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Working @ The Grand Canyon

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Submitted By Alex

Information on visiting and working at one of America's most beautiful tourist spots.
Grand Canyon, Arizona Articles


  Grand Canyon Links:
- Accommodations
- Activities
- Chamber of Commerce
- The Official Park Site
- Backcountry and River Permits

Can you imagine spending six to ten hours of your day driving in a car or bus to visit the Grand Canyon only to spend a few minutes at the canyon edge? Well, neither can we!

After living and working at the Grand Canyon for two years, we've decided that most tourists are just plain dumb. Too many visitors see far too little of the beauty the canyon has to offer.

The opportunity to live and work at the Grand Canyon is one not to miss. Both of us have to admit sometimes going weeks without seeing the "big ditch," even though we were within a minute's walk from the edge. Work and the pursuit of the personal stuff we get wrapped up in can make us slightly immune (i.e., brain dead) to our environment sometimes. But, always, eventually the canyon would beckon to us - and after spending an evening watching a sunset at Hermit's Rest or enjoying a walk down the Kaibab Trail - life would be right again.

Employees at the Grand Canyon will never get rich working for the park concessionaire (used to be the famous Fred Harvey, but has since changed hands). Usual wages are around $5.00 - $6.00 an hour. But, the work is secondary to the chance to live so close to the powerful and magnetic canyon that is one of the seven wonders of the world.

Seven miles down the Kaibab Trail and about eleven miles up the Bright Angel Trail is a two-day adventure that leaves your body screaming for rest but your emotions and mind hollering, "let's do that again!" On our last hike in 1997 to Phantom Ranch, we were joined on the trail by a couple on their 25th wedding anniversary. They weren't exactly spring-chickens, but they could do it!

The Grand Canyon is going through some major changes that will affect your visit. Transportation in and out of the canyon will be limited to public conveyance and a few areas of the canyon rim are scheduled to be closed off to visitors. Various ecological and preservation interest groups have lobbied heavily over the past 10 years to stop the traffic and congestion of people at the canyon. They are winning the battle, and the U.S. Park Service is busy as we speak closing down access to various park points of interest. It remains to be seen if these changes will actually have a positive impact on the Grand Canyon or if it's just another closure of the wilderness that only serves to tick a lot of people off.

If you want to stay at the edge of the canyon, hotel reservations must be made at least 1 year in advance - and we're not kidding here. Mule rides to Phantom Ranch and Plateau Point are very popular, also requiring at least 1 year advance rez.



Tips For Hiking The Grand Canyon
-Go to the Bright Angel Lodge transportation desk to get maps and excellent hiking advice.
-Take more water with you than you think you need.
-Pack hi-energy snacks and fruits.
-Make sure your hiking shoes are comfortable and don't have "hot spots".
-Take moleskin and apply it to any sore areas on your feet immediately!
-Hike the Kaibab Trail down and the Bright Angel Trail up (two views on one trip).
-Pack light - don't drag anything down that you don't want to drag up the steep trails.
-Dress in layers. Your hike can start in snow at the top and at the river bottom it could be 85 degrees!
-Wise times to hike the Grand Canyon are springtime (April/May) and fall (September/November).
-Stop often both directions. Lean against trees and rocks. Breathe deeply. Relax. Take pictures.
-Reserve a cabin or bunkhouse bed at Phantom Ranch before leaving so you have a comfortable place to stay for the night. The Hiker's Stew dinner is excellent. Make these reservations at the transportation desk. - you can easily pick up last minute cancellations at Bright Angel Transportation Desk simply by being there when the desk opens in the morning.
-Do not hike with whiners! Take only upbeat, positive friends with you.

Provided By: Otherroads.com



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Working @ The Grand Canyon
Information on visiting and working at one of America's most beautiful tourist spots.
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