Friends

Last week was bittersweet. Our amazing friend Hannah recently got a job as a dispatcher at Grand Teton National Park. We are super excited for her new adventure. It's going to be amazing, but we are selfish and want to keep her here! She is an awesome friend. She's always willing to go out of her way to help people (even if they wouldn't return the favor). She is also an awesome co-worker. We had so much fun working together. On Wednesday, we had a going away party for her. We went to Fiesta Mexicana and had a great time. There was an amazing turn out, and it was good to see everyone outside of work. We work with an amazing group of people! I made sure to tell our server that we were also celebrating Hannah's birthday (it's only about a week away). Hannah got the classic Fiesta whip cream treatment. She told me she'd pay me back, but she thought it was hilarious. Addy creeped into a few of Hannah's pictures. She loves Hannah. We are going to miss her a lot. Jamey even came back for a few days to celebrate with us!

We were excited to see Jamey, even if it was only for a day and a half. It had been a month since we saw him last, and it will be another month until we see him again!

On Saturday night, our good friends Joel and Kate and their cute kiddos stayed at our house on their way back to Colorado. It was great to see them. We showed them some of the sights, we chatted, and the kiddos played. Best of all.... Addy was reunited with her love--- Ammon!

posing in front of the bridge

Good bye hug

Colorado River Trip

Today we had the opportunity to get out of the office and take a boat ride on the Colorado River from Lee's Ferry up river to the Glen Canyon Dam. It was quite the adventure. Our dispatch "A-Team" minus two very important members, drove from Page to Lee's Ferry. We met two of our river rangers, peggy and carpenetti. Since Peggy's boat was broken, we had to take a boat that has been in service for over 20 years. We should have known that would mean trouble! We enjoyed the ride and the beautiful scenery on the way up. We stopped at the Dam and got oriented with all the tunnels and other features that we hear so much about. On the way back down, we stopped for a picnic lunch at the "Descending Sheep" petroglyph panel. The petroglyphs are dated from 800-1100 years ago. It was really interesting. When we got back in the boat after lunch, we realized the boat had lost "reverse". It was quite an adventure trying to get the boat pushed out into the current and facing down river. Finally, we flagged down a commercial fishing boat and they pulled us out into the current.

After we got off the river, we stopped at Navajo Bridge to do a little Condor spotting. We actually spotted Condor #67. It was the first time I've actually seen a Condor there. It was really cool. We had so much fun, and I was reminded of what amazing people I am blessed to work with. It was also bittersweet because Hannah is leaving us at the end of the month for a dispatch job at Grand Teton National Park. We are really going to miss her!

Here are a few pictures from our trip, the uploader wasn't cooperating or there would be a lot more!

Me and Hannah in front of the "Descending Sheep" petroglyph panel. How many rangers does it take to get the boat off the beach?

Our poor boat being towed back to the trailer, and crazy Hannah in the frigid water up to her knees.

Carpenetti got soaked!

We saw a condor under the Navajo Bridge.

More Fire Pics

A Big Sigh of Relief...

For the past few weeks, we've been sweating this whole "government shut down" a little. Jamey and I both work for the federal government and didn't really know what we'd so if we were sent on furlough for an unknown period of time. We have money saved for a rainy day, but it's always nerve-racking to think that you might not have income coming in. Today, I found out that my position is deemed "essential", so no matter what the people in Washington decide, I will still get my paycheck! I'm pretty sure Jamey's considered "essential" as well, but you never know!

Wahweap Marina Fire

On Wednesday, I was working by myself and getting ready for a relaxing and quiet night. Remember last time I said that there was a plane crash. This week, it was a fire in the marina. When the call came in, my heart rate went through the roof! Four houseboats were completely destroyed and a couple more were heat-damaged. My coworker saw the smoke and came in to help me answer phones and such. Thanks to our amazing team and the cooperation of multiple agencies, more than 40 vessels and the marina were saved. I am so grateful that no one was injured. Addy and I went down to the marina after I got off work to bring the firefighters food. It was an amazing sight. I heard one person describing it by saying, "it looks like Pearl Harbor." That was such a perfect description. I will try to post after pictures when I get them.

NPS Press Release:
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Fire Destroys Four Vessels At Wahweap Marina
Firefighters battling a fire in the Wahweap Marina on the evening of March 2nd were able to save 40 vessels. Park dispatch received a call reporting the fire just after 4:30 p.m. Rangers and firefighters responded immediately in the park’s new fireboat. By the time they got to the scene, four private houseboats moored at the “O” dock were engulfed in flames. The Page and Greenehaven fire departments also responded, and the fire was contained by 5 p.m. The fireboat was used to both fight the fire and to tow burning vessels out from their slips in the marina in order to prevent the blaze from spreading to other vessels. Four houseboats and one personal watercraft were completely destroyed, and a fifth suffered serious damage. Several fingers of the “O” dock sustained very heavy damage – a preliminary estimate by Aramark, the park concessioner, places the total damage to the dock and boats at about $1 million. The quick response to the fire prevented other boats from being damaged. The new fireboat was critical in containing the fire safely and efficiently. The burned vessels were moved to the Wahweap launch ramp, which is at present closed to the public. The Stateline launch ramp has been opened for public use. The NPS and Coconino County Sheriff’s Officer are investigating the cause of the fire. [Submitted by Veronica Lane]

Here are the during pictures: