date, GCVC will be open seven days a week from 8 am – 4 pm. The GCVC Theater is being remodeled and is expected to open sometime this summer.

The decision to reopen GCVC was made in collaboration with the Office of Public Health, the park’s Adaptive Management Team, and Interpretation staff and managers. This decision was made carefully to ensure the reopening is done with proper COVID-19 precautions to keep visitors and staff safe.

On May 8 ranger programming will also begin with daily programs at 11 a.m. at the Yavapai Point Amphitheater. Stay tuned for more information on evening programs during the 2022 season on our park website here.

2022 North Rim Opening!

The North Rim will officially reopen for the season on Sunday, May 15 at 6 a.m. This will mark the start of the 2022 season, and Superintendent Keable looks forward to being on the North Rim for opening weekend. If all goes as planned, Ed will swing the gate at the North Rim Entrance Station and meet and greet with the North Rim employees and visitors. Deputy Superintendent Brian Drapeaux and acting Commercial Services Chief Dan Resmondo will also be on the North Rim next week to conduct an early season site visit and to meet with the concessioners from Aramark.

Visitor services, including the campground, GCC bookstore, and the Backcountry Information Office will all reopen at 8 a.m. Concessions operations under Aramark, the company that acquired Forever Resorts, will remain similar to previous years with expanded service and dining options at the North Rim Lodge and the reopening of the laundry and shower services that had been suspended due to COVID-19.

On May 15, Fire Point on the Kaibab Plateau will be reopened to the public. Closed due to the Ike’s Fire in September 2019, Fire Point is a popular destination for backcountry travelers and all overnight use in this area still requires a backcountry permit.

For more information on 2022 operations on the North Rim, please visit our park website or the as yet unchanged concessionaire’s website www.grandcanyonforever.com for more information.

Safety Message: Mouse and Rat Poison Kills Pets and Wildlife

As new employees are moving into the park, this is a reminder that rodenticides (rodent poisons) are prohibited in Grand Canyon and in all park residences.

These poisons cause harm to wildlife, pets, and humans, and can contaminate the environment. In Grand Canyon, wildlife staff have documented mule deer, elk, coyote, gray fox, Keeping residence and buildings sanitary, uncluttered, and consistently setting snap traps is the most effective way to control rodents.

Free rodent clean-up kits are available for check-out that will help you safely address rodents in your home or workplace.

For more information about rodenticides, checking out a rodenticide kit, or to arrange pickup or drop-off of rodenticides contact: Sarah Ciarrachi, IPM Wildlife Technician, at: sarah_ciarrachi@nps.gov or 928-638-7674, or Brandon Holton, Wildlife Biologist, at Brandon_Holton@nps.gov.

A full flyer with more information on the harmful impacts of rodenticide to wildlife and pets can be found here.

TONIGHT! Cinco De Mayo fundraiser for GC School Rec Center

This Thursday, May 5, the Grand Canyon School will be hosting a Cinco de Mayo fundraiser event for the High School senior class.

The event will be held at the Rec Center beginning at 5 p.m. and will feature a student art exhibition, culinary art student refreshments, live music, and a street taco fundraiser sale. More information, including a full flyer is available here.

South Rim

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.- 6 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.
• Grand Canyon Rec Center, daily from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Delaware North

• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 7 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.

Other

• Bright Angel Bikes
• Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Cafe-8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): Beginning Sunday, May 8, indoor operations at GCVC will resume. Hours will be daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (see more information above)
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores (Visitor Center Plaza, Yavapai Geology Museum, and Verkamps) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
• Grand Canyon Community Library: The library has resumed construction work and they are planning to reopen to the public on May 18.
• Until the library officially reopens, staff are conducting limited library operations, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the south side of the building. On Fridays library staff are in Tusayan, providing library services at the Tusayan Town hall from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., including story time, arts and crafts and activities for children at 11 a.m.

• Grand Canyon Food Pantry, beginning May 18 the pantry will have a shift of hours on Wednesdays. The pantry’s new schedule will be as follows:
• Mondays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 6-8 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 6-8 p.m. (currently 12-2 p.m. until May 18)
• Saturdays: 2-4 p.m.
• Due to weather and staffing constraints, inner canyon water will now be turned on beginning Saturday, May 14, at the following locations:
• Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse
• Three-Mile Resthouse
• Plateau Point
• Supai Tunnel

Desert View

• Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• Desert View Watchtower, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

The following closures are in place:

• Yavapai Lodge Restaurant
• Maswik South Lodging (tentative opening Summer 2022)
• Maswik Pizza Pub (tentative reopening June 3, 2022)
• Kolb Studio closed until further notice due to low staffing levels
• North Rim visitor services (reopening of May 15, see more information above)

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

• Grand Canyon Social Media em-barked on a “Battle of the Bark” series ofsocial media posts in late April with coordination of many other NPS units (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)

• Education Branch Lead, Monique Navarro, stands with a group of students smelling the bark of a Ponderosa pine tree. In mid April, in person school field trips resumed after two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (NPS Photo)
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center lobby and information desk (NPS Photo)
• A line of cars on opening day of the North Rim, 2017 (NPS Photo/J. Baird)
• Station 3 blue grouse makes their presence known (NPS Photo/M. Jenkins)
• Rader Lane featured on Lowell Observatory’s podcast, “Star Stuff” (NPS Photo)
• A condor feeds their young on a ledge on the South Rim. Condors can’t carry food in their feet like most raptors do and instead, the adults store food for their young in their crop, a special pouch inside their throats where food sits before it travels to the stomach to be digested. When the adult returns to the chick, it regurgitates, or throws up, this food, which the young chick happily eats. Yum!(NPS Photo/J. Hyle)