Is it getting to be winter in
the Canyon! Take a look at the National Weather Service to find out the current temperatures and conditions!December 11, 2001 Grand Canyon
native fish at risk of extinction!
from LIVING RIVERS!
The environmental and social justice advocacy organization LIVING RIVERS sent a letter
today to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), warning of plummeting humpback chub
populations in the Grand Canyon, and called for major revisions in its draft recovery
goals for the humpback and three other species of endangered Colorado River fish.
Data from the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) indicate a rapidly
declining population trend for humpback chub in the Little Colorado River, the largest and
only known successfully-reproducing population of their species. GCMRC researcher Lew
Coggins recently announced that numbers of reproducing humpback chub are in a
"steeply declining trend." Coggins' investigation found only about 500
individuals of reproducing age. He stressed that it is too soon to draw conclusions about
whether the population may have dropped below the point where it can rebound.
Three other listed species, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker, have been
extinct in the canyon for years.
"Despite spending millions of dollars over the years, the government has failed to
protect and recover Grand Canyon's native fish," said David Orr, director of field
programs for LIVING RIVERS. "Will the last of the endangered species have to
disappear before changes are made?"
LIVING RIVERS' letter criticized the agency's draft recovery goals for the four fish
species, and called on USFWS to subject its recovery goals to independent, external
scientific peer review. The goals were released for public comment on September 10 and
ended today.
"Politics, not science, is driving the process," said Orr. "To ensure the
survival and recovery of wild native fish, the agency must produce a scientifically sound
plan. The proposal currently on the table doesn't come close."
The Desert Fishes Council, a prestigious scientific organization dedicated to preserving
biological diversity in desert aquatic ecosystems, passed a resolution at its annual
meeting last month in Alpine, Texas, opposing the draft recovery goals as currently
written. The organization also called for outside peer review.
LIVING RIVERS' additional concerns include:
* Failure to emphasize restoration of habitat, including removal of dams that block fish
migration and spawning areas, and that release water too cold for fish to survive in.
* Reliance on hatcheries and other artificial reproduction methods to increase fish
numbers and downlist or delist species, even though fish may not survive to reproducing
age.
* Lack of attention to removing introduced, non-native fish that compete with and prey on
endangered fish.
* Failure to require recovery of the species throughout their ranges in both the upper and
lower Colorado River basins.
"We're concerned that the agency, in its eagerness to please water and power
interests in the seven Colorado River basin states, is rushing to set criteria that will
cost taxpayers millions more dollars while not helping recover the fish they're supposed
to be saving," said Orr.
LIVING RIVERS works to build a broad-based constituency for large-scale restoration of the
Colorado River and neighboring watersheds. LIVING RIVERS has assembled a coalition of 133
U.S. and Mexican environmental and community groups, representing more than 12 million
people, in support of Colorado River delta restoration.
LIVING RIVERS: http://www.livingrivers.net/
USFWS Draft Recovery Goals:
http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/ea/infopackets/coloradoriver
USFWS Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program:
http://www.r6.fws.gov/crrip/
Grand Canyon Monitoring & Research Center:
http://www.gcmrc.gov/default.htm
Desert Fishes Council:
http://www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/fish/dfc/dfc_top.html
December 11, 2001 More snow on the South Rim!
4-6 inches of new snow dropped on the South Rim Village area
overnight! The
North Rim Lodge and Bright Angel Point area was forecast to get 15 inches overnight. The
Bright Angel Trail has snow and ice down to 1.5 mile rest area. It is quite slick in
places, as the ice has melted and then refrozen in a lot of
spots. Other South Rim Trails will have similar conditions depending on usage and how much
sun they receive.
December 07, 2001 Babbitts give up
more ranchland development rights!
By Anne Minard Arizona Sun
The Babbitt Brothers Trading Co. has given up development rights on another large tract of
its ranchlands between Williams and the Grand Canyon.
Last January, Babbitt Brothers designated 35,000 acres north of Williams as permanent open
space, signing an agreement with The Nature Conservancy to manage the easement.
This week, the ranchers set aside an additional 6,400 acres of private land through an
easement with Coconino County. Grazing will be allowed to continue on the tract as before,
but the land -- a combined 65 square miles -- will be forever protected from residential
or commercial development.
"We've always felt strongly about keeping the land open to the public," said
Paul Babbitt Jr., a Babbitt Brothers shareholder and member of the Coconino County Board
of Supervisors. "I am confident these actions will be much appreciated by future
generations ... who will need places to simply view nature as it was before the imprint of
huge human populations."
Babbitt Brothers will be able to take a one-time tax writeoff on the value of the
development rights they are giving up, estimated at $352,000, or $55 an acre.
Bill Towler, Coconino County development director, said he thinks this is the first time
that any Arizona county has stepped in to administer a conservation easement. He said
although the role is outlined in law, there is no way county officials would have thought
up the idea unless they'd been approached and persuaded by Babbitt Ranch owners.
He said the acreage, with its gentle hills and open meadows that contain few trees, is in
excellent condition and does have value as wildlife habitat.
But besides aesthetics and ecology, the county has another incentive in agreeing to manage
the easement: to reduce the impact of wildcat subdivisions. "The big concern of the
county on these large ranches is the possibility of them being subdivided into 40-acre
lots." Towler said. "It allows very scattered development with little or no
infrastructure that is almost impossible to serve."
Through working with the Babbitts, the county has also formed a full committee to oversee
conservation easements in the future.
"As far as I know, there is nothing else in the country like that," said Jan
Blackman, a paralegal with Hufford and Horstman law firm in Flagstaff, which has been
working with the Babbitts for years on their conservation plans. "This is a wonderful
tool for landowners. It gives them another option."
Although the Babbitts have given up development rights, the mining rights to the 6,400
acres are held by Burlington Northern. That may be why the county, not The Nature
Conservancy, is managing this second easement.
"I guess we're willing to take the risk that the mineral rights will be developed at
some time in the future," Towler said. "The most likely minerals would be sand
and gravel. There's some remote possibility that claims could be filed for uranium on
those lands."
December 07, 2001 Babbitts blazing path with conservation easements!
by Anne Minard
The land that is part of the latest easement was originally purchased by the five founding
Babbitt brothers in the 1880s. The company's ranching lands include nearly 750,000 acres
divided into the Cataract, Espee and CO Bar ranches. A large portion of the lands -- about
400,000 acres -- are privately held by the Babbitts. Of the rest, many are State Trust
lands and a small percentage is leased from the U.S. Forest Service.
Parts of the Cataract Ranch on State Trust lands recently underwent a change in leasing
options after the Arizona Supreme Court said the state land commissioner has no right to
refuse to let environmental groups bid on grazing leases, including 5,000 acres near
Cataract Creek. Babbitt Ranches has no development rights on those state lands.
John Horning, conservation director of the Santa Fe, N.M.-based Forest Guardians, which
brought the lawsuit on grazing rights bidders, said he applauds the easement as a
safeguard against sprawl, but he pointed out that it won't do anything to keep the land
from being harmed by grazing -- he's walked part of the Cataract Ranch and he believes
he's seen damage. "I'm certain that wetland riparian community was in better shape
than it is today," he said.
But Brad Ack, a program director with the local Grand Canyon Trust, had only good things
to say about the Babbitts' move. "I think the Babbitt family has long been sort of a
leader in northern Arizona and this act establishes them as a leader in conservation in
northern Arizona," he said. "They should be applauded."
As part of its conservation activities, the Trust makes a regular business of retiring
federal lands from cattle grazing. They target ranchers who want to get out of the
business.
"We buy the permits from the rancher at market value, then we work with the BLM
(federal Bureau of Land Management) to retire those grazing lands," Ack said. He said
the Babbitt Ranches don't include much federal land.
"They have a huge holding of private land, which is unusual for the West. They don't
need to go through any process to lease or buy permits to graze on those lands," he
said, adding the Babbitts have long been recognized as good land stewards with a clear
vision for managing their ranches..
The county's Towler said he's amazed at the apparent generosity of the deal on the part of
Babbitt Ranches. "I think they're just interested in maintaining it as open space for
the people. It's unbelievable," he said.
Now that the county is set to deal with conservation easements, he hopes the trend will
continue. "I think there's going to be interest by other ranchers," he said.
November 26, 2001 North Rim Highway 67 Closed until May
15, 2001
Although the lodge and services had been closed since
October, Park Service finally closed the highway for the season. Many points are still
accessable via the forest roads until the snows get too deep.
| November
26, 2001 The Canyon
is the coldest place in the U.S.lower 48 !
Yikes!
It can get very cold in the winter, with the lows 40 degrees
below the days highs!
Once in the mid 1980's we had a 32 below 0 !!!! |
 |
November 26, 2001 Man's remains recovered near Yavapai Museum!
On April 26, 1998, employees at the El Tovar Hotel reported
suspicious circumstances surrounding a guest who had failed to check out as scheduled.
Andrew Gradzik, 42, of Ontario, Canada, had checked into his room on April 21st and
had a reservation for six nights.
When he didn't check out on time, maids entered his room and
found what appeared to be all his personal property still inside. Investigation revealed
that he had neither returned home nor contacted friends or family. Although Gradzik was
not described as suicidal or depressed, he had previously tried to commit suicide.
An air and ground search of areas below the rim was begun,
but no sign of him was found. Several friends subsequently received postcards, postmarked
April 23rd, in which Gradzik described meeting a man who offered to take him on private
hikes. All efforts to find him proved fruitless, and the search was suspended after two
weeks.
On September 26th, SAR personnel found human remains 360
feet below the South Rim east of the Yavapai Museum while on an unrelated recovery of a
suicide victim. The remains consisted of bones and clothing and were scattered over a
200-square-foot area. On October 9th, SAR staff hiked to the scene, investigated, and
recovered the remains. They were taken to the Maricopa County medical examiner's office in
Phoenix. Dental records confirmed that they were Gradzik's remains. The remains were
located outside of the original search area.
November 26, 2001 Tuweep Falling Fatality
On Friday, November 23, at approximately 2:00 p.m., park dispatch received a report of a
fall from the rim at Tuweep on the North Rim. Rescue personnel located the body of Fern
Beuchart Shelton, 72, of St. George, Utah approximately 675 feet below the rim. Mrs.
Shelton had been on a day trip with her husband and several members of her family when the
apparent accident occurred.
The body of Mrs. Shelton was recovered late Saturday, November 24, and flown to Kingman by
a Department of Public Safety helicopter. The body was then taken to the Mohave County
Medical Examiner's Office. The National Park Service and Mohave County Sheriff's
Department will conduct an investigation. Questions from the public and media should be
referred to the Public Affairs Office at 638-7779.
November 26, 2001 Park Seeks Comment on Proposed GC Greenway Trail S
Grand Canyon National Park News Release
Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Joseph F. Alston today announced the release of
an Environmental Assessment for the proposed construction of two trail segments as
part of the Grand Canyon Greenway from Canyon View Information Plaza, the new
orientation/transportation hub within Grand Canyon National Park on the South Rim, to the
future Grand Canyon Transit Center in Tusayan (located near the park boundary).
The park's 1995 General Management Plan includes a system of Greenway trails. These
multi-use trails that would make up the Grand Canyon Greenway, may total as much as 73
miles in length, 28 miles on the North Rim and 45 miles on the South Rim of Grand Canyon
National Park. The Greenway is integral to the park's future mass transit system and
offers a wider range of transit options into and around the park than currently available.
The EA analyzes two alternatives: a No Action Alternative (Alternative A)
and the Proposed Action (Alternative B).
Alternative B, the agency's preferred alternative, proposes
to construct 2.3 miles of trail in previously undisturbed areas in Grand Canyon National
Park to complete a seven-mile trail connecting the park with the town of Tusayan as
mentioned above. The other 4.7 miles of this seven-mile trail were analyzed and previously
covered under a Categorical Exclusion.
The Greenway on the South Rim is being constructed in several phases. The first three
phases are in areas of Grand Canyon Village.
Phase I consists of a trail from Yavapai Point to the westernmost overlook on Desert View
Drive (2 miles) the first segment of this trail from Yavapai Point to Mather Point was
completed and opened to the public in August
2001. The remaining segment from Mather Point to Pipe Creek Overlook ( formally referred
to as the westernmost overlook) on Desert View Drive is currently under construction and
is expected to be completed by April 2002.
Phase II consists of a trail from CVIP to the Grand Canyon Village (2 miles).
Phase III includes a trail from CVIP to the Grand Canyon
Transit Center (7 miles).
The EA document can be found on the Grand Canyon National Park website, www.nps.gov/grca/complinace/
Comments will be accepted for 30 days and should be sent to
the Park by close of business on January 2, 2002.
Attn: Sara White, Chief Compliance Officer
Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park,
P.O. Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
For questions
For additional information about this project, please contact Michael Terzich, Grand
Canyon National Park Project Manager at (928) 774-3402.
Additional information on the Greenway can also be found at www.nps.gov/grca/greenway
November 25, 2001 First Snow arrives over Thanksgiving!
We only got an inch or so snow at the Canyon, South Rim. But
it has been colder
than hell - down to 10 degrees last night - with a high of about 29 degrees
during the day... Winter is here at last.
November 25, 2001 Twelve new California Condors to be released!
from the Arizona Daily Sun
Twelve California condors will be released into Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs near the Grand
Canyon Tuesday. Researchers spearheading the reintroduction effort are optimistic about
the program's early success.
"There are now 12 condors in Arizona that are old enough to pair up," said
William Burnham, president of The Peregrine Fund. "Since an egg was laid by a pair
last year, we feel we are on the brink of condors breeding in the wild." If condors
do breed successfully through the effort, it will be the first time since 1986, he said.
From Marble Canyon they will be taken to a specially designed release aviary on top of
Vermilion Cliffs. Release is expected in early 2002, after the condors have been
acclimated to their new surroundings.
The release is expected to increase the number of condors at Grand Canyon from 25 to 37.
November 20, 2001 Transcanyon pipeline broken!
This was fixed on November 23, but there is another break
that must be fixed soon. That will mean shutting down the line and water to Phantom
Ranch and Bright Angel Campground. Hikers going there should carry a filter or
iodine to treat water from Bright Angel Creek or the Colorado River untill the
break is fixed. Water at Indian Gardena will not be affected.
November 10, 2001 Swamp Point Road is Open!
The road to the North Bass Trailhead is open again
after the fire closure of the summer and fall. It is still dry and unseasonally warm at
the Canyon. This time last year it was snowing!
November 1, 2001 gcpba Newswire, Glen Canyon
Flow Update!
Courtesy of Tom Ryan Bureau of Reclamation
Releases from Glen Canyon Dam in November will average about 10,000 cfs with a total of
600,000 acre-feet scheduled to be released during the month. On Mondays through Saturdays
during November, daily fluctuations due to load following will vary between a low of about
6,600 cfs (during late evening and early morning off-peak hours) to a high of about 12,600
cfs (during late afternoon and early evening on-peak hours). On Sundays, releases will
vary between a low of about 6,600 cfs during off-peak hours, to a high of about 10,100 cfs
during on-peak hours. Releases in December will likely be 800,000 acre-feet, for which the
daily average is 13,000 cfs.
Water year 2002 has begun, and in the Upper Colorado River basin this new water year
begins with dry hydrologic conditions. Very little precipitation was observed in the basin
from late August through the fourth week of October. A healthy storm system did move
through the basin on October 30-31, 2001. Precipitation from this storm was heaviest in
the northern portions of the Colorado River basin with the Uinita Range in Utah, and the
Wind River Range in Wyoming receiving significant amounts of precipitation. Still, overall
conditions in the basin are dry. Unregulated inflow to Lake Powell in October, 2001 was
only 244,000 acre-feet (45 percent of average). Forecasted unregulated inflow to Lake
Powell in November, 2001 is 275,000 acre-feet, which is only 52 percent of average.
