A Splash of Color

Though not on the scale of the vast deciduous forests of the Midwest and East Coast, the display of fall colors on the Colorado Plateau is no less impressive. The leaves of the gambel oak, cottonwood, and sycamore trees (just to name a few) typically change color from late September through early November. My personal favorite are the aspen, whose delicate leaves turn a shimmering gold, and stand out remarkably against the deep green of their coniferous neighbors such as the firs and pines. There is thought to be but one grove of these high-altitude beauties along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The dozen or so trees are located in a cool, moist ravine east of Grandview Point—one of the highest spots on the entire South Rim. After several gallant attempts to find the stand, I successfully stumbled upon them recently—their fluttering gold leaves guiding me in from an adjacent cliff. With the sedentary months of winter just around the corner, this was the perfect way to end another year of hiking, backpacking, and river running in my favorite place on Earth. 

Hiking Boots Step Aside for Running Shoes at Annual Benefit

The Grand Canyon has long been a magnet for hikers, backpackers, mule riders, and river runners. Since 2008 you can add marathon runners to the list. The Grand Canyon Marathon & Half Marathon began its annual fundraising event to support the Grand Canyon Community Recreation Center and to provide scholarships for local students. The high-altitude race has grown steadily, with nearly 300 joining the fun last year, and has attracted runners from across the country.  The course winds through the towering pine forest of both Grand Canyon National Park and the adjacent Kaibab National Forest. As in years past, the November 12, 2011, event will feature both a full and half marathon, and is open to participants with all levels of experience.  For full details, or to register, visit the event web site http://www.grandcanyonmarathon.com/index.html

A Brush with Beauty

Thirty of the most celebrated Grand Canyon fine art painters arrived this week to rain, rumble, and rainbows for the 3^rd annual Celebration of Arts hosted by the Grand Canyon Association.  This popular event features a quick draw competition, art auction, rim side demonstrations, and an exhibit of the artists’ collective work that will run through November 27^th in the historic Kolb Studio. “Inspiration” has long been identified by the National Park Service as one in a handful of parkwide interpretive themes—thus elbowing in on the hard sciences and cultural history for making Grand Canyon both unique and worthy of protection. I can think of no greater way to showcase the park’s inspirational qualities than to admire the strokes and dabs of the creative souls that have captured the canyon on canvas for this event. Learn more by following this link http://www.grandcanyon.org/celebration.asp

Rainbow Crashes the Party

During a recent birthday bash with a group of local friends along the South Rim, the canyon served up one of the prettiest sunsets that any of us could recall. That was news given that, at seventeen years as a park resident, I was a virtual newcomer in this crowd of salty old hands. It was a true pleasure sharing this marvel with some of my favorite people – all rendered speechless yet again by this place we are blessed to call home. Enjoy.

There’s a New Sheriff in Town: Superintendent Uberuaga Arrives at Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon National Park recently welcomed Dave Uberuaga as its new superintendent, replacing Steve Martin who retired in January.

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

Multi-Use Trail into Park to Open Soon

Beginning this fall, an eight-mile trail will allow cyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians to enter the park on foot (or hoof). This latest installment in the “Greenway” (a park trail system conceived during the 1995 General Management Plan) will allow locals and visitors alike to travel to and from Grand Canyon Village and the neighboring town of Tusayan in a carbon-friendly manner. The trail is being constructed by the NPS trail crew, and is a collaborative effort between Grand Canyon National Park and the US Forest Service. It is being underwritten by a combination of public and private funds. Follow this link for more information http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/progress-on-multi-use-trail-connecting-grand-canyon-national-park-with-gateway-town-of-tusayan-continues.htm

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

South Kaibab Trail Just Got "Easier"

On a recent backpack down the South Kaibab Trail, I got my first chance in months to witness the handiwork of the park's trail crew. The results were impressive indeed. Mother Nature has not been kind to this popular canyon thoroughfare, not to mention foot (and hoof) traffic. Crater-sized holes between wash bars and stone steps were becoming momentum-busting obstacles, if not dangerous tripping hazards. Last year the National Park Service initiated an ambitioius restoration project on the South Kaibab Trail; one that included a temporary ban on passenger mules. My hiking companions and I came upon several trail crew teams laying rock, timber, and dirt fill at several problem locations from rim-to-river. Their efforts made a challenging descent just a little bit easier, especially on those not blessed with a 36-inch inseam! Thanks trail crew, and keep up the great work! If you'd like to make a donation to support backcountry trail restoration, please follow this link to the Grand Canyon Association web site. GCA is the official fundraiser for Grand Canyon National Park. http://www.grandcanyon.org/support/support_gc_trail_fund.asp

Digging the Past: Grand Canyon Archaeology Day On March 19

It’s been an amazing journey for humankind at Grand Canyon. From the nomadic, large spear hunters of 10,000 B.C. to today’s camera phone wielding visitors, the constant has always been the yawning chasm that continues to attract subsequent generations. The National Park Service will be highlighting a good chunk of this legacy during a March 19, Archaeology Day in Grand Canyon Village. Throughout the day, scientists and researchers will be sharing the many innovative ways that the canyon’s earliest inhabitants carved out a meager living in this forbidding landscape, and pondering what these lessons might mean for us today. This event is free to the public, and everyone form archaeology buffs to laymen will walk away with a better understanding of our forebears and their amazing accomplishments. Follow this link for more information http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/2011-02-28_arch_day.htm

Annual Benefit for River Guides Not to be Missed

If you’re one of the thousands of people who have had a life-changing experience on a Grand Canyon river trip, the chances are high that the hard working commercial river guides were a big part of your positive experience. Anyone who befriends a guide finds out fairly quickly that behind this seemingly happy-go-lucky lifestyle can hide a reality of physical ailments, strained family relationships, and the financial challenges of seasonal work.

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

The park recently announced the re-opening of Mather Point, one of the South Rim's most popular scenic overlooks. Named after the Stephen Mather, first director of the National Park Service, Mather Point draws thousands of visitors each year. It was closed for months as part of a multi-phase construction project.

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!

NPS Announces New Rules Affecting Mule Operation

Grand Canyon National Park recently announced new guidelines for commercial and private use of livestock (mules and horses) on Grand Canyon’s network of world-famous trails. Overall numbers of riders will be allowed to increase, though with a net reduction on congested trails favored by hikers. Several once-popular destinations such as Plateau Point will no longer be available to visitors in the saddle, with those hugging the South Rim being offered as an alternative. The bottom line is that this historic activity will continue for the foreseeable future, as will the occasional squabble between visitors on the hoof and those on the heel. For more information visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/-national-park-services-approves-stock-use-plan-for-grand-canyon-national-park.htm

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

End of the Trail for Retiring Superintendent Martin

Grand Canyon National Park will bid farewell to Superintendent Steve Martin on January 1, 2011, when he retires from the National Park Service. The University of Arizona graduate began his sprawling thirty-five year career in 1975 as a river ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. His subsequently served in leadership posts in numerous parks, and rose through the ranks of the NPS into the top career position of Deputy Director in Washington, D.C. Martin’s impressive legacy at Grand Canyon includes overseeing the construction of numerous high profile infrastructure projects including the multi-phase construction that has dramatically changed the visitor experience at the former Canyon View Information Plaza and nearby Mather Point. An avid hiker and river runner, Martin will no doubt continue to be a frequent traveler in the canyon’s backcountry. His replacement will be announced in the coming weeks. Thanks Steve! For more career highlights follow this link http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/2010-12-07_retier.htm