It’s hard to believe you’re not all tired of reading about my daily grind of Rangering at Bryce Canyon and thinking out loud about the future. Once I started working on ideas I’ve become calmer about retirement thoughts making work flow better also. Thanks for listening, sharing, and making suggestions.
Limber Pine roots along the rim exposed by erosion at about one foot every 50 years isn’t even geology
After two days off I returned to work a busy Saturday with a couple hours at the information desk. Then after the 11am Hoodoo geology talk and some lunch I hung out near Sunrise Point for a couple hours making contacts with over 150 people. Most want to know about the Queen’s Garden Trail starting down into the hoodoos from that point. Some seem more prepared than others. A dog came off the trail with no leash and when I asked if there was a person with the dog I was barely acknowledged and then totally ignored when I informed the person of leash rules and being on a no dog trail. I called Law Enforcement but nothing came of it. Seems there always has to be one jerk. So that’s what comes of Rangering at Bryce Canyon.
Late start is common on Sunday’s schedule as I present the 9pm evening program every other week. That schedule also includes two two-hour stints at the information desk. I would so much rather be doing programs or roving somewhere in the park. The repetitive questions get old. “I just got here, what shall I do?” Sometimes I look at them with a smile—thank goodness that can be seen again—and respond, “What did you come here to do?” Tends to catch them off guard. So I quickly add, “how long will you be here, do you want to hike or drive?” Once I’ve oriented them to the map, in the newspaper they were given upon entering the park, I let them make decisions. I am amazed how many visitors actually read my name tag and thank me by name. A marvelous payoff for Rangering at Bryce Canyon. Had several interactive children at my evening program about wildlife, both a blessing and a curse when staying on a schedule.
Next day after desk time I presented the 2pm Hoodoo geology talk then roved around Sunset Point for a couple hours. Day ended with picking up liter around the perimeter of the overflow parking lot. Way too many cigarette butts (I can now say that after four years cig free), hair ties, disposable water bottle caps, masks, and much micro-trash from food wrappers and merchandise packaging. Went home tired and glad for the next day off from Rangering at Bryce Canyon.
A full project day seemed best used as a mental health day preparing for company. I felt guilty in the morning sitting in front of a heater while the Pacific Northwest temperatures soared higher than the desert Southwest. How crazy is that? Climate change? Finally the park went into Stage 2 fire ban restrictions: NO campfires, NO fireworks, NO smoking except in vehicle. I’m betting the adjacent Bryce Canyon City still plans a fireworks display. All morning and early afternoon the sky was dark and rumbling yet dropped very little rain. Then just as my friends arrived it started to rain harder. They brought it with from St George. I was grateful for that and more. We sat inside chatting for a bit then the rain stopped and we enjoyed a picnic dinner they brought along before going to the rim for a possible light show. Ended up at Paria View where I rarely go because it’s a very tiny parking lot. I now have a whole new respect for this overlook and may return for the next full moon rise.
Worked Wednesday as my Friday opening the visitor center. We didn’t get huge amounts of rain at Bryce but below in Zion National Park flooding occurred that trapped people for a few hours and brought a lot of water and mud downhill. The park closed Thursday afternoon and was already partly opened by Friday morning. Many visitors either arrive at Bryce from, or are going next to, Zion so they had concerns. Sadly, we didn’t have any better information than everybody could get on Zion’s webpage and Facebook page.
Sometimes updates at my own park are hard enough to keep track of. Like, we now have a B.A.R.K. Ranger program: Bag waste/poop, Always on a leash, Respect wildlife, Know where you can go. Supposedly we’ll have some card and sealed dog treat to give to dog owners plus merchandise they can purchase. Oh boy, one more thing to do. Like we aren’t busy enough Rangering at Bryce Canyon. 2018 set the record at 2.6 million visitors and we are currently up 18% from that without international visitors.
I ran away for an afternoon at Yovimpa Point, my happy place at the end of the scenic road, where it’s not so busy yet still chatted with over 100 people. No rain fell while I watched clouds build to the north. I did encounter a few drops on the way home and even stopped at Whiteman trailhead for a look at the weather to the east.
This followed by three days off from Rangering at Bryce Canyon. I left the park early on Friday to avoid the issues of the second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, visiting the park. I drove to Panguitch for breakfast and took SR20 west to I15 for a different, faster, yet pretty route to shop in Cedar City and returned the same way.
I do hope monsoon visits the Southwest and brings enough rain to discourage the starting of lightning caused fires. That would be wonderful for the drought stricken land. Enjoyed a bit more rain on my days off.
Thursday was a day to remember the Yarnell Hill Fire eight years ago when 19 firefighters lost their lives and over 100 people in Yarnell lost their homes.
