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Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — May 29-June 2, 2023

by Community Contributor • June 1, 2023 • Comments Off

Messages and Grand Canyon News-Week of May 29, 2023

What’s that clicking noise?

Pretty much everyone on the South Rim during the last two weeks has noticed the ‘click click click click click’ sounds coming from pretty much everywhere.

On the South Rim, we’re hearing Putnam’s Cicada, (Platypedia Putnami) — large, dark-colored insects with bulging eyes and membranous wings that are folded tent-like over their bodies. Putnam’s Cicadas are only found in the western states, and have a three to five year life cycle, unlike some varieties of cicadas found in the eastern U.S. that have 13 to 17 year cycles. Like other cicadas, they don’t bite or sting, just go around feeding by using their straw-like mouth to drink watery nutrients from plants and trees.

Wildlife Alert-Bear sightings in the South Rim Village

A solo black bear has recently been seen foraging around different areas of the South Rim Village with observations near Mather Overlook, Mather Campground, and along the Hermit Road. Although we do have low densities of black bears here in Grand Canyon, it is uncommon that there are bears inhabiting areas around and in the South Rim Village.

This is a reminder that residents should remain vigilant in keeping wildlife wild by securing all food sources at residences and keeping garbage contained with lids securely closed at all times.

To report the feeding of wildlife or unusual animal behavior, call Grand Canyon Dispatch at 928-638-7805. Please see the attached flyer here for more information.

North Rim ranger programming kicks off June 2!

After a long winter season, the North Rim Interpretation staff is excited to begin offering programs for the 2023 season.

For a full flyer on offerings, see the attached flyer here.

Interpretation staff will also be at Ranger Roost (immediately adjacent to the Lodge Parking Lot) daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Village evening programming

June 3-17

Please see the attached flyer for Village Evening Programs for June 3 – June 17.

The Grand Canyon Star Party will take place June 10 – June 17. On the South Rim, events include a nightly slide show from a special guest speaker at 8 p.m. in the plaza of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. The list of speakers can be found on our webpage: Grand Canyon Star Party 2023, June 10-17 – Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) The talks are followed by free telescope viewing behind the building. Green-laser constellation tours will be offered nightly at 9, 9:30, and 10 p.m.

Cultural Demonstrators next week at the Desert View Watchtower

Next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 6-8, meet Navajo weaver, Rose Bighorse, and Western Apache silversmith, Jerry Whagado, at Desert View Watchtower from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., as they demonstrate their crafts and share their cultural knowledge.

Rose is a fourth generation weaver and specializes in weaving pillows. Early on she learned how to weave rugs, but started weaving pillows because it was faster and less intensive. Her designs are intricate, one of a kind, and she has received blue ribbons for them.

Jerry grew up on the Hopi Mesas. Jerry learned his silversmith skills years ago (in the late 1960’s early 1970’s) at the Hopi Silvercraft Guild, under the tutelage of the legendary Fred Kabotie. His unique silver overlay jewelry brings Apache symbolism to the artform he learned from Hopi silversmiths.

Local Firewise Cleanup: June 8-11

The next Firewise Residential Cleanup weekend will be held June 8-11. We need your help in preventing wildfire severity!

Crews from the Fire and Aviation branch will be collecting fuels from this past winter’s blowdown and will also continue Firewise initiatives throughout residential areas. As we move forward on making the village a safer place from wildland fire, we ask that Grand Canyon residents assist in this effort.

Between now and June 11, please pile all pine needles and woody debris in an area accessible to vehicles for the crew to pick up. Park staff will be transporting all debris to the dry dump the week of June 12.

Trash bags and loaner tool are available at the South Rim Wildland Fire Base by calling Fire and Aviation staff—Nate Martone at 928-379-0817 or Kacie Dodds at 707-359-8744. More information, including a full flyer on the event is available here.

