Tribe wants to bring tourists to Grand Canyon's East Rim

Late in March, the Navajo Nation announced plans for a tourism-related development on the undeveloped East Rim of the Grand Canyon. Including a hotel, RV park, tram, and a gondola to take tourists down to the bottom of the canyon, the official tribal spin is one of enthusiasm with the proposal. But not everyone is going along with the idea.

The development--if it happens--will take place at a spot along the Little Colorado River where it meets up with the Colorado River. Called the "Confluence," its an area where the night skies are dark, and few people venture into. It's also sacred ground in the view of the Hopi Indian tribe, who are far from happy with the Navajo proposal. The former point with irony toward the Navajo's view of the production of artificial snow to increase ski runs on the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona. When that proposal was floated, the Navajo's were dead set against it, calling the peaks, sacred lands.

Another concerned group includes the US Government, in the form of the National Park Service, particularly the managers at the nearby Grand Canyon National Park. Officials there say they received most of their information on the Navajo's plans when the news media broke the story. With no formal information available to them, red flags are still popping up.

Since the East Rim lands that are in the Navajo development cross-hairs are listed as proposed federal wilderness, the Park Service is tasked with managing the lands until Congress tells them otherwise. An endangered fish, the humpback chub, calls the Little Colorado River home. The ramifications of development aren't clear, but still, it's a warning. And the Park Service is concerned about the feelings that Native Americans have about the area--both the Navajo and the Hopi. To that end, the Service works hard to keep travel through the area down.

Still, the Navajo say they need the funds that tourism brings, and they see far too many tourists bypassing Navajo lands while going to and from the national park. Perhaps the Navajo's plans would also serve to somewhat protect the area. At this point, commercial developers are eying the East Rim hungrily.

Tramways to the great river? Housing projects? Sacred lands left open for a few? It's a big problem, and one that won't quickly be resolved.

photo: R & T DeMaris

Grand Canyon "Star Party" not for Hollywood set

If you'd like to look at some really heavenly bodies, head for either the North or South rims of the Grand Canyon in early June for the big Star Party. No, you won't find the flashing of Paparazzi cameras, and no models worthy of the annual "Swimsuit Edition." Rather, the Star Party is looking up--way up!

Each year the National Park Service teams up with astronomers to bring the starry heavens closer to earthly viewers. With telescopes, park visitors get a chance to zoom in on real stars and planets. With its location far away from big city sources of light pollution, the Grand Canyon is an excellent venue for a good views of the stellar heavens.

Running a full eight days (and nights) from Saturday June 5 through the following Saturday, June 12, amateur astronomers will bring their equipment to give visitors a chance to view planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies at night; and to view the sun by day. At the South Rim venue, events include a slide show nightly at 8:00 p.m. next to Yavapai Observation Station, followed by free telescope viewing. Across the way on the North Rim, telescopes will be set up on the porch of the Grand Canyon Lodge every evening.

Park folk remind visitors that at the Grand Canyon the high elevation spells cool nights. Bring yourself sweaters, jackets, a layered outlook on clothing. For South Rim visits, Plan to walk or arrive by free Village Route shuttle bus which runs until 11:00 p.m. For a comfortable spot at the slide shows, arrive early and bring something to sit on. Telescope viewing continues well into the night; visitors may arrive anytime after dark. Visitors to the South Rim Star Party will need a flashlight for the walk to the viewing area, but are asked to keep flashlights pointed down to protect everyone’s night vision. A red flashlight is best, and can be made by covering any flashlight with red cellophane or red nail polish or even red magic marker.

For more information visit this site: http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm

photo courtesy Ron Short through the National Park Service

Grand Canyon hosts special archeology day, March 27

On Saturday, March 27, 2010, Grand Canyon National Park will host Archeology Day in honor of “Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month.” Intended to help park visitors learn more about the people who lived in the area long ago and to gain a greater understanding of the work that archeologists do and what can be learned from their research, Archeology Day will feature a series of special activities at Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Make clay pinch pots and split-twig figurines, experience the thrill of the archeological find by “sifting for artifacts” then identifying what is found and hypothesizing what it was once used for.

The event will also include two special evening program speakers. On Friday, March 26^th, Vanishing Treasures Archeologist Ian Hough will present “Extreme Cultural Landscapes: New Archeological Research in Grand Canyon.” On Saturday, March 27^th, Park Guide Jennifer Onufer will share her experiences on an archeology trip down the Colorado River in “A River of Dramatic Change. Both programs will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Shrine of Ages Auditorium near Parking Lot A.

All Archeology Day activities and programs are being offered free of charge on the South Rim. All activities are also family friendly and, with the exception of the evening program, will be offered at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

For additional information on Archeology Day check out the park’s web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/arch_day.htm