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The Canyon Column

A Glance Back at the Highs and Lows of 2008

Before marching headlong into the New Year, you may enjoy a snap recap of 2008 at Grand Canyon National Park. It was a dynamic year indeed.

Looking out from Cape Royal - Photo by Mike Buchheit

The National Park Service celebrated both the 100th anniversary of Grand Canyon being declared a national monument (national park status would follow in 1919), and the 75th anniversary of the amazing contributions of the depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps.

Flooding also made the headlines. Once in the form of an experimental "high flow event" on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon (the third of its kind), and the other in a devastating, storm-fueled flash flood that ravaged the Havasu Creek drainage – home to the Havasupai tribe and their majestic waterfalls.

The park service completed an extensive construction and repair project on the historic Hermit Road, reopening with pomp and circumstance in November.

Among the "firsts" the park service and their partners conducted a wildly successful "Celebrate Wildlife" day, and a marathon footrace that attracted hundreds of eager runners from around the country.

The Verkamp family ended their century-long presence on the rim in Grand Canyon Village as purveyors of Native American handicrafts and other souvenirs. The NPS has converted their landmark structure into a visitor center in partnership with the Grand Canyon Association who will operate a retail outlet as well.

Finally, although the world economic turmoil put a damper on park visitation, people still continued to arrive in droves to enjoy the grandest of canyons. Along with hundreds of my fellow Grand Canyon residents, I look forward to another wonderful year living on the edge, and would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

See you on the trail!

Mike

Article Archives

Winter Slideshow

Summer Slideshow

Mike Buchheit is a photographer, writer, outdoor educator, and 14 plus-year resident of Grand Canyon National Park. For a visual journey through the Canyon he calls home, visit his Grand Canyon Gallery.

Planning a Trip to Grand Canyon?

Hit the Trail is dedicated to helping those planning a trip to Grand Canyon and the southwestern United States. Within these pages you will find information to assist in finding rooms and campgrounds, making reservations, choosing hiking equipment, finding guides and tourist services, as well as providing practical tips and advice to help make your trip a special one.

You will find an Event Calendar covering activities, exhibits and lectures hosted at the Grand Canyon and throughout the region that will interest the Colorado Plateau visitor and enthusiast alike.

First the latest news. After a snowy weekend, it has cleared up and will be clear for most of the week. However, the weather service is calling for another storm to move in this upcoming weekend with more snow likely at the Grand Canyon. To see some spectacular views from our recent snowstorms, check out Mike Buchheit's photo slideshow. Learn the current and upcoming conditions on my Grand Canyon Weather page. There is even a webcam view where you can actually see live conditions from the South Rim!

New Feature! I realize a lot of people are looking for photos to drool over after visiting Grand Canyon. I've just added a new feature immediately above the Canyon Column called Mike's Feature Photo. (I know, so imaginative!) Mike Buchheit's photography has been featured in many publications, including Arizona Highways, and he has generously agreed to periodically share a photo in this feature. Clicking on the thumbnail will take you to the larger image, and as the gallery grows, you will be able to view all these images and visit Mike's own site.

The Arizona State Health Department is warning of bubonic plague activity in the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts. For more information on bubonic plague and what to watch for, please visit my page on Bubonic Plague.

Speaking of health issues, I am on a crusade! I have recently been introduced to an important product that could easily save your life. And it is so inexpensive that it seems a "no brainer" to have for hiking and traveling. It is called the RoadID, which is an interactive ID that provides emergency providers with up-to-date contact and medical information in case something happens to you. They come in wrist bands, shoe tags, dog tags, and various other forms. Highly recommended!

To prepare for hiking or traveling in the desert regions of the southwest at anytime, I highly recommend reading Mark Johnson's highly acclaimed The Ultimate Desert Handbook: A Manual for Desert Hikers, Campers and Travelers.

For a full list of topics included on this site, please use the menus to the left. Those topics with arrows expand to an additional menu. A sampling of subjects discussed on this site are:

Equipment Guide—what's needed and what's right for you and your particular circumstances. Both backpacking and day hiking are covered. You'll also find tips for making your trip safer, easier and more enjoyable. I'll discuss the special conditions you can experience while hiking in the desert and plateau regions. You'll learn about the extremes in temperature and weather so you can be well prepared for your trip—whether day hiking or on multiple-day backpacking adventures.
Event Calendar - Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon Association offer wonderful programs and lectures at the park and throughout the state. The calendar shows when these events take place and provide additional information.
Equipment Purchase and Rentals - Local and national resources
Phantom Ranch - Information specific to the Inner Canyon lodge.
Tips & Tricks - Advice from how to tie your boots to training and fitness. Be sure to check out the Readers' Tips & Tricks where readers share their own tips.
Grand Canyon Hikers e-Group - A great email forum for finding current conditions and advice on your Grand Canyon hike.
Hiker's Links and Resources - Here you'll find links to hiking sites, lodging and transportation, the official national park site, artists' sites, as well as others devoted to the canyon.
Lodging and Camping - Everything available for the South Rim, North Rim, Inner Canyon, as well as the connecting highway between the two rims.
Mule Rides and Guide Services - Information and links for mule rides, river trips, and hiking guides.
Canyon Reading Room - Recommended books that include hiking resources and guides, human and natural History, cookbooks, safety and first aid, and search and rescue books.

To contact me, please use my contact form. Please note that I do my best to answer email, but be aware that I do get quite a bit. If the answers can be found on my web site, I cannot take the time to re-answer these questions. I've also included a Google search engine at the top of each page that allows you to search through my web site for answers to your questions. Please note: I am in no way associated with the organizations mentioned within these pages. I cannot help you with reservations and do not sell anything. This information is provided as a service only.

New information is continually added, so be sure to check back now and then to find out what's new. Now it's time to put on your boots and join me as we Hit The Trail!

Happy Trails!

Denise Traver

"May your trails be dim, lonesome, stony, narrow, winding and only slightly uphill. May the wind bring rain for the slickrock potholes fourteen miles on the other side of yonder blue ridge. May God's dog serenade your campfire, may the rattlesnake and the screech owl amuse your reveries, may the Great Sun dazzle your eyes by day and the Great Bear watch over you at night." - Edward Abbey, Beyond the Wall: Essays from the Outside

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Copyright © 1998 - 2008 Denise Traver, Raven & Coyote and its licensors. All rights reserved. Except where noted otherwise, all printed material may be freely copied and distributed subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice. Photographs and artwork may not be copied in any form without the express permission of the copyright holder. Photographs #1 and 2 in the banner used on this site are courtesy photographer Mike Quinn of the National Park Service, Grand Canyon.