Total unregulated inflow to Lake Powell in water year 2001 was 6.96 million acre-feet or
59 percent of average. The total release from Glen Canyon Dam in water year 2001 was 8.23
million acre-feet. Water year 2001 was the second consecutive year of below average inflow
in the Colorado River basin.
The current elevation of Lake Powell is 3,662.3 feet (37.7 feet from full pool). Current
storage is approximately 18.8 million acre-feet (77 percent of capacity). Lake Powell
reached a seasonal peak elevation of 3,673.0 feet on July 1, 2001 and has been decreasing
since. The elevation of Lake Powell will likely continue to decrease until April, 2002
October 20, 2001 North Rim Fire
Update!
from nps
There are three fires burning on the North
Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
- The Tower Fire is approximately 7 miles northwest of
the North Rim Visitor Center. Lightning ignited this fire on August 29. It is a wildland
fire use project.
- The Swamp Ridge Fire is located approximately 12 miles
northwest of visitor facilities at the North Rim. Ignited on August 17 by lightning, it is
currently being managed for wildland fire use.
- The Vista Fire, located on the Walhalla Plateau
northeast of the North Rim Visitor Center is 100% contained and controlled.
Estimated Size:
Approximately 10,610 total acres; Tower Fire – 3,735 acres (Wildland Fire
Use); Swamp Ridge Fire – 3,217 acres total (Wildland Fire Use); and Vista Fire –
3,658 acres (Wildland Fire).
Fuel Type: Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer forests.
Threats: Historic cabin and lookout tower, Mexican Spotted Owl habitat and air
quality.
Hazards: Torching of trees, snags and steep slopes.
Evacuations/Closures on the North Rim: The Swamp Ridge Fire has closed the North
Bass Trail, the Swamp Ridge Road, and Forest Service Road 268 west of its junction with
Forest Service Road 223, and the 223 road to Fire Point at the 609 road junction. The
Kanabownits Road remains closed in the Tower Fire from its intersection with the 268 Road,
south to Point Sublime Road, and the Point Sublime Road is closed from the Tiyo Point Road
to Point Sublime.
Tower Fire: This fire is
85% contained. The canyon rim contains the western flank, the north and east flanks have
been secured using minimum impact suppression tactics. Burnout along the Point Sublime
Road has been completed. The southern flank of the fire is not contained and continues to
burn.
Swamp Ridge Fire: This
fire is 100% contained. Crews continue to monitor the fire and check lines on the eastern
flank of the fire. Interior pockets of fuel are still burning. All fire lines have been
rehabilitated. The identified hazardous trees along Swamp Ridge Road have been felled in
preparation of reopening the road.
Vista Fire: Interior
islands continue to burn and are being monitored. All lines have been rehabilitated.
October 17, 2001 Visitor Center on the North Rim
closing for the winter!
The National Park Service's North Rim Visitor Center closed Monday, and the NPS
Backcountry Office will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Until the backcountry office closes for the season, it will be opened 8 a.m. to noon and 1
to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Visitors can no longer make reservations for the North Rim
Campground, but there will still be a limited number of campsites available on a
first-come, first-serve basis until snow closes Highway 67.
The South Rim Backcountry Office will remain open year-round and can be reached at (928)
638-7875. The Arizona Department of Public Safety reports Highway 67 will remain open
until Nov. 15, but could be closed shortly afterward because of snow.
October 14, 2001 Fires at the Grand Canyon update!
The Tower Fire, which has affected more than 1,700 acres in the area, has caused the
closure of the Point Sublime Road on the North Rim of the Canyon. It is now closed from
the junction of Point Sublime Road and the Tiyo Point Road, west to Point Sublime.
Air quality in the area is being adversely affected as well. While the smoke levels from
three lightning-induced fires have not yet increased to EPA threshold levels, people with
pre-existing respiratory conditions and active children are advised that they may have
some shortness of breath and should take precautions when outdoors in the Canyon area.
October 12, 2001 Georgie Rapid Approved!
from gcpba
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the name change of the rapid at
24 Mile on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park from Twenty-four
Mile Rapid to Georgie Rapid yesterday. The vote was 3 to 2 in favor. Of the
15 total voting members, only 5 were present to vote. The discussion and
voting took 10 minutes. According to Roger Payne, Executive Secretary of the
U.S. Board of Geographic Names, "This issue had been around for a while, and
the members of the board were well informed on the issues by the time they
arrived at the meeting."
Given the level of controversy surrounding this name change as well as
possible additional information, the U.S. Board asked The Arizona State
Board on Geographic and Historic Names to revisit their decision. In
November, of 2000, the Arizona Board decided to stand by their earlier
decision. The Arizona Board's approval of the name change has now made it
official for use in Arizona, and yesterdays decision by the U.S. Board means
the name change is now official throughout the Federal Government. Any new
or revised map or document produced by State and Federal Agencies making
reference to 24 Mile Rapid will need to change the name to Georgie Rapid. 24
Mile Rapid becomes a variant name.
Of the five voting members, the opposing votes came from representatives
from the National Park Service and United States Forest Service. These two
representatives noted the value of not changing a long established name, and
cited opposition to the name change. Supporting votes came from
representatives from the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Commerce
and Bureau of Indian Affairs, who noted though commemorative naming is
discouraged, in this case, the name satisfied the Commemorative Name Policy.
The Arizona State Boards recommendation was also a major factor, because
the Federal Board does not see value in sanctioning a different name when
state agencies will likely be using the new name. During the discussions
prior to voting, there was no strong opposition for the change, nor strong concurrence
with it. As of Nov 2000, the U.S. Board had received 116 letters/emails of support for the
change, and 47 opposed.
October 9, 2001 Autumn colors and North Rim Services closing soon!
nps press release
The changing of the season is occurring on the North Rim of Grand Canyon
National Park. Fall colors are currently at their peak. As colors on the
North Rim change it is a reminder that the North Rim's visitor season is
winding down. The staff on the North Rim has begun preparations to shut
down visitor services and facilities, though the park will remain open to visitors on a
day use basis until snow closes Highway 67 leading into the park. This usually happens in
November sometime.
October 8, 2001 Visitors to Canyon decline!
National Park officials report that visitation at the Grand
Canyon has dropped 40 percent since Sept. 11. That means a loss of about 200,000 visitors
in the nearly four weeks since the attacks. Colubus Day weekend, however, the hotel rooms
were full with folks from Los Angeles, Phoenix, etc. driving in.
October 6, 2001 CHBA Meeting Sunday October 21, 2001
!
from Mike Coltrin
The annual meeting of the Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Association is scheduled to
begin at 10:00 a.m, Sunday, October 21, 2001 in the Rec Center on the South Rim. This
meeting will elect six board members for two year terms of office.
October 4, 2001 Canyon Entrance Free Over Veterans
Day!!
from nps news release
Interior Secretary Gale Norton today announced that all entrance fees to national park
areas will be waived during Veterans Day Weekend, November 10, 11 and 12, 2001, to allow
Americans the opportunity to seek solace and
inspiration from the Nation's parks, monuments and memorials.
"We all continue to be saddened and horrified by the magnitude of tragedy our nation
has undergone, but we cannot give hate-filled terrorists a victory by forcing us to live
in fear," said Norton, who made the announcement during a speech in Denver last
night. "It's tragedies like these that make healing necessary so we can recover and
rebound. What better places to begin that healing process than in our parks, where
Americans can draw strength from national icons of freedom and peace from splendors of
nature."
October 3, 2001 Falling Fatality on Kaibab Trail!
from nps news release
At approximately 8:10 this morning, National Park Service Rangers received a report of a
fall from the South Kaibab Trail. Upon arriving on scene rescue personnel located the body
of 13 year old Hannah Stehlin of Flemington, New Jersey approximately 150 feet below the
edge of the trail. The accident occurred approximately one mile down the South Kaibab
Trail.
