We didn’t know what to expect for visitation this year over Labor Day weekend at Bryce Canyon National Park. Overall, visitation has been down about 30% except for maybe Saturdays. Yet it seemed like a crazy busy end of summer holiday like any “normal” year. Americans do like to celebrate their last hooray three-day weekend. Felt like summer turned to winter with smoky haze in between.
Along the SR12 east drive to Tropic
On my last weekend, Wednesday through Friday, I once again stayed home the first day, and ran out of propane that evening. That would motivate me to go out the following day as I have no hot water without propane, or stove cooking. Plus I went to the nearby Tropic hardware store for some washers to fix the sagging camper door that wouldn’t open.
That morning I received an email from the park that the water would be off at least part of the day to repair a leak in pipe. I saw that being worked on as I left to get propane. I was told the propane tank couldn’t be filled because it’s out of date, by five years. I asked to be shown the date and it’s stamped 2003 and is good for 12 years. Funny, it’s been filled many times in that expired time. So both the 7-gallon tanks on the 5th-wheel will have to be re-certified. Later. Instead I had both the 5-gallon tanks in the camper filled and am using one in the 5th-wheel. I have only temporarily made the camper door open and need some help to add more washers in the hinge. RV homes need just as much maintenance, if not more, than a S&B (stick and brick).
I didn’t see the increasing visitation on Friday of Labor Day weekend at Bryce Canyon having the day off. But Saturday I opened the visitor center at 8am and fought off the crowds 30 minutes before that trying to get set for the day. This year, being set up outside, it takes a lot more than putting up the flag and unlocking the doors.
View south from Yovimpa Point
After a couple non-stop hours answering pretty much the same questions I was happily headed 18 miles away, south to Rainbow/Yovimpa Point. Yet after circling that parking lot slowly three times with every available parking space, and not spaces, overflowing I drove back down the road about 1/4 mile to park in a wide spot. Then walked back up to Yovimpa Point for afternoon presentations about Grand Staircase geology.
There was more than just a bit of stupid going on by visitors going off trail
The park entrance station closed for about an hour as there was no place for anybody to park. Extra shuttle buses were put on to accommodate visitors to the four main overlooks. Buses don’t run to the end of the road where I was.
Agua Canyon overlook view east
After several hours I walked back down to my truck (I take my own rig for the toilet) and then stopped at a couple overlooks where I could park to rove for a while.
Sunday was no less crowded and once again had to close for about an hour. I started the day just afternoon as I worked late for the evening program. Had people waiting at the door to the visitor center most of the three hours I spent keeping the building capacity at 50. It was hot in the sun at 87°F. People were a little cranky but for the most part polite, and mostly wearing masks. The next three hours at the information station were non-stop again. I’m a bit disappointed that people don’t pre-plan their visit just a little. I’m not a travel agent, just a Park Ranger. After a late dinner and closing the visitor center, still busy, I set up my laptop at the outdoor amphitheater by North campground for the 9pm “Where’s the Wildlife” program. 40+3 people signed up for the program—maximum is usually 40—and then 12 didn’t show up. But it was a great program with much interest and good questions. Leaving for home about 10:30 the sky was incredibly clear showing the Milky Way stretched across the horizon. I didn’t take the time to set up tripod and camera.
The next morning a smoky haze surrounded Bryce Canyon. Couldn’t see the valley from the rim. Difficult to say which of so many fires in the west sent smoke our way. My heart goes out to those more affected. Fire is usually good for the land but not good for people. I had over 20 people at both hoodoo geology talks, and also talked about fire ecology.
Smoky sun by solar panels
I was relieved to see the crowds dispersing by late afternoon the last of Labor Day weekend at Bryce Canyon. I appreciate that my job is to provide information and service to visitors but sometimes… It’s hard to fix stupid, or is just a lack of respect for self and others. Way too many people with dogs on trails where they don’t belong. Sometimes even the people don’t belong, or, are not prepared for rough terrain, high elevation, and arid conditions. Why would anybody want to hike steep trails in flip-flops with no water, and then on top of it take their dog? Emotional support dogs are not ADA service dogs. One of our PSR (preventative search and rescue) volunteers was called a bitch for informing hikers about the no dog on trails policy. But I’m sure they’d want our help if they got in trouble.
Tuesday the temperature dropped to a high in the 40s with northwest wind blowing the smoke away and gusting to 45mph. Brutal wind chill. Sure glad I wasn’t camping in a tent. Our information service moved inside the visitor center with masked Rangers standing behind plexiglass. Stationed at the door that morning to maintain building capacity I also stood inside. Ranger Haley reported sideways snow at Rainbow Point and returned early.
I was scheduled to do a 4pm Rim Walk, and even dressed with leggings under my pants, three outside layers on top, a fleece hat, and compression gloves I was freezing. Can’t see through fogged up glasses when wearing a mask. I wasn’t disappointed when no visitors showed up for the walk. Yet the light between clouds dancing on the land called for at least a few photos. I and visitors watched a guy propose to his lady along the trail below Sunset Point overlook and applauded when he looked up and announced “she said yes.”
Finally my fingers went numb and snow flurries started to fall, my sign to end the day outside.
After work I sat home wrapped in coat, hat, and scarf with a blanket over my lap and three electric heaters running for several hours before I thawed out. Prediction for below 32° meant adding another blanket to the bed. You have to know by now, I don’t like cold weather. Now I have to survive beyond Labor Day weekend at Bryce Canyon and hope it doesn’t get too cold.
Today’s predicted 30% chance of snow has me staying home on my first of two days off this week. The temperature is suppose to increase this week starting tomorrow with low 60s to high 70s again next week. Thank goodness.