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Home/Canyon Column/2006 Archives/Park Swinging Into High Gear

Park Swinging Into High Gear

Visitors visit the rim | Photo by Mike Buchheit
Visitors visit the rim | Photo by Mike Buchheit

“If you get lost down there, just start a signal fire!” “Is that Canada over there?” “Look mom, the squirrel eats Crayons.” Ah, the sounds of spring along Grand Canyon’s South Rim. For the thousand or so year-round park residents, the slow-as-molasses pace of winter in an empty park has been replaced by a visitor-fueled frenzy in just a matter of weeks.

Each year the twin engines of Spring break and Easter Week herald the beginning of what’s collectively known by GC residents as the “busy season.” The pace will quicken after Memorial Day, relax a tad after Labor Day, and taper off completely through the Thanksgiving holiday; after which the few of us remaining will have a chance to ask each other “what was that?”

Seriously, these park visitation rhythms are part and parcel of living on the edge. As locals, our energies (and in many cases our paychecks) are calibrated to the inevitable seasonal pulses of activity that come with 4.5 million annual visitors. Yes, the arrival of the tourists means we have to suddenly endure a few more lines, and shoe the occasional picnicking family off our back porch. But it also means connecting with old friends, making new acquaintances, and sharing our enthusiasm for the Canyon with people every corner of the globe. Most locals agree that it’s not a bad trade-off. And heaven knows you can’t beat the views.

Published on: May 1, 2006

Categories: 2006 Archives, Canyon ColumnTags: Bush season, Easter, Grand Canyon, Spring break, summer, visitors

About Mike Buchheit

Mike Buchheit was the director of the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute for over 25 years, a professional landscape photographer and instructor, a freelance travel writer, and a popular lecturer on a wide variety of Grand Canyon-related topics. As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he called home.

As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he calls home. You can see some of his beautiful work on his Grand Canyon Prints website.

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