COVID Updates

As of May 11, COVID Data Tracker is no longer reporting aggregate cases and deaths, COVID-19 Community Levels, COVID-19 Community Transmission Levels, or COVID-19 Electronic Laboratory Reporting (CELR) data.Total new COVID cases in Arizona for the week of May 18 through May 24, is 1,717 —a decrease of 626 cases from the previous week. The seven-day rolling average is now 245 cases per day. As of May 30, we have no new COVID-19 casesreported in the park.

Be sure to promptly report any illness, to include possible COVID-19 symptoms, COVID exposure, or a positive COVID test to your supervisor and our Public Health Consultant, Ronan King. Ronan can be reached at: 202-891-8599 or Ronan_King@nps.gov.

Grand Canyon Community Corner

Grand Canyon Pride Club activities planned for the month of June

The Grand Canyon Pride Club is throwing the biggest Pride Celebration the canyon has ever seen! The club will be hosting over 20 events throughout the monthincluding social events, craft nights, hikes, a talent show, yoga class, potlucks, a community litter pick up, a bake sale, bike ride, Rocky Horror Picture Show Audience Participation movie night, a Pride Prom, and more! Come by the Rec Center on Friday, June 2, from 6-8:30pm for the Kick Off Social or stop by our Bake Sale on Sunday, June 4, at the Village Market 10am-Sold Out to get more information about specific events.

The Stonewall Uprising took place on June 28, 1969 and started the modern Gay Pride Movement. Ever since, many communities celebrate Pride Month in June. Pride celebrations are for all members of the LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirit) community and allies. 2S (Two-spirit), is an Indigenous-created word for traditionally recognized identities. It means different things in each nation and to each person who holds that identity, and it is an identity that is culturally specific, meaning that it belongs to Indigenous communities.

Get more information through the Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/grandcanyonpride and reach out to GrandCanyonPride@gmail.com or Pride Club President Samantha Troi stroi@xanterra.com with any questions.

A calendar of events for Pride Month can be found here.
A flyer for the Bake Sale event can be found here.

Music Under the Stars concert set for June 10

Join Grand Canyon community members for the annual Music Under the Stars concert. This free concert featuring local bands will be held at the Rec Center starting at 6:30 p.m. and will also feature a BBQ Ribs Fundraiser for the Tacey Family.

More information, including a flyer on the event can be found here.

Current Operational Hours

*Please note: new changes to operations are indicated in bold/italic

South Rim

Xanterra

Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Canyon Coffee House at the Bright Angel Fountain, 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
Bright Angel Fountain grab and go, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Fred Harvey Burger, breakfast 8-10:30 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., dinner 4-9 p.m.
Arizona Steakhouse within Bright Angel Lodge is now offering dinner service from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. daily. Lunch service is from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 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 a.m., Lunch, 11 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.
Maswik Pizza Pub is open daily from 4-8 p.m.
The Grand Canyon Kennel is open seven days a week with hours from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Delaware North

Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m., Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 6:30 a.m. -3 p.m., The Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast, 7-10:45 a.m., dinner, 5-9 p.m.
Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Deli 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Camper Services laundry and shower is now open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily with the last laundry load at 8:30 p.m. and the last shower at 9:45 p.m.

Other

Grand Canyon Clinic: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bright Angel Bikes, Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Café 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Thursday-Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
Grand Canyon Conservancy stores regular hours: Visitor Center Plaza, Yavapai Geology Museum, Verkamps, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily., Kolb Studio 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Canyon Closet (located behind Community Library): Mondays 4:15-6 p.m., Wednesdays 12:15-2 p.m., Saturdays 3-5 p.m.
Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Mondays 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesdays 6-8 p.m., Saturdays 2-4 p.m.

Desert View

Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Desert View Watchtower, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
The Desert View Deli, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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

Photo Credits (in order of appearance)

Cicada emerging from its exoskeleton on the South Rim this week (NPS Photo/C. Kraus)
Bright Angel Point Amphitheater (NPS Photo/C. Kraus)
South Rim Star Party telescope (NPS Photo)
Pillow designs by Rose Bighorse (Photo courtesy of R. Bighorse)
A colorful rainbow canyon (NPS image)
Sunset at Mather Point during Memorial Day weekend (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)

Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.

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UPDATE: North Rim opens with limited services available →