Friday, December 09, 2011
Home Court Advantage: Kolb Family Legacy to be Celebrated in their Historic Studio
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Grand Canyon Field Institute Rolls out 2012 Schedule
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Back from the “Y” Parks
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Yesteryear to Reappear at History Symposium
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
A Splash of Color
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Hiking Boots Step Aside for Running Shoes at Annual Benefit
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
A Brush with Beauty
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Rainbow Crashes the Party
Thursday, August 11, 2011
There’s a New Sheriff in Town: Superintendent Uberuaga Arrives at Grand Canyon
Uberuaga (pronounced “you-burr-ahga”) was most recently the superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park where he spent the bulk of his 34 years in the National Park Service. He also served for a year as the acting superintendent for Yosemite National Park. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Dave on the North Rim shortly after he assumed his new duties, and I can say with certainty that the park is in very good hands going forward.
Cut and paste this link to hear his speech at a welcoming ceremony at the Shrine of the Ages on the South Rim http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWYvkQXGOgA&feature=player_embedded
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Multi-Use Trail into Park to Open Soon
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Young Artists turn to the River for Inspiration
Grand Canyon National Park and the non-profit Grand Canyon Youth recently collaborated on an art-based whitewater rafting trip called Grand Inspiration (GRIN). The program was facilitated by writer and NPS science educator Juliet Oakes, artist and AmeriCorps volunteer Sara Hooker, and photographer and Grand Canyon Field Institute director Mike Buchheit. The young participants produced an exhibit of their work that will be on display in the lobby of park headquarters through August 7th. They shared their impressions and a sample of their art during the evening program at the McKee Amphitheater. This once-a-year journey through the canyon is open to 15-18 year olds. Visit www.gcyouth.org for more information.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Canyon on the Quick: GCFI to Offer Half Day Educational Walking Tours
Looking for something to do with the family during your summer visit to the South Rim? The Grand Canyon Field Institute (GCFI) has just the ticket in the form of a half-day educational tour entitled Grand Rim Adventure . This fun-filled outing features a GCFI expert who will share the compelling stories of the canyon’s rocks, plants, animals, landmark structures, and colorful historic characters—all cast against the amazing backdrop of North America’s most iconic landscape.
With a maximum of ten participants, the 3.5 hour tour will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Verkamps Visitor Center, just east of the El Tovar Hotel in Grand Canyon Village. After a brief orientation and safety talk, participants will embark on a visits to Kolb Studio and its rotating art exhibits, Mary Jane Colter’s architectural marvel known as Lookout Studio, an ancient marine fossil beds, a thousand-year-old rock art panel as seen from the uppermost switchbacks of the Bright Angel Trail, and much, much more.
This program is offered daily through August 31. The cost is $85 for adults, and $55 for children twelve years old and younger. Reservations can only be made in person at the Grand Canyon Association sales outlet in Verkamps Visitor Center.
For more information visit the GCFI web site at www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute
Note: In the interest of full disclosure, the author is also the director of the Grand Canyon Field Institute.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Going Deeper: Young Cavers Help NPS with Cave Survey
The myriad caves located throughout Grand Canyon have intrigued NPS resource managers for decades. Many have been explored by biologists and hydrologists, others excavated by archaeologists, and still more remain untouched. As part of the park’s ongoing efforts to identify and protect the cultural and natural resources within this sprawling network of caverns, a group of teens from Montana was brought into the act. Under the supervision of park Hydrologist and Cave Resource Manager Steve Rice, five students from Bigfork High School catalogued, mapped, and photographed ten caves below the South Rim. Their efforts will help the park service better understand and manage the fragile ecosystems and irreplaceable cultural resources under their care. For more information on the project follow this link http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/bigfork-high-school-cave-club-completes-inventory-and-impact-mapping-of-caves-in-grand-canyon-national-park.htm
Monday, May 30, 2011
Fill Er’ Up! Water Bottle Filling Stations Arrive in the Park
For years the park has been encouraging hikers to stay well hydrated. This resulted in a spike in bottled water usage. Discarded plastic water bottles quickly became a sizable portion of the park’s solid waste burden (30% by some estimates). To remedy this challenge, the National Park Service has placed nine water bottle filling stations throughout the park in high traffic areas along the rim. Like all the water that flows from taps in the park, that which flows from the filling station spigots is pumped from Roaring Springs near the canyon’s floor. So be sure to top off at one of these stations during your next visit. The water tastes great, and you’ll be doing the planet a favor. Follow this link for more information http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/2011-03-16_h2o.htm
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
NPS Seeking Public Comments on Management of Backcountry
