Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: May 23-27, 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 High, which has increased from Substantial as of Thursday, May 5. Arizona has 10 counties in High, 3 in Substantial, and 2 in Moderate, 0 in Low.

Total cases in Arizona for the week of May 12 – 18, was 7,204, which is an average of 1,029 cases per day for the seven-day rolling average. There were approximately 14 new cases reported in the park this past week. That brings the park total up to an estimated 242 cases, and 425 cases for the 86023 zip code, since the beginning of the pandemic.

The CDC has expanded eligibility for COVID booster doses to everyone 5 years of age and older, recommending that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.

CDC has also strengthened its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after their first. For information on vaccine availability in Coconino County, visit this website.

Northern Arizona transitions to Stage 2 Fire Restrictions this Thursday, May 26

Due to increased fire danger, Grand Canyon National Park, as well as the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests will elevate to Stage 2 fire restrictions beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 26. Under Stage 2 restrictions, building or maintaining an outdoor fire of any kind is prohibited as well as smoking.

Additionally, operating or using any internal combustion engine such as chainsaws, wood splitters, weed eaters, generators, welders, or any other devices that can cause a fire are prohibited. This prohibition does not include street legal vehicles. Exception for locals and contractors: Permits for work with these devices can be granted through the GRCA hot work permit process managed by GRCA Structure Fire. For more information and to submit a hot work permit, either see this attached flyer or fill out this online form.

More information on fire restrictions and fire danger ratings, please visit the park’s fire information page here.

UPDATE: Backcountry Gastrointestinal Illness

The NPS Office of Public Health has received increasing reports of gastrointestinal (GI) illness among river users and backcountry campers over the past month. To date, there have been approximately 13 river trips reporting GI illness as well as multiple reports of illness among hikers.

The NPS Office of Public Health continues to work with the local and state health department on gathering and analyzing data. They are also working with the CDC and in discussions about additional epidemiological studies to identify why some people get sick and some people do not. The best way to prevent these types of illnesses is to practice proper hand washing and general cleanliness and ensure the safety of your drinking water, especially while traveling in the backcountry.

Our commercial services and public affairs staff are working with the NPS Office of Public Health and Coconino County Health and Human Services to alert backcountry and river users. For more information, please see this flyer or reference: https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html.

If you have any questions, please contact Lieutenant Commander Ronan King at Ronan_King@nps.gov or (202) 891-8599.

Summer Shuttle Bus Schedule begins this Saturday, May 28

The park’s shuttle bus system will transition to the summer schedule beginning May 28 and run through September 9, 2022. Shuttle buses are still operating at reduced capacity and face coverings may be required and must follow CDC guidance.

Hermits Rest Route (Red Route) (80 minutes round trip):

Every 30 minutes 4–6:30 am

Every 10-15 minutes 6:30 am to sunset

Every 30 minutes sunset to an hour after sunset

Last bus: 30 minutes after sunset

Kaibab Rim Route (Orange Route) (50 minutes round trip):

Every 30 minutes 4–6:30 am

Every 15 minutes 6:30 am to one hour after sunset

Last bus: 30 minutes after sunset

Village Route (Blue Route) (50 minutes round trip):

Every 30 minutes 4-6:30 am

Every 10-15 minutes 6:30 am-8:30 pm

Every 30 minutes: 8:30-11 pm

Last bus: 10:30 pm

The Tusayan Route (Purple Route) (40 minutes round trip):

First bus leaves IMAX bus stop at 8 am; last bus at 9:45 pm

First bus leaves Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 8:25 am; last bus at 9:30 pm

Buses run every 20 minutes

Hikers’ Express Bus to South Kaibab Trailhead:

Starts at Bright Angel Lodge; stops at Backcountry Information Center, Grand Canyon Visitor Center, and South Kaibab Trailhead

Bus leaves Bright Angel Lodge:

4, 5, and 6 am in June, July, and August

5, 6, and 7 am in May and Sept

Visitor Use Management Study continues

Social scientists from Penn State and the University of Montana arrived at the South Rim May 22nd to continue with a visitor use management (VUM) data collection efforts. They will look at how visitors move throughout the South Rim to develop a better understanding of current and desired visitor experiences. Their field work began on Tuesday, May 24th and will continue through June 20th.

