Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of July 19, 2021
|
|
We are seeing increasing numbers of new COVID cases across the Country, State and County. According to the CDC, Coconino County has been in “Substantial” Community transmission since July 15, which means that there are more than 50 new cases per day per 100,000 residents.
The rolling 7-day average for AZ is 1,267 new cases per day, which is a significant increase from the average of 650 cases last week. There are no new cases in the park this week.
- The death rate from COVID-19 in the U.S. is rising steadily for the first time in months. Over 99% of COVID-related deaths, and almost all cases of serious illness, are among the unvaccinated.
- The seven-day average of new cases has increased by nearly 70% to almost 30,000 per day; hospitalizations are up 36%. And deaths from the virus have risen steadily in recent days, reversing a months-long downward trend that began in mid-January.
- According to Dr. Rochelle Walensky of the CDC, “There is a clear message that is coming through: This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Our biggest concern is we are going to continue to see preventable cases, hospitalizations and sadly, deaths among the unvaccinated.”
|
|
Avoid Misinformation: Vaccines Save Lives
COVID-19 illness can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. If you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you. Vaccination remains the single best way to Help prevent serious disease in yourself and others. Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, known as natural immunity. But experts don’t know how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience illness.
The Surgeon General has issued an advisory on misinformation, stating that “health misinformation is a serious threat to public health. It can cause confusion, sow mistrust, harm people’s health, and undermine public health efforts. Limiting the spread of health misinformation is a moral and civic imperative that will require a whole-of-society effort.”
|
|
Public Health Contacts
If you test positive for COVID-19, immediately inform your supervisor and our NPS Public Health Consultant. This is to ensure proper public health protocols are followed and that any exposure is minimized.
- Ronan King, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service
- Mobile: (202) 891-8599
- Email: ronan_king@nps.gov
- For all email correspondence, please also cc: Chris Glime, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service
- Mobile: (202) 641-3518
- Email: christen_glime@nps.gov
|
|
COVID-19 Testing Details
- The Grand Canyon Clinic is still providing vaccinations by appointment on Thursdays. Please call (928) 638-2551 to schedule your vaccination.
- The clinic also has testing available Wednesdays 11 a.m. to noon.
- In Flagstaff, COVID testing is available at Coconino Community College at 2800 South Lone Tree Road, the NAU Fieldhouse at 1050 Knoles Drive and many other locations around town.
|
|
Messages and Grand Canyon News
|
|
Flash Floods and Lightning Awareness
As we continue to navigate monsoon season, we would like to take a moment to discuss the dangers of flash floods and lightning within the Grand Canyon. Flash floods are distinguished from regular floods by having a timescale of fewer than six hours between rainfall and the onset of flooding.
Flash floods are common in the desert southwest, including Northern Arizona. This is because the arid, sparsely vegetated environments found in these areas have little capacity to absorb rainfall. The resulting runoff moves rapidly through the narrow canyons and steep terrain found throughout the region. In many areas, even small storms can turn normally dry streambeds into dangerous, raging torrents of water in a matter of minutes. Know before you go: flash flooding is possible any time that rainfall is forecast. For more information on flooding dangers in Grand Canyon National Park you can visit our website. In addition, serious injuries and fatalities have occurred at Grand Canyon National Park as a result of lightning strikes. Lightning can strike two points up to 10 miles (16 km) apart at the same time and reaches temperatures five times hotter than the surface of the sun. The surrounding air expands rapidly due to the heat of the bolt’s flash and causes thunder, which warns us that lightning is present. In Grand Canyon National Park, lightning strikes an average of 25,000 times per year.
|
|
How Do I Stay Safe?
Before you go outdoors or hike: Check the weather forecast. Arrange activities to minimize your exposure to lightning danger.
- Be aware of the nearest safe structure or vehicle and how long it will take to reach it; learn where emergency phones are located on the trails.
- Listen for thunder, watch for lightning, and observe the direction of storm movement.
- Be vigilant of possible flash floods or falling rocks during or after storms.
- If you find yourself in a dangerous situation with a thunderstorm approaching, take cover.
- Don’t forget the 30-30 rule. After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
If your hair stands on end, a strike is looming:
- Move away from the canyon edge; leave open areas immediately; and avoid rocky outcrops, lone trees, the tallest trees, poles, railings, and bodies of water.
- Get to a shelter—building, vehicle with the windows closed, or shuttle bus—as quickly as possible.
- For a shuttle bus, locate a designated bus stop.
- If camping, wait out the storm in a safe structure or vehicle, not a tent.
- Do not touch rock walls or any metal on vehicles or structures.
- Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (such as barbed wire fences or power lines).
What if There is No Shelter?
If you find yourself caught in a thunderstorm with no readily available shelter, be calm and use good judgement.
To reduce your risk:
- If possible, spread out from other people. Look for lower ground, but avoid areas that may flood. Do not touch metal guard rails.
