on the radio

I’m going to be honest-- I came into this job with few expectations or goals for my three months here. Sure I hoped to learn about the management of the 3.1 million acres of wilderness in the park, but I didn’t really give a thought to what else I’d be learning or doing. I’m kind of glad about that-- it’s all been a surprise, plus I really think you can’t go wrong by living in a national park for free for a season. But, turns out am am learning a ton! Who woulda thunk it?

Aside from driving a truck, the most tangible skill I’ve gained here in Death Valley has been how to use a radio. I always carry a handheld radio for work, and the radio always has to be on while driving government trucks. Just by driving for an hour, which is typical for a morning here, one can get a great sense of all important park happenings. There’s a little list in the truck of all of the call numbers of employees here, so if someone calls in you can check your little list and find out exactly who is saying what to who. It’s the ultimate place to go for your daily dose of gossip. And at 9 a.m., the Morning Report gets broadcasted! With all the important weather information and road closure info that you ever needed! 

For those who don’t know how a radio system works (like I didn’t), I’ll give some background. There is a central dispatch that you call in order to get help, give information, and get information. They are called San Bernardino-- that is their call number. My call number is 275. The 2 is for the Resources division of the park, the 7 is for Wilderness, and the 5 is just cuz. You also have to say which transmitter you’re closet to, and have a good enough sense of where you are to turn your radio to the appropriate station. So here’s a sample of what I would say if I was going off the pavement for a day (as I do most every day). 

Me: San Bernardino, 275, on Rogers.

SB: Go ahead.

Me: Myself and 5 Americorps are heading into the backcountry at Copper Canyon, should be out by 17:00.

SB: Showing 275 and 5 Americorps in service at Copper Canyon.

And that’s about it. Then all I have to do is call in when I get back on pavement and tell them that I made it out alive. Easy peasy. 

The only problem is that I hate hate hate the thought of everyone hearing my voice over the radio. Especially when something embarrassing happens, like if I have to call in to San Bernardino to ask for the Mile Marker of the canyon I’m trying to get to. True story. Everyone heard that I had no idea where I was going and didn’t have a detailed map and was driving aimlessly. But all public humiliation aside, the radio is probably the most important tool I use, and I’m so glad that I’ve gotten to get practice using it. Also when I'm not thinking about how everyone can hear me, I feel pretty dang cool using it.

Death Valley's cabins

Death Valley has dozens of abandoned cabins within its borders, in various states of disrepair. Our group typically sees two cabins per week, which is way more than the average visitor sees. We’ve spent the past couple of work camping trips cleaning up trash and piping from around a couple of these cabins. Many of the cabins have names, sometimes relating to the last person who inhabited the cabin, and sometimes for an unknown reason. We’ve been to Weston Cabin, Rita’s Cabin, Madeline’s Cabin, Rebecca’s Cabin, Claire Camp, Hunter Cabin, and many more that are related to mining that I didn’t catch the name of.

Aside from tetanus and dehydration, our biggest health worry on these work trips near the cabins is Hantavirus. It’s spread by inhaling dust from rodent droppings, which are abundant in cabins. Luckily, there has not yet been any death linked to the Hantavirus in Death Valley. Unluckily, there is no cure. All Hanta worry aside though, it’s been exciting the explore the cabins, with our mouths and noses covered. It’s fun to imagine what kinds of characters decades ago decided to build a ramshackle home in the rough desert and live in total seclusion. I tip my NPS Volunteer hat to them for trying to make it work for at least a little while. But still, did they have to leave so much trash?

Here we are with all the junk we backpacked up from the Weston Cabin. Lots of piping, propane bottles, magazines, and even a couple of chainsaws in fair condition!