An eager public has been invited to weigh in on a planned revision of the 1988 Backcountry Management Plan by the National Park Service. The finished product will guide the hand of park resource managers as they try to balance the needs and desires of wide-ranging constituents. Open for discussion will be a host of critical issues including commercial services, recreational opportunities, infrastructure, access fees and permitting, and the protection and study of natural and cultural resources. This is a rare opportunity to play a role in crafting park policies that will determine what the backcountry looks like in twenty years, and how future generations will interact with this iconic national treasure. Follow this link for information on the three public meetings to be held in the coming weeks, and for instructions on how to submit written comments: http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/news-5may2011.htm
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Lights, Canyon, Action! New Park Orientation Film a Must See
The park recently rolled out its new orientation film, Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder, in a cozy new theater adjacent to the main Visitor Center at Mather Point. Produced and directed by Joshua Colover of Aperture Films, Ltd., the twenty-minute film features stellar footage of the canyon, a wealth of fun facts and figures, and a crisp narration delivered by actor Peter Coyote. I watched it for the first time with about thirty visitors on a Sunday afternoon. The handful I queried afterwards were duly impressed. The film rotates throughout the day, every day of the week, and it is sure to be a hit for years to come. Admission is free. Visit this link for more information http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/2011-04-14_film.htm
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Big Fish to Anchor Park Wildlife Day
A guest appearance by Jack Hanna will add a touch of celebrity to Grand Canyon National Park’s May 7, Celebrate Wildlife Day. Hanna, the Emmy Award winning host of “Into the Wild”, will join National Park Service biologists to highlight a number of the park’s amazing creatures. From humpback chubs to mountain lions, visitors of all ages will enjoy lively presentations and exhibits designed to share a wide array of research and fun facts. The event is free to the public, and sure to be a roaring good time. Follow this link for more information http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/2011-04-08_cwd.htm
Monday, March 28, 2011
South Kaibab Trail Just Got "Easier"
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Digging the Past: Grand Canyon Archaeology Day On March 19
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Annual Benefit for River Guides Not to be Missed
The non-profit Whale Foundation has been helping the river running community address these issues for more than a decade. One of their biggest sources of revenue is the annual Wing Ding, a night of great food, great music, and a lively auction of donated goods and services ranging from fine art sculpture to shiatsu massage. The next Wing Ding will take place at the Coconino Center for the Arts on Saturday, February 26.
Don’t miss this opportunity to give back to those passionate, knowledgeable and nutty individuals that have spent much of their adult lives sharing the wonders of Grand Canyon with others.
Follow this link for more information http://www.whalefoundation.org/whatyoucando3.htm
The "Wows" Are Back at Improved Mather Point
This fall the park opened a nearby amphitheater along the rim, and a landmark feature honoring the Native American tribes with ancestral and ongoing ties to the Grand Canyon. Mather Point proper was the last piece to open, and was well worth the wait. Among the upgrades are handicap accessibility, much more elbow room, and beautiful landscaping using indigenous plants. Be sure to check it all out during your next visit to the grandest of chasms!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
NPS Announces New Rules Affecting Mule Operation
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Year-in-Review: A Look Back at 2010
The New Year began with the mercury registering negative 26 degrees. Trapped inside by the arctic blast, there is little else to do but ponder the year behind. It was another exciting year at the grandest of chasms, with many milestones, anniversaries, and new developments to herald.
The year began with record-breaking snowfall that tested the limits of both roof and plow, but left the cliffs and slopes of the canyon as picturesque as ever. As 2010 progressed, dramatic infrastructure changes to the Mather Point area and beyond helped improve the visitor experience for generations to come. Smaller initiatives were sprinkled throughout the park, such as the new Trail of Time interpretive walkway on the South Rim, additional restrooms for visitors at popular overlooks, and much-needed improvements to corridor hiking trails.
The inaugural Archaeology Day joined a host of public events that continued their multi-year runs such as the Star Party, Celebration of Arts, Grand Canyon Music Festival, Wildlife Day, and the Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Symposium.
A visit by Vice President Biden to highlight park projects funded by the Recovery Act and the roll out of the new Grand Canyon National Park quarter by the U.S. Mint made headlines, as did the announced retirement of park superintendent Steve Martin.
These of course are just the newsmaking events; the real story at Grand Canyon is the 4.5 million visitors who travel from near and far to marvel at the amazing landscape that a few of us are lucky enough to call home. I hope that visiting your Grand Canyon National Park is high on your list of resolutions. Happy New Year one and all!
For a list of National Park Service accomplishments in 2010 visit: http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/grand-canyon-national-park-accomplishments-outlined-in-new-report-for-fiscal-years-2009-and-2010.htm