Category: Utah

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