Stehlin had been hiking with other members of her family when the apparent accidental fall
occurred. This is the fourth fatality that has occurred from the canyon rim this year.
September 27, 2001 Falling Fatality off the rim!
Today at approximately 2:20 p.m. park visitors reported seeing a man jump from the canyon
rim near Yavapai Point at the Yavapai Amphitheater, at the west end of Grand Canyon
Village on the South Rim. National Park Service Rangers responded to the scene and located
the body approximately 400 feet below the rim. This is the third falling fatality this
year.
September 26, 2001 Low flows continue to Lake Powell!
from gcpba newswire
April through July unregulated inflow to Lake Powell in 2001
was 4.30 million acre-feet, only 56 percent of average. Water year 2001 marks the
second consecutive year of below average runoff in the Upper Colorado River basin.
In water year 2000, unregulated April through July inflow was 4.35 million acre-feet,
almost identical to this years volume. Unregulated inflow for the entirety of water
year 2001 will end up being about 7.0 million acre-feet or 60 percent of average.
A fairly healthy monsoonal pattern was seen in the southern portions of the Colorado River
basin in late July and the first three weeks of August. This caused some rebound in
inflows in the month of August. Unregulated inflow in August was 376,000 acre-feet or 77
percent of average. While this was below average, it was greater the 275,000
acre-feet that was originally forecasted on August 1. The past 5 weeks, however,
have been much drier than average in the basin and inflows have fallen back to very low
levels. Unregulated inflow in September will likely end up being about 200,000
acre-feet, only 42 percent of average.
The current elevation of Lake Powell is 3,665.1 feet (34.9 feet from full pool).
Current storage is approximately 19.2 million acre-feet (79 percent of capacity).
Lake Powell reached a seasonal peak elevation of 3,673.0 feet on July 1, 2001 and has been
decreasing since. The elevation of Lake Powell will likely continue to decrease
until April, 2002.
September 26, 2001 Historic Building on South Rim Burns!
Firefighters from the National Park Service and Amfac Fire
and Safety
responded to a structural fire this morning at approximately 4:45 a.m. in the historic
district. Upon their arrival, the structure was fully involved. Building number 575,
known as the Paint Shop, was used by Amfac for the storage of visual display equipment
(glass and wood shelving for retail displays), old fixtures, plumbing equipment and
ladders, and miscellaneous tools.
The building is adjacent to the recently renovated Community
Building and consisted of two old railroad cars joined by a roof and shed-like structure.
The 2,168 square foot building, constructed in 1930, as well as its contents, is a
total loss. An investigation into the fire will be conducted by the National Park
Service.
September 25, 2001 More on the North Rim Fires!
Three lightning-caused fires on the North Rim of Grand
Canyon National Park have increased in activity as higher temperatures, stronger winds,
and lower relative humidity have affected the area since Tuesday. Fires can be seen
burning on the east side of Bright Angel Canyon. Smoke can be seen and smelled from the
South Rim. Weather forecasts call for continued trends at least through the weekend, and
are expected to continue to affect fire behavior. Acreage has increased to 1618 acres on
the Vista Fire, 881 acres on the Tower Fire, and 1162 acres on the Swamp Ridge Fire.
All three fires are being managed under the Park's Wildland Fire Use strategy, which
allows some naturally occurring fires to burn for resource benefits. These benefits
include the reduction of fuels to prevent larger, more destructive fires at a later time,
and the stimulation of grasses and forbs for wildlife.
The greatest increase in fire activity has occurred on the Vista Fire, located along the
Cape Royal Road on the Walhalla Plateau east of the North Rim developed area. Trees are
beginning to burn through to their crowns in some areas, in addition to fires burning at
ground level. This type of fire behavior has also been observed several times previously
during periods of warm, dry weather since the fire was first discovered on July 15th. Fire
activity typically decreases with the onset of autumn temperatures and precipitation.
The Cape Royal Road has been closed and reopened for short periods twice during this
incident to protect visitors, who are always advised to drive with extra care and to not
stop in the burn area. Impacts from smoke and fire are anticipated as long as current
trends continue.
September 20, 2001 Three fires still burn on North Rim!
The park is managing three lightning-caused fires for
resource benefit under a fire use strategy with clearly defined parameters. All three
fires are located on the park's North Rim. There are still some road and backcountry
closures in effect, so travelers to the North Rim are being encouraged to call
928-638-7819 for updates. Increased precipitation last week reduced fire activity and
causing little smoke in the canyon itself. The three fires are being managed as the Swamp
Ridge complex. As of 6 p.m. on September 17th, the Swamp Ridge fire had burned 1,111
acres, the Tower fire had burned 872 acres, and the Vista fire had burned 1,546 acres.
August 30, 2001 Bright Angel Trail reopening!
Road to Swamp Point is still closed!
nps press release
Grand Canyon National Park to Reopen Bright Angel Trail
The National Park Service will reopen the popular Bright Angel Trail
to the public on Saturday, September 1, at 12:01 a.m. in time for the
Labor Day Weekend. The Bright Angel Trail from the trailhead to
Indian Garden was closed on August 13, due to damage caused by heavy
rains. The heaviest damage occurred between mile 1.5 and mile 2.5 on
the Bright Angel Trail. A pipeline that carries water from the south
rim to Mile-and-a-half Resthouse and the Three-Mile Resthouse was
also damaged.
Twenty-eight members of the National Park Service trail crew worked
to repair the damaged trail. Work consisted of moving large boulders
and debris, rebuilding trail and retaining walls, reconstructing
tread, and replacing water bars. Livery staff from Amfac Resorts, LLC
(Amfac) (a south rim concessioner) provided assistance in less
damaged areas allowing the National Park Service to complete work on
the Bright Angel Trail in time for the busy weekend. Repairs to the
pipeline have also been completed and water service restored at the
resthouses.
The Backcountry Information Center will resume issuing overnight
hiking permits for Indian Garden and Bright Angel Campgrounds
effective Saturday, September 1. With the reopening of the Bright
Angel Trail, one-day mule trips to Plateau Point, offered by Amfac,
and their overnight mule trips that had been rerouted down the South
Kaibab Trail will resume normal operations on Saturday.
The kiosk at the Bright Angel Trailhead, operated by Delaware North
Parks Services, where last minute hiker supplies are available for
purchase will also resume operation on Saturday. Both the Bright
Angel Kiosk and the kiosk at the South Kaibab Trailhead will remain
open through Monday, September 3rd, when they will close for the
season. The hours of operation are Bright Angel Kiosk: 6:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m. and South Kaibab Kiosk: 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. MST.
As the Labor Day Weekend approaches, hikers are reminded to be
prepared and to hike smart! Temperatures in the inner canyon are
still in excess of 100 degrees fahrenheit. National Park Service
Search and Rescue Rangers offer the following suggestions for hiking
in the Grand Canyon:
Choose an appropriate hike - don't hike beyond your ability.
Watch your time. Allow 1/3 of your to hike in and 2/3 to hike out.
Don't hike during the hottest part of the day - the deeper you go,
the hotter it gets.
Eat and drink regularly. Fluid and electrolytes must be balanced.
Carry and drink at least one quart of water per hour of hiking.
Eat carbohydrate-rich foods.
Hikers are also reminded that the monsoon season, which generally
extends from mid-July through mid-September, can produce intense rain
showers and thunderstorms that can come without warning. Travel in
drainages and washes during a monsoon rain are particularly
hazardous. It is important to stay alert to your surroundings while
hiking in the Grand Canyon and to anticipate known weather conditions
during the time of year you are hiking.
For additional information visitors can contact the Backcountry
Information Center Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
MST at (928) 638-7875; for information on mule trips please call
Amfac at (303) 297-2757 and (928) 638-7888 for general park
information. Visitors can also find general park information and
photographs of the trail damage on our website at www.nps.gov/grca.
August 28, 2001 Wake for Linda Brehmer
Arizona Daily Sun
Flagstaff's Linda Brehmer will be honored during a wake and potluck dinner at Bushmaster
Park Wednesday.