Sort of puts things in perspective. Like why am I whining about my future retirement. I recently realized retirement plans don’t have to be made forever. And maybe wishes can come true when friends come through. Time to move on and make the most of Rangering at Bryce Canyon, as it might be my last season.
Look who shops at Wallys. Maybe shopping at the Fireworks stands in the parking lot. (Post scheduled before the 4th of July so I am praying no fires are started because of careless fireworks, or Spiderman might have to come to the rescue.)
Linking to Our World Tuesday
Goodness me ,you have been so busy Gaelyn,all sounds very interesting though. I hope the children behaved themselves, there is nothing like naughty kids when trying to give a talk. Take care and enjoy your next trip.
Work week is always busy and makes it go faster, now if it was just shorter. 😉
NW heat… The Okanogan & Okanagan were cooler than the Puget area during the heat ‘bubble’, though, the Okanagan suffers from many fires including the loss of an entire town.
I hadn’t heard about the Okanogan fires.
Not aware of any fires in the Okanogan. The fires are in BC’S Okanagan. Same valley, different name spelling and countries.
The Okanogan and Methow valleys have had some very extensive fires the past few years.
We have been lucky enough to run into knowledgeable NP Rangers at somewhat remote places (or at least off the main beaten path) such as your happy place; so I always wondered how they decide to be at that particular place. It has been interesting to learn about how you have certain regular times to give a talk or lead an event (or horrors, (wo)man the desk) but then you also have times when you rove various to lookout points . We don’t very often stop at the desk because we read the newspaper handout and one of us at least can read a map!
Don’t feel guilty about using that morning heat! And no question mark needed after the words ‘climate change’.
It’s a fact. It has cooled down somewhat here in the PNW (to a more usual summer temperature).
Thank you for being those visitors that read the map and information. I go out to my “happy place” again today. Glad you’ve cooled down because we are on the rise again.
You certainly are busy. I couldn’t my cool like you do. I hope you figure out retirement. Please don’t tell me that you are going to join Camperforce and work at Amazon.
No Amazon for me, but never know about other workcamper options.
Always interesting t read your busy schedule. I love the tenacious tree photos. It’s hard to believe that visitors are up 18%, but I’d say our town’s visitors are up at least that. I had a bit of a confrontation with dog owners over the 4th, too. Some people are very entitled.
Thanks. Lots of Americans out traveling this summer. Sorry to hear they wander into your place.
Love the trees. Your summer is sure full! Hurricane Ridge had a line at the entrance today but it wasn’t bad at the top. People were mostly considerate 🙂
Yes, summer is exceedingly busy. Glad the crowd in Olympic can be polite. My last supervisor is there now working the Hoh. Where I Love those trees!
Apropos of nothing, I suppose, but you know what baffling trash I always seem to find, especially around campsites? Those little bow-like plastic devices for flossing teeth! What’s up with that? What, it’s just me?
I found many of those also. Why drop them on the ground is beyond me.
I can’t help but wonder at the future of the National Parks as visitation increases so much. I post my photos on Facebook and on my blog, sharing the beautiful places that we visit. I am feeling more and more sad about all this, since now I am seeing amazing secret places all over Oregon and over the west being posted over and over and hundreds of people saying…oh where is this, I want to go!!….and then of course they do. Then we get to our favorite spot and it is completely overun with folks running around taking selfies and posting photos of what were once beautifully secret getaways. I am of course guilty of doing the same. Wondering if it is time to maybe slow that down a bit, or is it a bit like closing the barn door after the horses are all out. Nothing will change it. Cat’s outta the bag, and the beautiful places in the world and in the west have been found but the huge crowds of people with their cameras and their rv’s and their social media….me included.
I fear you are right and have suspected all us social media folks are contributing to the overcrowding. If not us, someone else will. Couple of years ago I quit being specific about new places I discovered. But the word is out. 🙁
I really loved this post as I virtually saw so much more of Bryce with you than we got to see in our one night visit with Michael and Mary. Fabulous photos. I don’t think you have much spare time to think about retirement, but I know it is constantly on your mind. As You say plans do not have to be made for ever.
Take car and keep safe, Hugs, Diane and Nigel.
Thanks. Nice to share the diversity of Bryce.
I can’t imagine. That help desk would put me over the edge! Good for you!
You’ll figure out retirement, it will all fall into place, I am sure. All the best.
The help desk gets old at about two hours of almost constantly answering the same questions. By the end of the season I have to be very careful not to be snarky. And by then, I’m sure to be more than ready for retirement. Thanks for the support.
Fabulous scenery.
Thank you.