Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: June 13-17, 2022

The CDC Community Level tracks a county’s ability to provide health care to COVID patients. We have transitioned to Medium at the community level, as of June 2nd.

The Coconino County Community Transmission looks at the number of COVID cases and positive tests. Coconino County continues to be High. All 15 Arizona counties are now in High community transmission.

Total cases in Arizona for the week of June 2 through 8 was 14,677, which is an average of 2,096 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 277 cases, and 428 cases for the 86023 zip code, since the beginning of the pandemic. call me back, please!!

Have you had your booster?

You might be asking the question, who is eligible to get a booster?

According to the CDC:

Recommended 1 Booster

• Everyone ages 5 years and older should get 1 booster at least 5 months after completing their COVID-19 vaccine primary series.

Recommended 2 Boosters

• Adults ages 50 years and older
• People ages 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised

For information on vaccine availability in Coconino County and in your local area, visit the county’s website here or the CDC’s vaccination page.

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Cultural Demonstration Program has resumed in person. The Cultural Demonstration program provides an opportunity for visitors and community members to interact with Tribal artisans from Grand Canyon’s Traditionally Associated Tribes – and for them to share their history and crafts, along with the skills, knowledge, and efforts involved in creating each craft. This series is made possible through a grant from the Grand Canyon Conservancy.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Florence Riggs, Diné weaver, and Beverly Blacksheep, Diné artist and illustrator, will be demonstrating their arts at the Desert View Visitor Center shade structure, just north of the main parking lot. For more information on the Cultural Demonstration Program, please visit the park’s website here.

Demonstrator Profiles:

• At the age of 18 (a year after graduating from Tuba City High School), Florence Riggs decided she wanted to learn weaving and asked her mother to teach her. She began to weave pictorial rugs when she was 20, and later became a full-time weaver. She weaves about 10 hours a day, and her pieces are on the loom for one to three months, depending on their size. Her ideas come from books, magazines, and observations of everyday life. Florence says that her figures are so realistic because she draws them first.
• Beverly Blacksheep is inspired by her Diné (Navajo) people, and the rich cultural heritage and traditions set in the vast desert landscape. Her unique style of painting evolved into what many observers of her work describe as, “Traditional Santa Fe Studio Style.” She works with a palette of soft, as well as vibrant colors, sometimes bordered by geometric designs, symbolic of Navajo weavings, revealing a sense of harmony and balance with Mother Earth.

Grand Canyon fire restrictions and exceptions for local residents

Due to increased fire danger, Grand Canyon National Park, the Town of Tusayan, as well as the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests transitioned to Stage 2 fire restrictions on May 26. Under Stage 2 restrictions, building or maintaining an outdoor fire and smoking are prohibited (see exceptions below).

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.

Exceptions:

• 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.
• For local residents, outside smoking will be permitted in designated areas clear of vegetation and at least 30’ feet from buildings. These areas include sidewalks, parking lots, or large graveled areas and these areas must be equipped with a cigarette disposal receptacle with a lid and dirt and/or sand inside. The receptacle should also be affixed or arranged so that it does not move during high winds.

More information on fire restrictions and fire danger ratings, please visit the park’s fire information page here. The map below from the National Interagency Fire Center shows the wildland fire potential outlook for June 2022.

As you are likely aware, there are currently two wildfires burning in and around Flagstaff – the Pipeline and Haywire fires. There was a third fire as well, the Double fire, that is no longer identified as a separate incident.

The Pipeline fire is estimated at over 24,000 acres as of Thursday, June 16 with the Haywire estimated at over 5,000 acres.

We have numerous colleagues and friends that have been evacuated from their homes or impacted by the road closures–we need to support one another and practice patience during this time.

We should all be ready to evacuate immediately due to fire or other emergency situations that could arise. We are now in the most dangerous three weeks of the year because of the very high fire danger combined with extreme temperatures.

Access to information and being aware of our environments is critical in keeping us all safe.

If you haven’t already, please sign up with the Coconino County Emergency Notification System to receive official, real-time alerts and information about potentially life-saving actions you may need to take to keep you and your family safe. You can go to https://www.coconino.az.gov/ready

Current closures due to these fires include Highway 89, the Arizona Snowbowl, multiple forest service roads and areas, and Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments.

The 32nd annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held from Saturday, June 18, 2022, through Saturday, June 25, 2022, on both South and North rims of Grand Canyon National Park. National parks such as Grand Canyon are protective havens for some of the last remaining dark skies in the United States. This is the first onsite event since 2019.