The announcement is her family's official acknowledgment that the local woman was killed
during a flash flood in slot canyons of the Grand Canyon. Police also believe a body found
near hers was that of George Mancuso, her hiking partner and close friend, although
there's no official word on that identity. Family listed her date of death as Aug. 7.
Brehmer, 51, was born in Inyokern, Calif., on February 21, 1950. She was a member of the
local Writers' Guild, the local hiking club and the National Science Teachers'
Association.
Her legacy will be her gift for teaching science, said her brother, Jim Brehmer, as he
recalled memories of his older sister Monday. He said her passion for science began when
she was a child, 11 years his senior. "She was always interested in animals. She had
a horse," he said, pausing to keep his composure. "She just loved living
things."
He said she earned her bachelor's degree in biology from California Polytechnic Institute.
Years later he followed in her footsteps to earn the same degree. Linda Brehmer went on to
earn a master's degree in education in Arizona, then took courses for a doctorate degree
in terrestrial biology at the University of Louisville.
"She was compassionate, very bright and had a real love for science and
teaching," her brother recalled. "She had a gift for it. She has taught
everything from grammar school to college courses."
Brehmer taught all forms of science, including biology, chemistry and physics. Her
teaching took her to Kentucky, Germany, France and Arizona. At one point, she worked as a
consultant to develop computer software for teaching applications.
"We're donating all of her science stuff to one of the local schools. She has all
this wonderful stuff she's accumulated, literally boxes," Jim Brehmer said.
Her only sibling, he said he's spent two days clearing the local woman's bedroom and shed,
boxing up her things for the family to keep. It was a distressing task, he admitted -- but
there was some consolation too.
Linda Brehmer was an avid hiker, and "particularly loved the Little Colorado River
area of the Grand Canyon." She and Mancuso, her hiking partner, had made trips to the
Canyon several times before, Jim Brehmer said. And from letters he says he's now sealed
for their personal content, he learned that her relationship with Mancuso was very close.
"At least she was where she liked to be with someone she liked," he said.
"My only regret is that I didn't get to meet George."
Brehmer said it was also clear that his sister was intent on returning to her lifelong
love of teaching -- she had been working on lesson plans and polishing up her resume.
And he boxed her notebooks and sheafs of paper filled with poetry and fiction so
voluminous that it surprised him, he said.
Linda Brehmer was a literary student of Mary Sojourner, another local author, and had read
some of her own work at the Northern Arizona Book Festival last spring. She was a quiet
woman in conservative clothes, but read her fiction with confidence and flair at The Alley
on a Saturday afternoon, pausing patiently for a loudly passing train like only a local
knows to do.
Brehmer had put a 17-year teaching career on hold and was working as an assistant manager
at Target from the time of the Book Festival through her death. In answer to her family's
dismay, she told them it was "a lifestyle more than a job" and it gave her time
to write, Jim Brehmer said.
The time apparently paid off, as Brehmer won one poetry contest recently and was in the
process of competing on the national level.
Linda Brehmer is survived by her parents Edwin and Lolita Brehmer; two sons, Brian
Wallingford and Todd Wallingford; her brother; and two grandchildren.
The wake will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday, and people are asked to bring food
for a potluck, no flowers. The family suggests donations to Cystic Fibrosis charity, a
cause Jim Brehmer said she supported through walk-a-thons and donations of her own.
August 28, 2001 Body Found in Colorado River in Grand Canyon Identified
NPS press release
The body found in Grand Canyon National Park at the confluence of the Colorado River and
the Little Colorado River on Sunday, August 26, has been identified as that of 46 year old
George Lamont Mancuso of Flagstaff, Arizona.
August 27, 2001 Search ends for mssing hikers in
LCR!
Arizona Daily Sun
Officials called off the nine-day search for two missing Flagstaff
hikers Sunday after a second body was found in the search area near
the Grand Canyon.
National Park Service river patrollers found a man's body in shallow
water at the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers at
about 8:30 a.m. Sunday. The crew recovered the body by noon.
They planned to take it to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's
Office, and from there to Phoenix for identification, according to a
press release from Grand Canyon National Park.
Although the body and a woman's body found Thursday have not yet been
identified as those of Flagstaff photographer George Mancuso and local
department store employee Linda Brehmer, no other missing persons
reports have been filed, Public Affairs Officer Maureen Oltrogge said.
Also, both bodies were found in the area in which officials have
concentrated their search for the missing couple.
Both bodies have been taken to Phoenix for identification by dental
record matching.
Investigators have already said they are confident that the woman's
body found Thursday at the confluence of the Big Canyon and Little
Colorado rivers near their camp is Brehmer. Found nearby was a shirt
that George Mancuso was wearing in photographs that investigators
developed from film found at the couple's camp.
The search for Mancuso and Brehmer began Aug. 18 when a family member
reported they were 10 days late in returning from a camping trip.
Mancuso, a photographer, was known to be overdue returning from
photographing trips in the canyon.
August 24, 2001 Three New Fires At Canyon! Swamp Point Closed!
Three new lightning-caused fires have been reported at Grand Canyon
National Park. The fires are being managed for resource benefits. Fire
is recognized as an essential part of forest ecosystem health. Many
plant and animal species are dependent upon fire to create the exact
conditions they need to flourish. Fires such as these are considered
beneficial, and are allowed to burn under specific conditions.
The Swamp Ridge Fire is located on the park's North Rim, approximately
fifteen miles northwest of the North Rim developed area, near Castle
Canyon. It started on August 17th, and is approximately 10 acres in
size.
The Swamp Ridge Fire has created unsafe conditions for the public. To
ensure public safety, it will be necessary to implement a temporary
closure. The Swamp Ridge Road will be closed from its intersection
with Kanabownits Road to Swamp Point. The order will become effective
at 8:00 AM on August 25, 2001, until further notice. It will be
rescinded once fire behavior has moderated to a point where public
safety will not be compromised.
The Duffner Rock Fire is located on the park's South Rim, less than
one mile south of the intersection of Entrance Road and Highway 64
East (the Desert View Interchange). It started on August 19th, and is
one tenth of an acre in size.
The Long Jim Fire is also located on the park's South Rim. It is six
miles southeast of South Rim Village, south of Shoshone Point. It
started on August 19th and is one tenth of an acre in size.
Crews will be monitoring the growth and spread of these fires.
August 23, 2001 Tragedy confirmed! Our worst fears.
from the Arizona Daily Sun
The body of a female has been found in area being searched
at Grand Canyon National Park for a missing Flagstaff photographer and his companion.
The discovery was made at the confluence of Big Canyon and the Little Colorado River,
according to the Coconino County sheriff's office.
A journal found at the abandoned campsite of a couple
reported 15 days overdue from a hiking trip into a treacherous side canyon that empties
into the Grand Canyon could lead searchers to their whereabouts.
Authorities are working on the assumption that the two were possible victims of flash
floods that ripped through the area. Searchers will conduct air and ground searches today
and Friday if the weather stays clear.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office received a missing persons call Saturday that George
Mancuso, 46, a local photographer, and Linda Brehmer, 51, a local department store
employee, were 10 days overdue from a hike in the Salt Trail Canyon, which meets the
Little Colorado River. Brehmer's sons made the call.
A joint Grand Canyon National Park Service and sheriff's office search began Sunday, and
Mancuso's vehicle was located at the Salt Trail Canyon trailhead on the Navajo Indian
Nation, approximately 14.3 miles west of The Gap.
The couple's abandoned camp was located another 2 miles down into the Salt Trail Canyon,
where the canyon and Little Colorado River Gorge meet. It is near the Grand Canyon
National Park boundary.
"All the evidence we have is that they're still in the canyon," said Sgt. Randy
Service, search and rescue coordinator for the sheriff's office. He added that the
campsite had camera equipment, 35 mm and 120 mm film, sleeping bags and provisions that
indicated the two had not planned to be gone long.
