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A new park for summer 2019

I applied to a lot of national park sites for summer 2019, then the government shutdown dragged on and hiring officials ended up 35 days behind.

parks applied to collageOnce the government reopened I received several emails to check for my interest and availability (I&A).  Some I wasn’t referred to at all.  No surprise there.  Being a Park Ranger is a desirable job and extremely competitive with hundreds of applications for each position.

canyon sunset lightning Wedding site North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaYou may remember all the BS I went through last year with new interpretations to old rules and me ultimately not getting my job back on the North Rim Grand Canyon after working there 10 summers.

Any of the parks I applied to would be a great place to work.  Some where higher on my personal list than others.  Seasonal employee policy is, say yes to anybody that offers.  Then if multiple offers are received, decide quickly and notify parks you’ve decided to turn down.

ladders Cliff Palace exit Mesa Verde National Park ColoradoParks I said no at ‘I&A’ checks:  Pipe Springs would be too hot.  Sequoia-Kings Canyon didn’t offer RV parking.  Desert View South Rim Grand Canyon is 25 to 45 miles for a signal.  I worked Mesa Verde in 2005 and know the ladders would be bad for my shoulders.

Storm & last light on Angles Gate from Lodge North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaParks I haven’t heard from since the ‘I&A’ checks:  Rocky Mountain, the first national park I ever visited during the 1970s when I thought about living there someday.  I’ve never visited Yosemite.  Petrified Forest would be interesting but overly warm for summer.  Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the second park I ever visited.  Yellowstone’s Old Faithful District where I spent my honeymoon.  Neither the North or South Rim Grand Canyon.

Visitor Center relief map Grand Staircase Grand Canyon to Bryce Canyon

Above Wall Street Sunset Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahPark I was offered, accepted and want to work:  Bryce Canyon, at the top of the Grand Staircase, Grand Canyon is the bottom.  Bryce is not really a canyon but a series of scallop-like amphitheaters on the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau displaying magically carved hoodoos in warm banded colors.

Switchbacks between fins & hoodoos on Navajo Loop trail Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

Amphatheater hoodoos full moon clouds Sunset Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahThe summer season begins mid-April with a couple weeks training.  Loads of new learning possibilities in geology, ecology, astronomy, natural and cultural history.

Looking down on Navajo Loop trail Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

light & shadow valley Aquarius Plateau Rainbow Point Bryce Canyon National Park UtahHiking new trails and chasing the light with my camera.  Plus explore lots of Utah landscapes within a reasonable drive.

Still some logistics with moving.  Either drop the camper in Kanab first then back to Yarnell to haul the 5th-wheel to Bryce Canyon where I have a RV space.  Or, balance that against paying someone to haul the 5th-wheel.

So, let me know when you’re coming for a visit and I’ll make recommendations as I learn about reservations, boondocking, and frienddocking.

Park Ranger , 76 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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Grand Canyon National Park, life, Park Ranger , , , , , , , , , 59 Comments

Will I have a job after midnight?

It’s been a great season at the North Rim of Grand Canyon and it’s slowly winding down.  But I may be leaving earlier than my October 15th end date if the government shuts down.  I feel selfish thinking just about my own loss of revenue when 800,000 federal employees will also be affected plus the trickle down.  Over 20,000 National Park Service employees will be put on furlough as the parks close their gates to the public.  Sadly this also affects all communities surrounding the parks and visitors who had plans for vacations.  I’m holding my breath that Congress will get their act together and pass a budget by midnight tonight.

 

How will you be affected by a government shutdown?

life , 32 Comments

Lijit

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