The event is sponsored by the National Park Service, the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (South Rim), and the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix (North Rim), with funding from Grand Canyon Conservancy and in partnership with the International Dark-Sky Association.

Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their telescopes and expertise for the enjoyment of park visitors. Numerous telescopes will offer views of planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, as well as double stars, star clusters, nebulae, distant galaxies—and the Moon, earlier in the week. By day, keep an eye out for solar telescopes pointed at the sun. Weather permitting, expect spectacular views of the universe!

For additional information on the Grand Canyon Star Party visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm, or contact Rader Lane at 928-638-7641.

The Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff has begun exhibiting “Night Visions VIII,” an international juried art exhibition, now in its 8th iteration. The exhibit is an artistic celebration of our night skies, co-produced with the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition.

From our Interpretation Division, the audience-centered film, Night Requiem, was submitted and accepted into the exhibition. We are pleased to announce that Grand Canyon’s piece was awarded Best of Show! This is the second time we’ve received this honor. A $1,000 donation will be made to the Division of Interpretation and Resource Education soon.

Special thanks for our “dark sky ranger” Rader Lane and GCC for their help and support in creating this piece and their efforts to continue Grand Canyon’s Dark Sky Initiative!

Summer School has begun: traffic safety reminders

Summer School began in-person, Wednesday, June 1 and continues through June 30, 2022. The hours for summer school are Monday-Thursday, from 7:50 a.m. -2:00 p.m. each day.

As a reminder, there are children traveling to and from the school during this period, and many more children out and about in residential areas during the summer days ahead.

Please drive slowly through streets adjacent to the school, including: Albright Avenue, Boulder Street, Coconino Street, and Center Road. As always, drive below the speed limit in residential areas and help keep our children and community safe.

Upcoming external Environmental and Safety Audit

Community Meetings on Future Construction Projects

We will be hosting two open-house style meetings to brief the Grand Canyon and Tusayan communities on the next few years of construction activities, including the Transcanyon Waterline.

Both meetings will be held at the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium (near park Headquarters).

The first meeting will be on Monday, June 27th, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. and the second will be Tuesday, June 28th from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Representatives from our project team will be presenting on three major projects, including the Transcanyon Waterline, with presentations at approximately 6:30 pm for the Monday night meeting and 10 a.m. for the Tuesday morning meeting.

There will be time both before and after the presentation to look at maps and project information.

visit Grand Canyon Volunteers

Please enjoy this year’s commemoration of Juneteenth! Monday, June 20, is a federal holiday.

South Rim Lightning Strike and Power Outage

The South Rim community experienced a power outage on June 11, from approximately 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. due to an older lightning strike to transmission lines south of the Park. Thanks to APS for getting power and systems back up and running.

It is important to acknowledge the numerous park staff that worked tirelessly to address issues with the park’s water and wastewater systems.

Sherryl Johnson, Gary Zbel, Josiah Brown, Doug Rorbach, and Barry Hance were able to trouble shoot and continue to provide critical utility services to the South Rim during this outage.

We are now back up and running with water pumping from Indian/Havasupai Gardens.

We thank these individuals for their quick work over a weekend and in the middle of the night to keep our water utilities operating and providing service to the community and park visitors. Your efforts are truly appreciated.

Rotary Club Grant applications open for local non-profits

The Grand Canyon Rotary Club will be awarding grants up to $500 to non-profit organizations that need funding for a program and/or project that will benefit the Grand Canyon/Tusayan communities.

Applicants should send a brief letter describing the program/project by June 30, 2022. Award recipients will be announced at the July 4th community event in Tusayan. For more information on this grant, please see the attached flyer 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.
• Effective June 2, hours for the El Tovar Dining Room and Lounge has been adjusted.
• 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.

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., dinner, 5 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

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,11 a.m. to 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.
• 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.

• North Rim Bridle Trail (Michael Quinn/NPS Photo)
• Demonstration artists and their work (Michael Quinn/NPS Photo)
• Star Party (Michael Quinn/NPS Photo)
• Construction (Michael Quinn/NPS Photo)
• Volunteers (Todd Nelson/NPS Photo)
• Sunrise (Michael Quinn/NPS Photo)
• Lightning (Paulina Cwik/NOAA).
• Waterfall (Michael Quinn/NPS Photo)