Starting my third summer season at Bryce Canyon

Just a 1 1/2 hour drive from Fredonia I mostly moved in on Sunday and started my third summer season at Bryce Canyon Monday.  The first two weeks are mostly training.

First sign of Spring, Stellar Jays building a nest in the Utah Juniper outside my living room window.  If they decide to stay I expect it to be raucous, probably drive Sierra crazy and maybe me too.

Although certainly chilly compared to my recently accustomed desert temperatures it felt nice to be back in the “big house” under the pines.

First day of any new season is all about boring and slow official government paperwork, prove who you are with various forms of identification, agree to work for the gov, list a beneficiary, sign-up for healthcare, agree to pay rent, receive keys and badges, backpacks and safety equipment, and generally sign your life away for the next six months.  Out of an Interpretive staff of 11, six are here for their first summer season at Bryce Canyon.  All are excited to be here, learn about the park, and share with visitors.  My days off will be Thursday and Friday, and every other Saturday.  Hardest part of the day for me was wearing a mask all day long, something I’ve not done since last fall.  That and trying to stay warm outside, where the mask does help, wearing mega-layers.  Spring may be in the air but not at 8000 feet, someone needs to tell winter to go away.  Waking up to anything below freezing is miserable to me.

A fellow Ranger climbed up on the camper roof and took pics of the AC unit with missing shroud and I ordered a new shroud.  Then after work I climbed up on the 5th-wheel roof to mount the WeBoost.  Signal is not great but usually works better than without the booster.

Informational training for the summer season at Bryce Canyon started Tuesday morning at Inspiration Point with two excellent geology speakers.

Then we went to Sunset Point for two different examples of Hoodoo geology talks.  The afternoon was spent at the North Campground outside amphitheater going over some ways to interpret the natural and cultural history at Bryce.  After work I excitedly hooked up the heat-tape wrapped water-hose but water squirted everywhere from the standpipe.  So much for hot running water that night.

The next morning’s schedule took us 18 miles to the end of the scenic road and Yovimpa Point, the southern most overlook at Bryce.

The brutally cold wind sent us into the nearby historic shelter at Rainbow Point for more training about the Grand Staircase geology that we’ll talk about out there.

After lunch we caravanned downhill off the Paunsaugunt Plateau and past the town of Tropic for more geology info about the Gray Cliffs (one step below Bryce’s Pink Cliffs) where we stopped at a road cut revealing Dakota Member marine fossils.  Then another stop on the return to see a geologic fault from the new Mossy Cave overflow parking lot.

Came home to a replaced water standpipe and once again attached the hose.  But no water came into the house because the city water check valve needs replacing, again.  This time I ordered the brass fitting instead of plastic.  I told myself it was alright as the water would have to be turned off at night with temperatures hoovering around freezing.

Thursday morning I awoke to snow.  I stayed home teleworking while the troops went out to look at plants.  It snowed on and off with intermittent sunshine all day.  I should have gone to the rim but just couldn’t get warm enough to go outside.  These three shots were taken from the RV door, quickly as to let out the least heat, or is that the cold inside.

Also the next day.  So, I worked on the two programs I’m modeling next week about cultural history and wildlife.

Very difficult to keep this monster RV warm at freezing and below even with the maximum of three electric heaters running.  I ran the propane furnace a couple times briefly to take off the chill but it sucks down propane faster than I can keep the 7-gallon tanks full so not a full-time option.  Took all day to get tolerable then began to cool off again. Predicted low 19°. The warmest place to be was in bed.

I had Saturday off work–guess what it snowed–and sort of arranged the big house and finished emptying clothes from the camper.  I’m sure to need a few more forgotten things.   Fortunately I was able to shower at a fellow employee’s house.  Still waiting for RV parts to have running water.

(I’m leaning on a piece of PVC used as a distance pointer on maps)

Sunday I worked in full uniform outside at the visitor center.  With highs in the 40s I had on so many layers could barely move.  Doesn’t feel like summer season at Bryce Canyon yet.  Monday through Friday will be more training opportunities to share.