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Category: Grand Canyon National Park

Being a Park Ranger but without the hat

Government shutdown closed sign on Visitor Center door North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 2013

With the current government shutdown most people I know who work for the National Park Service are still being a Park Ranger but without the hat.  Some national parks are open, some are not.  Most are understaffed on the best day, right now only “essential” personnel are on the job in uniform and not getting paid.  I could go on ranting about this for many pages, however that’s not really what this post is about.

last light temples San Fransisco peaks sunset North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAs many of you know I didn’t get my job as a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon back last summer due to yet a different government snafu than mentioned above.  I’ve now been unemployed for over a year.  That in itself is hard to take.  In 2018, I mourned the loss of my job and best friend.

Yarnell Regional Community Center thrift store Yarnell ArizonaThis year is different

I’m trying to get myself out there, into the world outside my four walls.  Good place to start that, my local community of Yarnell.  Last Thursday I volunteered for the first time at our Yarnell Regional Community Center thrift store.  Hey, I know about second-hand stuff, how to work a cash register, and can even count back change.  It was a fun five hours working with Rebecca, a friend and fellow photographer, chatting with locals, and even enjoyed a free lunch.

It doesn’t stop here

On Thursday, January 10th, at 2pm I will be presenting at the center, How the Grand Canyon was formed, complete with a slide program, but sadly no Park Ranger hat.  Can’t wear uniform parts when not working for the service, sort of like being in the military but I’m guessing way more fun.

last light from Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBecause I usually present this talk along the rim having the canyon as a prop I had to create a slide program to help tell the story.  Surprisingly, that took way over 40 hours of fun work.  If you’re able, hope you’ll join me.

Ranger Gaelyn in Grand Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI am excited about sharing the canyon’s geologic history.  I always hope it’s easier for people to love a place if they understand it better and can connect and become part of the story.  Now if I could just figure out how to take this show on the road, and get paid for it.  Yea, sorry, I’m still on that making an income thing.

Sunset Badwater Basin Death Valley National Park CaliforniaAnd another thing

Last night I attended a free presentation by photographer and writer Colleen Miniuk-Sperry on Finding your Creative Voice at the Wickenburg Arts Club.  We’ve been friends on Facebook for a little while and I admire her photography and her style.  Colleen is exuberant, and crazy by her own description, sharing her story to find her creative voice was inspirational.  She has one spot left in the Death Valley photography workshop in February that I would dearly love to attend.  Yet being a Park Ranger but without the hat, also means no income and therefore the workshop is out of my budget.

Long-horned beetle on Park Ranger hat North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMaybe someday, I can lead workshops myself and continue to be like a Park Ranger but without the hat.

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A quick visit to the North Rim and Kanab

canyon storm sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI made quick visits to the North Rim and Kanab so I could move on to Bryce National Park for full moon.  I definitely had mixed feelings about returning to the park after all the BS this winter.  Yet, the canyon will always hold a fascination for me.

signs & entrance station to North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaLeft Marble View early, for me, in the morning and enjoyed the slow drive through the forest.  Knowing the Ranger working the entrance station made it emotionally easier to enter the park.  Didn’t even have to show my Senior Pass.  Went to the visitor center and chatted with several people I know.  Then at the Lodge for more visiting.  And stopped by the administration building to fill water bottles and found more familiar faces.

Wotans Throne last light sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

last light canyon SF Pks sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDrove out to the end of the scenic road to Cape Royal where I planned to photograph sunset.

Wotans Throne canyon sunset clouds Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

trees sunset clouds sunburst Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaA storm was brewing on the South Rim and as soon as the sun set another show began.

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBoth colors and lightning kept me shooting.

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset clouds lightning Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAnd shooting…

canyon sunset lightning Wedding site North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

canyon sunset lightning Wedding site North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

…and shooting.  I was SO excited!!!!  First time I’ve successfully captured lightning.  The above shot is available for print.  people cars Bison storm clouds SR67 North North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaBack by the campground I was able to dump tanks and take a shower.  Nice facilities, clean, and six minutes of hot water for $1.50 in quarters.  Believe it or not the first time I’d ever been in the place.  Then engaged in a little more visiting before heading out of the park.  I’d planned to camp on the forest somewhere near Jacob Lake but when I got there it was pouring and I had second thoughts about muddy forest roads.  So I stayed on level pavement near Jacob Lake Inn for the night.

trees Vermilion Cliffs SR89A North Kaibab National Forest ArizonaIn the morning I dropped off the Kaibab Plateau headed north to Kanab for a lunch date with a friend and a driveway to park in for the night.