Among the items found at the campsite was a journal belonging to Brehmer. Service said her
last entry, dated Aug. 7, indicated that Brehmer and Mancuso were going to Emerald Pool --
a location about 2 miles from the campsite.
"If they were in where we think they were, they were very unlikely to have
escaped," Service said. The Emerald Pool location is in a slot canyon that is marked
by steep cliff walls that offer no escape to higher ground in the event of a flash flood.
Service said the slot canyon where the pool is shows signs of a recent flash flood --
brown mud on vegetation and recent additions to a debris field at the mouth of the slot
canyon that connects with the Little Colorado River.
The intensity of flash floods through the canyon can be seen by boulders the size of
Volkswagen cars in the debris field.
Brehmer's journal indicated that flash floods to the Little Colorado River happened on
Aug. 5 and 6. Water gauges also confirm the flash floods, Service said, adding that
because the river has a long stretch that is not dammed, the potential for flash floods
during storms as far away as St. Johns to the canyon is high.
The traditional aqua blue color of the Little Colorado River has been replaced with a
chocolate brown because of flash flooding, and the water has receded 7 feet from the banks
since its high point on Aug. 12.
"We still haven't deployed any ground pounders in the canyon," Service said. So
far, the searching has been done by air. But if the weather holds, ground crews will begin
searching debris fields throughout the area today and Friday for any signs of the two.
Also, Service said the Park Service would be conducting river patrols, checking eddies
from the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado rivers downriver to see if
anything is caught in them.
Mancuso, an avid outdoor photographer of the Grand Canyon, has a history of being overdue
from trips. It was why Brehmer's two sons waited so long before reporting their mother
missing, Service said. She had previously gone on hiking trips with Mancuso, once to the
same approximate area.
Last year, Mancuso was reported missing and turned up days later after hitching a ride
with a river rafting outfit, for which he was cited because the National Park Service had
been searching for him. "We've contacted every river trip," Service said.
"And he's not on any of the boats."
Service said he cannot definitively say that the two might be dead, but searchers will be
looking for any signs of the two -- clothing, shoes and even bodies.
And if they were victims of flash flooding, finding their bodies could prove difficult.
"There is the possibility they may never be located," Service said. "There
have been several drownings on the Colorado River where we've never located any signs of
the victims." But Service remains hopeful either they or their bodies will be found.
"We believe we'll find some kind of clue," he said.
Already in search of clues, investigators have gone through the journal and are in the
process of developing the film that was found at the abandoned camp. Service, who has read
the journal, said it contains Brehmer's private thoughts. Entries confirmed a romantic
relationship between her and Mancuso.
The hike into the location where the camp was is not for beginners, and iffy for
intermediate hikers, Service said. "I would call this an expert area," he said.
Service said rangers from the National Park Service considered Mancuso an expert explorer
of the inner canyons.
August 22, 2001 Search continues for missing hikers in LCR!
From the Arizona Daily Sun and AP
Mancuso was known as an avid hiker and nature-lover. His
business specialized in providing framed photographs, prints, postcards and posters of the
Grand Canyon and surrounding areas.
George Mancuso |
The Little Colorado Running high and muddy! |
Local photographer George Mancuso was reported missing along with Linda Brehmer two weeks
ago, the possible victims of a flash flood near the Grand Canyon National Park.
Local photographer Rachel Running, who shares a studio with her photographer father, John
Running, has known Mancuso for 20 years, and it would almost seem like every summer he
could be found down at the area of the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado
rivers.
"When I've worked in the Canyon, it would be fairly frequent that you would see him
down at the Little Colorado River," Running said. "And you would pass him
treats, some cold beer."
Running said when she used to go to the area on weeklong science trips, she would often
run into him. "Primarily, he focused on the Grand Canyon," Running said of
Mancuso's photography. "He was an avid hiker and nature-lover." "He's
always seemed to me to be a very conscientious hiker. He just knew the terrain, so
hopefully he comes back home."
She said he sells postcards to shops around town, such as Babbitt's. He also would show
his photography work at local venues like Brandy's Restaurant and Bakery and LaBellavia
Restaurant. "Most of the time, he's been making his living being a photographer and
doing what he loves," Running said.
Running said she was unsure if Mancuso has any family, but was pretty sure he had no
family in Flagstaff. The Flagstaff couple 14 days overdue from a hiking trip into a
treacherous side canyon that empties into the Grand Canyon could be the victims of a flash
flood, authorities said Tuesday.
The man reported missing, an avid outdoor photographer of the Grand Canyon who has a
history of being overdue from trips, has been overdue from trips before. Last year he was
reported missing and turned up days later after hitching a ride with a river rafting
outfit.
Officials also speculate that the woman he was with was probably helping him in a new
photography project.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office received a missing persons call Saturday that George
Mancuso, 46, a local photographer and Linda Brehmer, 51, a local department store
employee, were 10 days overdue from a hike in the Salt Trail Canyon, which meets the
Little Colorado River.
Cpt. Terry Lawson of the sheriff's office said crews continued their search Tuesday. The
joint Grand Canyon National Park Service and sheriff's office search began Sunday.
Mancuso's vehicle was located at the Salt Trail Canyon trailhead on the Navajo Indian
Nation, approximately 14.3 miles west of The Gap. The couple's abandoned camp was located
another two miles down into the Salt Trail Canyon, where the canyon and Little Colorado
River Gorge meet. It is near the Grand Canyon National Park boundary.
It's a very hostile environment," Lawson said. "And if you're not careful when
you're down there, you could perish." Lawson said the hike down to the area the camp
was located is "rugged," where climbing ropes are needed at times. There are
also areas of extreme exposure to fall.
"It's backcountry wilderness," Lawson said. "You're on your own when you go
into those parts of the country." Even seasoned outdoors enthusiasts must take great
care to come out safely, Lawson said. The camp still had sleeping gear, water, food and
clothing. "It looks like they went for a little day hike," Lawson said.
Lawson said that Mancuso had not go through a permitting process with the National Park
Service. The Park Service requires all people hiking into the canyon to secure a permit.
"There's reasons why there's a permitting process," Lawson said. First, it
allows the Park Service to know people are in the Canyon, how long they'll be and where
they are going. If they turn up overdue, a search mission can be started.
Lawson said, permitted people can be checked on by the Park Service to make sure they have
sufficient provisions and offer advisories such as the potential of flash floods.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported several flash floods in the Little Colorado River area
since Aug. 7. Lawson said searchers who went down to where Mancuso and Brehmer's campsite
also found evidence of recent flash floods.
Officials from the Park Service and the sheriff's office will meet today to discuss how
the search will continue.
Lawson said that Mancuso has a history of being overdue from trips, and he is an avid
outdoorsman. Mancuso also has been in the park without having the required permits.
Last year, Lawson said the Park Service conducted a search for Mancuso when he was
reported overdue. He turned up later, having hitched a ride out on a rafting trip.
According to a Flagstaff police report, a manager at the Target department store in
Flagstaff, where Brehmer works, called to file a missing person's report. Brehmer had not
reported to work and was good about calling when she was not going to come into work.
George's camp in the LCR |
Lawson said that several rolls of 35 mm camera
film were found at the campsite, and investigators are in the process of developing it.
"I think he's one of those people who came here and fell in love with the place and
just stayed," she said. |
In Mancuso's own words, on his business' Web site, he wanted
to continue in the vein of the work started in the early 1900s by the Kolb brothers, who
extensively photographed the Grand Canyon.
"Together, (the Kolbs) walked through rough terrain to remote areas, carrying very
heavy box cameras and glass plates," wrote Mancuso. "Needless to say, as a
photographer, I am honored to continue such rewarding and important work, and be
influenced by the historical past, and follow in the footsteps of the Kolbs to some
degree."
Mancuso was impressed by the canyon and began a project in 1986 called Granite Visions,
"which allowed (him) as a photographer/hiker to capture the inner Grand Canyon's
natural beauty on film."
