April 25, 2016
8am start time came early for me after six months of unemployment, or as I’d rather call it semi-retirement. The end of April is time to go back to work. Five returning Rangers met our new Admin Assistant and the Boss to do paper work, it’s the government you know. Plus we had to catch up with each other’s winter doings. And it started to snow, grapple really which is unfortunately very dry stuff when we need the moisture. Came down hard most of the day. Back to winter. At least it held off a few days to get settled in. Seems it usually snows the day I arrive or the next day.
Then the boss talked about some changes to our program scheduling. Nothing too major. Exchanged an hour long mid-day kid program with a 20 minute morning “Geo Glimpse”. Think I’ll talk about fossils. Also added a guided hike on the Widforss Trail mornings that staffing allows. Being the trail is named after painter Gunnar Widforss I might try to focus visitors to look at nature with an artist’s eye. Heck every body carries some kind of camera these days. Yet I’m not sure I’m qualified to teach photography.
Instead of working four 10-hour days like in the past many seasons we’ll be working a 5/4/9 schedule. As soon as I figure that out I’ll let you know. It adds up to 80 hours over a two week pay period. So one week we work five days with two days off and the next week we work four days with three days off.
The first two Artist-in-Residence arrive on opening day, May 15th. More on them as I find out.
Another Ranger and I will be marching in Kanab’s Amazing Earthfest parade May 14th. I think a float is being sent over from the South Rim. Lots of activities are happening for the week of May 8-14. More on that coming also.
Next week we’re going to the South Rim Monday to Wed/Thurs for training.
After lunch we all tackled a long overdue clean up in our tiny offices. Four piles for broken and antiquated stuff: trash, recycle (none inventoried electronics to Kanab’s Earthfest), surplus to the South Rim, and the I don’t knows. Opened up a little space to rearrange what’s left. Then we all fought and won with the computers trying to log on with IT’s help and do some more official business.
We still have much to do get ready to open. Going to be a great season.
Sounds like quite a few changes. Must be new admins. Hope they all are happy ones for you. Would love to see you in the parade. Hope you get some more WET snow.
Definitely a good group of new people. More snow coming our way. I’ll ask Bill to take photos of me in the parade.
Thanks for this glimpse into the life of a Ranger. Very cool!!
Your welcome. I’m sure there’ll be more coming.
Hi, Gaelyn
Thanks for sharing the update with us. Personally, I do think that a Nature/Photo/Interpretive Walk on the Widforss is a good idea. I’ve always loved roving on it or just taking a stroll on a day off. I actually was asked to do a couple PSARs on it. One time I came across two kids crying their hearts out because the parents kept on going and instructed the kids to sit tight. They had been sitting for a couple of hours, a thunderstorm was approaching and they were cold and scarred. Gave them some snacks, some candy, shared water with them and had them put on one of my improvised trash bag ponchos. The memory of their smiles as they warmed up is still with me. I sat with them until the parents returned. The parents were really feeling bad about having left the kids. – Now that you are done with the IT and have access to the Internet, etc. may you have a great season. – There is a chance that in August we may be up on the Rim for a couple of days as tourists, not volunteers. As soon as we know for sure, we’ll let you know. Warmest Regards, George
That’s a sad story George. Glad you were there to help. I love the Widforss trail. Wish I knew more about teaching photography. Sure hope you do visit.
Glad you are pleased with the beginning of the new season. You have a wonderful positive outlook:) Many lucky visitors will get a chance to share in your love and knowledge of this awesome park.
How fun and exciting to be making plans for sharing your love and knowledge of a beautiful place. I’m never sure why years-long schedules need changing, but I’m sure it will work out fine. We’re looking forward to the Watchtower tomorrow, and any of the viewpoints we can enjoy in between rain showers.
These are good schedule changes. Enjoy the snow.
Sounds like you are happy to be back for a bit. I cannot believe how close June suddenly is and so looking forward to meeting up. I like that you are getting days off so hopefully we will get more -time together 🙂 Diane
Summer is on us even if it still looks like winter. I am excited about meeting you both and sharing the canyon. I’ll have M, T, W or T, W off while you’re here.
Happy New Year! (It sounds kinda’ like that really — all the bits and pieces to get started again. Kind of an exciting time really. That schedule sounds pretty good once you get it all figured out. The three days off will be nice.
Always feels new when I return to the canyon. Three days off one week and two days off the next. Not to bad.
Just caught up with all of your posts, Gaelyn. We’ve been out and about for 10 days and as you can imagine the internet out there in the middle of the ocean is a tad bit challenging! Good to read that you are back and settled in for the season. I remember one of our trips to the Grand Canyon, it was in April – around spring break as it was our son’s first visit – and we froze. It was super cold and while we had some warm gear with us, I think we all bought sweatshirts! Of course we still had a great time. It will be interesting to see what happens with controlling the crowds at the National Parks, too much of a good thing can be not such a good thing. We like visiting the parks in the off or shoulder seasons for that very reason – WAY too many people in the summer months. Hopefully, you’ll have a great season!
Your lack of internet on the ocean is sort of like me at the canyon. Even though summer is on the way it could be like winter at this elevation until June. Don’t think I’ll be visiting any other national parks this summer.
Gaelyn – I used to work a 5/4/9 schedule. We worked Mon-Fri, but you can adapt it for weekends. Here’s how it looked for me:
Week 1: Mon – Thur: 9 hrs Fri: off Sat – Sun: off
Week 2: Mon – Thur: 9 hrs Fri: 8 hrs Sat – Sun: off
Basically, we worked 36 hours one week & 44 hours the other week.
I finally figured it out. My weekends will be M, T, W and T, W.