- If in an open area, crouch on the balls of your feet with your heels touching, head down, and hands covering ears. Your hands should not touch the ground. Do not lie flat on the ground.
- Always remember to move away from the canyon edge; leave open areas immediately; and avoid rocky outcrops, lone trees, the tallest trees, poles, railings and standing water.
- If the sound of thunder follows a lightning flash in 30 seconds or less, seek shelter immediately. Danger continues for 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder event.
Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors!
Learn more about lightning safety on our website.
|
|
Community Thank You
Many of you are aware of the tragic events of last week on the Colorado River. The park would like to thank those in the community, along with our NPS staff, who helped those in need. Thank you to:
- The Canyon Closet for providing clothing and shoes to all members of the group,
- Horace Albright Training Center for providing lodging,
- Victim Witness Services for providing cell phones, and
- All PSAR, SAR, and EMS staff for responding to such a challenging incident.
Your contributions were invaluable, and your efforts truly made a difference in the lives of those affected by last week’s flash flooding.
This event, along with several other injury and fatality events this season, have stretched our first responder community very thin. We want to thank all who have tirelessly assisted with these challenging events, including our Dispatch staff, who play such an important role in ensuring the right resources are deployed.
Thank you.
|
|
|
Latino Conservation Week!
This week is Latino Conservation Week. Latino Conservation Week is a growing annual tradition that encourages LatinX passion for the outdoors and emphasizes the role of LatinX individuals in conservation.
Started by our official NPS partner, the Hispanic Access Foundation, this week provides the LatinX community a collective opportunity to show support and commitment for permanently protecting our natural, cultural, and recreational resources related to Latino heritage.
|
|
Paul Revere Shuttle Bus Updates
Beginning Saturday, July 17, the park resumed all three in-park shuttle bus routes. This service will continue through November 30, 2021. Below are a summary of these changes:
- The Hermits Rest Route (Red Route) and the Kaibab Rim Route (Orange Route) will operate from 5 a.m. until one hour after sunset.
- The Kaibab Rim Route (Orange Route) will run to all locations, including westbound to the Yavapai Geology Museum.
- The Village Route (Blue Route) will operate from 5 a.m.-10 p.m.
- The Tusayan Route (Purple Route) will not operate this year.
- The Visitor Center-Hermit Road Express Bus will operate from 12-8 p.m., every 15 minutes. This route takes people directly from the Visitor Center to Hermit Road and vice versa.
- The Hikers’ Express Bus, which starts at the Bright Angel Lodge, then travels to the Backcountry Office, GCVC, and the South Kaibab trailhead will operate as normal.
- July through August – Hiker’s Express shuttles begin at 4, 5, and 6 a.m.
- In September – Shuttles begin at 5, 6, and 7 a.m.
|
|
Face coverings:
Passengers are required to wear a face covering when riding the shuttle buses. This is a Federal mandate, regardless of vaccination status. The drivers are having increasing challenges with visitor compliance on this issue, so whatever staff can do to remind visitors of this requirement is greatly appreciated.
|
|
Canteen Reopens at Phantom Ranch
Xanterra is pleased to announce that they are on track to reopen the Canteen at Phantom Ranch with COVID Mitigation measures in place.
Beginning this Thursday, indoor meal service will resume starting with dinner seating. The canteen will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and again in the evening from 8:00 p.m., to 9:30 p.m., for socializing, guest room check-in, retail and beverage sales as well as a place for hikers to escape the heat.
|
|
Glen Canyon Dam Unscheduled River Fluctuations
Due to excessive heat warnings throughout the western United States, those recreating on or along the Colorado River through Glen and Grand canyons are urged to exercise increased caution as summer energy demands may cause rapid changes to the river’s flow.
Unscheduled fluctuations in water releases may occur without notice. Vessels should be secured to withstand potential changes in water levels and campers should avoid setting camp where a sudden river rise could reach tents or other camping supplies.
|
|
Current Operational Hours
|
|
South Rim
- Maswik Lodge Cafeteria: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Bright Angel Fountain and Coffee House, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m.
- Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Bright Angel Bikes, Rentals: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Cafe: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Kolb Studio: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Desert View
- Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
- Desert View Watchtower, staffed by GCC 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily
- Desert View Information Table, staffed by NPS. The table is located on the north side of the main parking lot, in front of the building on the left side of the Orientation Plaza. Hours: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily.
- Desert View Campground is open. Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov.
North Rim
- Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk, NPS staffed from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily
- North Rim Visitor Center, GCC staffed from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- North Rim Lodge dining, 4:30-9:30 p.m. daily
- Deli in the Pines, 5 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
- Rough Rider Saloon, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
The following park closures remain in place:
- South Rim Visitor Center (indoors), information table staffed 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily
- Headquarters Information Desk
- Yavapai Lodge Restaurant
- Maswik Pizza Pub, Arizona Steak House, and Fred Harvey Burger
- Xanterra bus tours (suspended)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