The team will utilize visitor surveys and GPS tracking to gather data. You will see them conducting vehicle surveys at the Park Entrance sign and pedestrian surveys at the Visitor Center and at the Hermit Interchange. Each party that participates in a survey will also be asked to carry a GPS unit for their South Rim journey. All surveys and GPS tracking are voluntary.

These researchers were at the South Rim in 2019 conducting a data needs assessment. If you see them in the field, feel free to stop by, say hello, and talk with them about their work.

New GCC Artist in Residence

Nigerian-American experimental artist and educator Elijah Asani is the next Artist in Residence at Grand Canyon National Park. Based in Chicago, Asani is a self-taught music producer, designer, and filmmaker with a degree in creative writing.

As part of his artist residency, Asani plans to develop a collection of audio-visual works inspired by, dedicated to, and in collaboration with sites and themes throughout Grand Canyon. Sounds from the canyon will be recorded, edited, and engineered into musical compositions. Some pieces will be strictly sound based, utilizing manipulated sounds that were found and recorded within the canyon itself and turned into musical compositions, while other pieces will incorporate visuals and audio together to tell a story.

As part of his public programming, Asani will lead visitors through the park on active listening sound walks and hikes. Dates, times, and details will be shared soon. For more information on the Artist in Residence program through the Grand Canyon Conservancy, visit: https://www.grandcanyon.org/our-work/artist-in-residence/.

Congrats, Class of 2022!

Show your support of the 2022 Grand Canyon Senior Class!

Today, Thursday, May 26, there will be a celebratory parade that will drive through residential neighborhoods prior to the Senior Graduation ceremony. The parade will begin around 5 p.m. with the graduation ceremony to follow at 6 p.m. on the school soccer field.

A flyer for the parade route can be found at this link here.

‘Thank You’ from Grand Canyon School 8th Grade Class

The Grand Canyon 8th Grade Class had a successful trip to Washington D.C. this past week.

They would like to thank all of their sponsors and community members who helped with fundraising efforts to make this trip possible.

June Calendar of Events at the Rec Center

See the fun activities planned for the month of June at the Rec Center. A flyer for the calendar can be found 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.- 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.
• 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.
• The Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast, 7 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Beginning, Friday, May 27, the Dining Hall will be open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. daily.

Other

• Grand Canyon Clinic: Beginning Saturday, May 28, the Grand Canyon Clinic will be shifting to its summer hours. After this date the clinic will be open 7 days a week with hours of 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): This week, 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 in the near future.
• 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.

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 Desert View Deli will be opening beginning Friday, May 27. Daily operational hours will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• This past weekend, our Desert View Interpretation staff set up their seasonal information table. Rangers will be staffing this table, located near the existing Desert View Visitor Center on a daily basis from 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.
• 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, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• GCC Bookstore/Visitor Center, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Roaring Springs Kiosk information, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The following closures are in place:

• Maswik South Lodging
• Maswik Pizza Pub
• Kolb Studio
• Xanterra Food Truck

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

• Photo collage from North Rim in the 2022 season so far. Top left: North Rim VRP staff participate in e-bike training, Top center: North Rim staff from various divisions participate in a mass casulty incident (MCI) scenario, Bottom left: Chief Ranger, Angela Boyers and Superintendent Ed Keable swing the gates on May 15, 2022, Bottom center: A VRP Ranger uses a high directional for rope management during technical rescue training, Bottom right: a structural firefighter participates in the MCI scenario described above (NPS Photos/M. Jenkins)
• Claret Cup cactus in bloom on the South Rim (NPS Photo/J. Baird)
• Orange route shuttle bus at GCVC (NPS Photo)
• VUM researchers near the South Entrance Station (NPS Photo/P. Edwards)
• New GCC Artist in Residence, Elijah Asani (Photo courtesy of GCC)
• Photo collage of 8th grade Washington D.C. trip (photos courtesy of J. Radarian)