Ninety percent of Mancuso's work on the project was shot below the rim. "All images
have been accomplished by backpacking and hiking both on and off the inner trails or
routes and photographing the more difficult and remote areas of Grand Canyon National
Park, Arizona," Mancuso wrote.
August 20, 2001 Canyon photographer missing!
From AP
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office and the National Park Service are searching for a
Flagstaff couple overdue from a trip to the Grand Canyon.
The sheriff's office received a missing-persons call Saturday about 46-year-old canyon
photographer George Mancuso and 51-year-old Linda Brehmer, who were 10 days overdue from a
hike in the canyon.
George's website is http://www.thecanyon.com/mancuso/index.htm
His photographs are unique that they are not the same old rim shots, but photographs from
unique places inside the Canyon.
A search effort was launched Sunday by the Parks Service and the sheriff's office.
Mancuso's vehicle was located at the Salt Trail Canyon trailhead on the Navajo Indian
Nation, about 15 miles west of The Gap.
Late Sunday, the couple's abandoned camp was found where the Salt Trail Canyon and Little
Colorado River Gorge meet.
Search efforts continue but are being made difficult by bad weather. The U.S. Geological
Survey reports several flash floods in the Little Colorado River area since August 7. It
is reported that there was a huge storm near Cameron on the 10th of August.
August 16, 2001 Canyon visitation is down!
 |
Yikes! I'm staying away from
the Village!
Near Mather Point, July, 2001!
Photo by Mike Quinn |
Year to date S. Rim visitation (as of Aug 01) is down 7%
compared to 2000
Desert View is down 10%
The North Rim is down 22%
Tuweep is up 34% - going from 1,748 cars (Jan-July 2000) to 5790 cars
for the same period during 2001!
August 16, 2001 Cape Royal Road is open again!
Due to diminished activity of the Vista Fire, caused from recent rains, Branch of Fire and
Aviation personnel recommended to the Superintendent for the reopening of the Walhalla
Plateau backcountry. As of 0800 hours Wednesday, August 15th, backcountry use has been
permitted under existing backcountry permit guidelines. The scenic Cape Royal road remains
open to all traffic. An ocassional smoke may be observed along the road from time to time.
August 14, 2001 Bright Angel Trail Closed for 3 weeks!
After completing a trail and pipeline assessment late yesterday, the National Park Service
(NPS) announced today that the Bright Angel Trail will remain closed for approximately
three weeks while trail crews remove large boulders
and debris, and rebuild trail and retaining walls that were damaged from heavy rains early
Monday morning. The trail is closed from the Bright Angel Trailhead on the South Rim of
Grand Canyon National Park down to Indian Garden, a distance of approximately 4.6 miles.
The closure will be strictly enforced.
Although most of the trail damage occurred in an area between mile-and-a-half and mile
2.5, several other areas along the Bright Angel Trail will require some debris removal and
trail stabilization. No damage was found on the trans-canyon pipeline that carries water
from the north slope of the canyon to the south rim. Pipeline damage was confined to an
alternate line that carries water from the south rim to mile-and-a-half and three-mile
resthouses as reported earlier.
The South Kaibab and North Kaibab Trails remain open. The NPS Backcountry Information
Center will not issue any new backcountry permits for Indian Garden or Bright Angel
Campgrounds at this time. Hikers who already have
reservations for Indian Garden and Bright Angel campgrounds who do not to hike in on
alternative routes should contact the Backcountry Information Center to have their permits
changed. One-day mule trips to Plateau Point have been cancelled until further notice and
overnight mule trips to Phantom Ranch have been rerouted down the South Kaibab Trail.
Hikers are reminded that the monsoon season, which generally extends from mid-July through
mid-September, can produce intense rain showers and thunderstorms that can come without
warning. Travel in drainages and washes
during a monsoon rain are particularly hazardous. It is important to stay alert to your
surroundings while hiking in the Grand Canyon and to anticipate known weather conditions
during the time of year you are hiking.
August 14, 2001 North Rim Vista Fire Update
The North Rim received nearly 1 inch of rain, which moderated activity on the Vista Fire.
The Cape Royal Road reopened yesterday August 08. Direct travel is permitted to Cape Royal
but stopping between Vista Encantada and Walhalla Ruins is prohibited. The immediate fire
area remains closed.
Heavy concentrations of fuels are expected to continue to burn for several weeks and smoke
may be visible. Fire and Law Enforcement personnel will monitor the fire's activity. If
necessary, a temporary closure will be implemented on the Cape Royal Road once again.
August 13, 2001 Flash flood near Supai kills 3 hikers!
Flash floods swept a 2-year-old boy and his parents to their deaths while they were hiking
in a canyon on their way to the tribal village of Supai.
The couple's 16-year-old daughter, who had hiked to the village earlier Friday with her
4-year-old brother, called authorities when the rest of the family didn't arrive by
Saturday morning. Rescuers found their bodies an hour later near Cataract Canyon, about 3
1/2 miles from the village.
A family of four was horseback riding in the canyon about one mile away from where the
bodies were found and barely escaped the floods, though one of the horses died.
Supai is accessible only by helicopter or by the eight-mile hiking trail from the canyon
rim 2,000 feet above. Heavy rains brought flash floods to the area late Friday night when
the victims were trying to hike down to the village for a the Peach Festival, an annual
Havasupai tribal celebration.
August 12, 2001 Are air tours safe?
About 800,000 people board planes and helicopters each year for air tours of the Grand
Canyon's dramatic rock formations, but a helicopter crash that killed six people has
renewed concerns about the safety of the flights. The American Eurocopter AS350 was
ferrying tourists from Las Vegas on an aerial tour when it crashed 70 miles east of Las
Vegas, just outside the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park. The sole survivor, a
23-year-old New York woman, was in critical condition with burns to 80 percent of her
body.
"Sadly, this incident indicates there are still safety concerns," said Geoff
Barnard, president of the Grand Canyon Trust, an environmental group that supports
limiting the flights.
The cause of the crash was under investigation Saturday. A spokesman for the tour company,
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, declined to comment on safety issues.
Mike Polay, a professor teaching aviation safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
in Prescott, said the canyon's air is so thin and hot that it can decrease the performance
of some helicopter engines.
He said the chances of a mid-air collision are higher over the canyon than in many other
places because a high number of planes and helicopters are packed into a fairly small
area.
Environmental groups say there are so many flights over the canyon's South Rim during the
peak summer tourism season that visitors can expect just 17 seconds of quiet between
passing helicopters and airplanes.
The crash was the deadliest canyon tour accident since Feb. 13, 1995, when a plane went
down while trying to return to Grand Canyon Airport, killing eight of 10 sightseers
aboard.
In June 1986, a sightseeing helicopter and a twin-engine sightseeing plane collided over
the canyon, killing all 25 people aboard and leading to rules that prohibit flying below
the canyon rim.
August 12, 2001 Does Papillon have a good safety record?
Papillon Airways helicopter air tour crash was the fifth
accident in a little more than two years for the Mesa-based company that operates out of
Tusayan and Las Vegas.
Those five incidents have left seven people dead, one
seriously injured and seven more with minor injuries.
According to National Transportation Safety Board reports
completed on three of the previous crashes, one was the result of an oversight by the
flight crew that caused the engines to "flame out," another was mechanical
failure, and a third was a combination of mechanical failure and operator error.
The cause of the fourth crash has not yet been released, and
Friday's crash that killed six is still under investigation.
NTSB officials said that determining the cause of Friday's
accident would be difficult because the helicopter had no recording device.
The owner of the helicopter company said in a statement that
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters is working closely with NTSB and Federal Aviation
Administration investigators.
"I would like to assure everyone that all efforts will
be exhausted to determine the cause of the accident," said Brenda Halvorson of
Papillon Airways Inc.
The crash was the deadliest canyon tour accident since 1995,
when a plane crashed while trying to return to Grand Canyon Airport, killing eight people.
The NTSB summaries of the four previous Papillon Airways
accidents: Thursday, April 1, 1999, at the Grand Canyon.
