Days off are a good and healthy necessity, especially now that I’m into the more real summer Rangering at Bryce Canyon. Plus there’s the necessity of doing laundry so I went into town to also get WIFI while the washer and dryer did their thing.
I had planned to take a little adventure on UT22 north through Johns Valley to Antimony, then west at Otter Creek Reservoir on UT62 through Kingston Canyon, returning south on US89 for stop in Panguitch at the Big Fish for all you can eat Friday fish fry, and back east on SR12 to Bryce. A mostly paved loop of maybe 100 miles and hopefully lots of places to stop for photos. Seemed like a great plan. However, construction for the stupid roundabout at the junction to UT22 north barely had egress that was blocked by a huge gravel truck I wasn’t about to argue with. So instead I went to the nearby Subway for lunch and to turn around. We all hate construction and it may have an affect on visitor experience. I’m working on patience, not always successfully.
Later in the day a loving message of early Happy Mother’s Day from a cousin along with a Google image of the house our mom’s grew up in made me smile, with just a tiny tear.
Just before I left work on my Friday—on Wednesday—the next two-week schedule came out from my rather harried and soon leaving supervisor. Oops, it was a January schedule. Later, a corrected version showed up in my personal email that had many errors. Several people do look over drafts but mistakes get made when in a rush. I received another update before returning to work after my days off.
Sunday—my Monday—began with real Rangering at Bryce Canyon as I presented the 11am hoodoo geology talk followed by time to rove the rim answering questions and taking photographs under the perfect cloudy sky.
I did have to walk away from the Navajo Loop trailhead after a while because of the idiots tourons who won’t listen to the Ranger suggestions. People see a sign for 1.3 mile round trip and think flip-flops and no water is adequate, even with warning signs. The steep descent and ascent is 600 feet in .6 mile at 8000 feet in elevation. Need I say more.
The day ended at the plaza information desk outside the visitor center answering questions, orienting visitors, and helping Junior Rangers. The last is being handled a little different with COVID possibilities still looming. When we hand out books to people we deputize an adult and give them badges to award after activities are completed. Sometimes families return for us to swear in their Junior Rangers reciting the pledge.
“As a Bryce Canyon Junior Ranger, I promise to do all I can to help protect my national parks. I will collect litter while out exploring. And show respect for nature by not disturbing anything wild.” And keep my room clean, eat my vegetables, listen to my parents, not fight with my siblings… added variations by Ranger choice.
After a late start morning and an hour at the info desk my schedule allowed up to 3 1/2 hours as the “Road Ranger”. That basically means cruise the scenic road and stop at any overlook(s) you’d like to rove and answer questions. Oh yea, my kind of Rangering at Bryce Canyon with 7+ options depending on parking availability. I took my own truck/toilet and drove to Natural Bridge, one of the larger parking lots and with lots of visitor turn over. As in, oh-ah, take a selfie, and move on. Had fun telling visitors Natural Bridge isn’t a bridge in Bryce Canyon which isn’t a canyon. If you built a bridge what would it cross over? Right, flowing water usually. And that’s how a rock bridge is created geologically, flowing water. And there isn’t flowing water or rivers here. Instead it would be called an arch, created by other forms of weathering and erosion including water. Oh yea, and canyons are also formed by rivers, which is also not the case at Bryce. Instead there are 14 “amphitheaters” along the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Kind of looks scalloped, like the marks left behind from biting into soft bread. Always meet a lot of great people in national parks and here I met a biker, part of a group of friends, named Galen so he had to have a picture taken with Ranger Gaelyn.
Continued back towards homebase via a stop at Farview overlook with a far view I wanted to re-familiarize with, plus that’s where the summer hotdog wagon parks but they weren’t there yet. So I stopped at home for reheated pizza for dinner before returning to the info desk and closing now at 8pm.
Started another later morning and I’m so glad because it was only 22° when I woke up at 7:30am. Granted it did get up to 62° in the afternoon. Spent the entire day around the visitor center starting with a little project time which included checking email and on this day taking care of the library, one of my collateral duties. Then out to the info desk, more project time, and back to the info desk to close on an exceedingly busy visitor day along with other park business. I issued my first backcountry permit of the season and went over it all several times with a patient young couple to make sure I did it right. Lots involved with map and explanations of rules, forms, records, pay envelope, and distribution of bear canister for all food and aromatic items (mostly being protected from Ravens and chipmunks), all at the cost of $5 per camper.
By Wednesday I’m saying, “Thank goodness it’s my Friday.” Another cold 25° morning opening the visitor center by 8am with a new to Bryce Ranger T, making the process much quicker than doing it alone. After a couple hours at the info desk I drove to Sunset Point to present the 11am hoodoo geology talk which went well with a pretty large crowd, honoring distancing though not all masked. Then Ranger T and I had the rest of the day at the end of the road, Rainbow Point, to rove to our heart’s content, real Rangering at Bryce Canyon. We spent about 3 1/2 hours at Yovimpa Point, a short walk from the Rainbow Point parking lot with a 100 mile view to the south, all the way to the northern edge of the North Kaibab Plateau where you’d drive to the North Rim of Grand Canyon which opened May 15th. We answered many questions and took turns talking about the Grand Staircase, both geologically and as a BLM managed national monument, which is visible below this 9100 foot high point in Bryce. An awesome afternoon even warming up to 70° so I was finally warm. I forgot the camera so no pics. Then as we packed up to leave I saw that a chipmunk had peed on my cloth book bag used to carry props. The little bastard/bitch. There wasn’t even food in it. Good thing it’s washable. Saw the hotdog wagon at Farview on the way past but already running a little late continued back to base.
Back to days off preparing for a visitor next week. I even thought of trying again for last week’s aborted day-drive but then I remembered it’s everybody’s Friday, crowded, and there’s construction. Think I’ll just stay home until Saturday when I’m back to Rangering at Bryce Canyon. And now wondering what will change with the CDC saying no masks for the vaccinated.
My favorite boss ever is leaving the 2021 Bryce Canyon summer season after providing a wonderful training session and leaves our supervision in new capable hands. Todd was my first boss as a Ranger at Mt St Helens in 1992. He’s taking his skills, and beautiful wife and my friend, to Olympic National Park. He will be sorely missed here. But ah, maybe yet another excuse to revisit the Pacific Northwest.
Biggest problem for me right now is cold temperatures. It’s only the middle of April and at 8000 feet summer comes late, like maybe July. Not sure I own or could wear any more layers of the NPS gray and green and still be able to move. Then there’s Spring wind pretty much constant from 5-20mph with 40mph gusts. Stuff blows off the outside tables even when weighted with rocks.