Sierra cat in harness on leash Kanab UtahPlus I bought Sierra a harness and leash in town.  She tolerated me put on the harness without scratching or hissing.  Then we stepped outside.  I sort of let her lead me but also stopped her from going any place I didn’t want her.  We never got more than 10 feet from the camper but that’s OK, its a start.  Considering we’ll be in a campground at our next stop she might not get out again for a little while.

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, Kanab, National Parks and Monuments, Utah , , 30 Comments

I have no job at Grand Canyon this summer

So as if this winter hasn’t been strange enough with limited traveling and my best friend diagnosed with cancer, I also have no job at Grand Canyon this summer.  It’s complicated.

view northeast trees canyon temples Moran Point South Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaView northeast from Moran Point South Rim Grand Canyon

I should be starting work today with training on the South Rim. But no.

The job announcement came out January 12th for Park Ranger Interpretation at Grand Canyon.  This is sort of like a classified ad for the gov, all done online of course.  I immediately applied for a GS-07 seasonal position on the North Rim.  Basically the same job I’ve been doing for ten seasons as a GS-05 for a little more money and called a “lead”.  Towards the end of March my supervisor wanted to know if I planed to return for the 2018 summer season.  Well of course.  But my name didn’t show up on the cert (list of qualified applicants) for my usual GS-05 position.  But that’s OK because I can be picked up as a rehire.  So we think.  But this does prompt me to look into why I didn’t show up on either cert.  Are you confused yet?

last light temples San Fransisco peaks sunset North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaLast light seen from the North Rim Lodge

After several emails with folks from the regional Human Resources office I am reminded that I didn’t reapply for my GS-05 job, just the GS-07 which I was “highly qualified” for but the park decided not to fill the position.  Only they did fill the position and I wasn’t on that cert either.  WTF?  I’ve asked for a review on this.

Then the ‘rehire’ process began.  Due to a new interpretation to old rules the National Park Service (NPS) audited my work history for the last 20 years looking to see if I worked more than the ‘1039’ hours (six months) that is maximum for seasonal employees.  If I did, I loose my rehire rights.  I waited 2 1/2 weeks thinking I’d be safe as I’ve never worked more than one season a year for NPS since 2002.

Mount Hayden & beyond from Point Imperial North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaLast light on Mount Hayden and beyond from Point Imperial North Rim

If a position requires more than six months the job should be full-time permanent, and I agree with that.  NPS has been dodging that one for a long time.  Some people choose to work two seasons per year in different parks.  The jobs are competitive and permanent jobs have been difficult to impossible to get.  Only in the last couple years has it become easier for seasonal employees to apply for permanent jobs through the a new act and be able to get health benefits at a reasonable price when working.

However, I mostly didn’t want to be permanent and work all year.  I like being a seasonal and felt fortunate to work six months and then play/take six months off.  But I do need to work at least half the year to accommodate my budget.  My plan was to work two more summers at Grand Canyon which celebrates 100 years as a national park in 2019, and then at least think about retirement at age 66.  Of course as a seasonal Park Ranger I don’t really retire I just don’t go back to work again.

last light Wotans Throne Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaLast light on Wotan’s Throne from the Wedding Site at Cape Royal North Rim

Bottom line, I have no job at Grand Canyon.  Seems the auditor discovered I worked seven months at Oregon Caves in 2004.  I really don’t know how that could be and have requested a review. If you’re not totally confused by now let me know because I am.

Of course, I’m not the only one who was caught off-guard by this new interpretation of the rules but it is inconsistent across the country in different regions.  After commenting on a NPS employee Facebook page I was contacted and interviewed by Cronkite News Arizona PBS.  Glad to see some media picking up on this.

inversion clouds temple canyon North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaMonsoon inversion swirls around Brahma Temple from North Rim Lodge

I am sad about this and yet it could be considered a blessing in disguise.  Right now I’m care-taking my friend Berta to the best of my ability, however it is not a new future career.  I am not usually first on the list of people-nurturers, and Berta will agree with that.  This is different.  Should be an interesting summer.

Sunset crepuscular rays Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSunset from Cape Royal North Rim

Rangers get paid in sunsets

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Lijit

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