Park Ranger training South Rim Grand Canyon National Park – Day 3 Part 3

Mike Anderson, historian, took us on a journey back in time during a special shuttle ride west on the Hermit Road.

Lt. Joseph Christmas Ives traveled by steam boat 350 miles (563 km) up the Colorado River in the 1850s. After the boat was wrecked on rocks he and the crew hiked up to the South Rim. Ives’ report to the Army stated, “The region is of course altogether valueless. Ours has been the first, and will doubtless be the last, party of whites to visit this profitless locality."

John Wesley Powell journeyed down the Green and Colorado River in 1869 and again during 1871-72. He led the first known successful navigation and scientific exploration of the river.

El Tovar on far left and Kolb Studio on right

By 1905 the Santa Fe Railroad reached the South Rim, the Kolb brothers opened their photographic studio, and El Tovar Hotel and Verkamp’s Store opened.

President Theodore Roosevelt established Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908 and in 1919 Congress passed the bill making Grand Canyon a National Park.

South Rim Grand Canyon training Day 2 - Mission Possible

“Your mission which you should accept because you don’t have a choice is to become familiar with the sights and sounds of the South Rim.”

  

Cloud shadows over the North Rim

This was our first day of training challenge... (read more here)

MWT - South Rim Grand Canyon training Day 1

When the staff left the North Rim on April 30th the snow still covered the forest and meadows but soon we returned to warmth... (read more here)

More snow on the North Rim

When the National Weather Service reports no accumulation, how much snow is that?

Naturalists and Fee Collection building

It snowed on and off all day and we may have added another inch or two to the already existing feet of snow.

Tomorrow morning I take off for the South Rim for six days. It snowed there too. Saturday is Wildlife Day. Sunday no work all play because Mike is coming up that way. Monday and Tuesday is training with the South Rim folks. Wednesday return to the North Rim via Navajo & Hopi museums. Catch up with you all when I can.