The aircraft was a Bell 206B helicopter. The crash resulted
in one fatality and one serious injury.
According to the NTSB, the helicopter's engine stopped just
after takeoff. On the way to the ground, one of the helicopter's rotor blades hit a tree.
The helicopter had been outside overnight, and it had
snowed. Covers that should have been put over the engine's air inlets were not installed.
"Prior to the flight the engine was difficult to
start," stated the report synopsis. "There were five aborted starts before the
engine was successfully started ... After the third start attempt a mechanic noted that
the engine inlets were approximately half blocked by snow and cleared the snow from the
inlets using a towel."
The mechanic did not check the inspection window for a part
of the helicopter below the inlet, which another company mechanic said had been full of
snow on another helicopter that had the same starting problems.
"The engine manufacturer reported that tests of the
engine had shown that ingestion of as little as 6 ounces of snow/slush could flame out the
engine. The operator's procedure requiring that the last flight crew at the end of the day
install the inlet covers on aircraft stored outside had not been followed," stated
the report synopsis.
The NTSB concluded the probable cause of the crash was the
failure of the flight crew to properly preflight the helicopter and to detect and remove
snow from the engine inlets and chamber below the inlet. Sunday, April 16, 2000, at the
Grand Canyon. The aircraft was a Bell 407 helicopter. There were no injuries resulting
from the crash.
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot felt a few short
"clunks" and then heard grinding noise and felt violent shaking. The pilot was
able to land, and while doing so, damaged the tail rotor.
The vibration that the pilot felt was traced to a failed
bearing at the oil cooler fan forward hanger," stated the report, and the NTSB
concluded the probable cause(s) of the accident was the failure and subsequent
disintegration the part. Monday, April 20, 1998, at the Grand Canyon. The aircraft was a
Bell 206B helicopter. There were no injuries.
August 10, 2001 Helicopter crash near Grand Wash
Cliffs!
A helicopter taking tourists on an aerial tour of the Grand Canyon crashed Friday, killing
six people, authorities said. A seventh person was critically hurt.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the cause of the crash was not known. The
National Transportation Safety Board was expected to investigate.
A 23-year-old woman was in critical condition with severe burns at University Medical
Center in Las Vegas, said hospital spokesman Rick Plummer. Her name was not released, but
Plummer said she was a tourist from New York.
The AS350 Eurocopter AStar helicopter departed from Las Vegas and crashed about 2:35 p.m.
into the 5,600-foot Grand Wash Cliff, a popular place for tourist helicopters because of
its red cliffs, authorities said.
The crash site, near the canyon's western edge on federal land, was difficult to reach,
National Park Service spokesman Bert Byers said. "Only the hardiest of 4-wheel-drive
vehicles would be able to get in there," he said.
Emergency personnel were ferried to the site, about 70 miles east of Las Vegas, by at
least one helicopter, he said.
The flight that crashed was operated by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters of Las Vegas,
according to Byers. Pat Mallen, a representative of the company, said company officials
were too busy to talk.
August 01, 2001
McGaugh's Newstand closing doors!
from the Arizona Daily Sun
One of Flagstaff's few remaining locally owned bookstores will be closing its doors on
Sept. 1, and it isn't because they've been run out of business by the "Big Box"
stores, said one of the co-owners. Lillian Osthoff, in a written statement, said the
reasons for closing McGaugh's Newsstand were:
- A major vendor was pulling out of the area;
- Increases in overhead costs;
- The Oct. 1 expiration of the store's lease.
"It seemed an appropriate time to make a change," wrote Osthoff. "And after
23-plus years, all of us who are involved in McGaugh's are ready for some new
adventures." She declined to comment further.
A sign in the store window reads: Everything must go!! Starting July 30th, everything in
our store will be drastically reduced!! All sales final.
"I've been coming here since '82," said Mike Olson. He and fellow Adult
Probation employee Mark McCluskey had to come to the store to see if the rumor was true.
Olson loves to come to McGaugh's for the popcorn, and to play the store's trivia game. It
is also a great place to get a newspaper. Buying a paper from a rack
just isn't the same as going into a shop and talking to a live person, he said.
"I think the character of downtown will go down a notch," Olson said.
"It's been here forever," McCluskey said. "It's sad when places like this
go. It would be great if someone would take it over and leave it the way it is."
"McGaugh's is a tradition," said Cathie Wheeler, 13-year resident of Flagstaff.
She will miss the personal exchanges with employees and the trivia game, too. Besides, the
people at McGaugh's know what they're selling. The employees, unlike at other stores, love
reading and it shows, she said.
"The people who work there love books," said local writer, Scott Thybony.
"They're not just clerks."
"McGaugh's is a real bookstore," said Linda Stratton, 10-year northern Arizona
resident. "It has that smell, the feeling. It's just so upsetting."
Thybony, who had a signing at McGaugh's after the publication of his book
"Burntwater," was surprised to hear the store is closing. Every time he goes
into McGaugh's with a pressing need to get a research question answered, the place has
plenty of customers.
"There's nothing like it," Thybony said. "Their downtown location is a key
part of the culture. You don't want to see another souvenir shop there."
Richard Mangum, local author and historian, said that McGaugh's gives tremendous help to
local authors. Citing his own experiences, he said local authors have a hard time getting
the big chain stores interested in buying their books, mainly because they don't sell in
big enough numbers.
When he and his wife Sherry wrote their first book, "Flagstaff Hikes," in 1992,
the first place they went was to McGaugh's.
"We pulled one out of the box and said, 'Think you'd be interested in this?' they
said, 'Sure give us a dozen. We'll see how it goes.'"
Mangum said every time he and Sherry think about writing a book, an immediate image pops
up in his mind on how the book would look sitting on the shelf at McGaugh's. "It's
more than just a store," Mangum said. "It's an institution. I'm heart
sick." Mangum said it was a great place to go when downtown, a central gathering
point.
"You just dropped in," he said. "Any time of the day you happened to be
there, somebody would stop in just to get a bag of popcorn or a newspaper."
Regarding the history of the store, Mangum said Osthoff and the other owners bought the
store from Levi McGaugh in 1978 and moved it to its present location on the corner of
Aspen Avenue and North San Francisco Street. Another previous owner was Robert Prochnow,
who ran it as Prochnow's newsstand. Prochnow bought it from a gentleman named Chuck
Maxwell, who ran it as Maxwell's newsstand.
"I think by that name, it extends back to the early 1930s," Mangum said.
The newsstand began life two doors south of where Martan's restaurant is, and slowly moved
North over the years, Mangum said.
"We will all very much miss being a part of the downtown community," wrote
Osthoff in her statement. "It has been our privilege and honor to serve all our loyal
customers and our great community."
August 01, 2001 Havasupai Tribe and Sierra Club fear
uranium mine
planned near in Havasu Creek!!
from the Associated Press
The Sierra Club claims land near the Grand Canyon that's sacred to the Havasupai Tribe is
a target of the Bush administration's plan to expand energy production.
The tribe itself is at least equally upset about the possibility, though the company
owning the uranium site in question says it has no plan to open the mine.
"That's our aboriginal homeland," said Matthew Putesoy, the tribe's vice
chairman. "We claim that as our origination, where the very first Havasupai people
were born ... from one of our great-great grandmothers. Grandmother Canyon, we call her.
"We say were tied to the universe from that area." said Putesoy, whose tribe's
lands border the sprawling Grand Canyon on the south. "They're drilling right in the
abdomen of our Mother Earth."
The Bush energy plan calls for 1,300 new power plants across the country by 2020 and for
an expansion of nuclear power.
And in a statement dated Monday, the Sierra Club said part of that plan includes operating
the Canyon Mine 15 miles from the Grand Canyon in the headwater drainage of Havasu Creek.
The site is within the Kaibab National Forest.
The mine was been built a few years ago but hasn't been operated. The Forest Service
approved its construction after looking into its environmental impact, and the U.S.
Supreme Court rejected tribal opposition in upholding the permit.
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