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Canyonlands National Park
Black George Simmons
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| NPS Photo by Neal Herbert |
| Black George Simmons, expert adventurer, storyteller and NPS volunteer |
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In west Texas, “Yee-ha!” is an enthusiastic greeting reserved for long-lost friends. In Canyonlands, it means you’ve just met Black George Simmons, expert adventurer, storyteller and NPS volunteer.
Black George has worked for the NPS Volunteer-In-Park (VIP) program since 1984. In six seasons at Big Bend National Park, “Yee-ha!” became his trademark salutation (he even uses it to answer the phone). For the last ten years, Black George has divided his time between Bryce, Canyonlands and Grand Teton National Parks, often working year-round. In 1999, he received the Honorary Park Ranger award, the highest honor given to citizens for supporting the NPS mission.
Prior to joining the VIP program, Black George worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. In fact, Black George’s career with the US government spans over 50 years. In the summer of 1956, Black George Simmons was lead boatman on a USGS mapping trip down the Green River (Stillwater Canyon) and through Cataract Canyon. Below are links to the journal he kept on the trip.
Trip Introduction
River Journal
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 Looking for more? Our bookstore contains many titles about the cultural history of this area. more... | |
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Did You Know?
Pinyon pines do not produce pine nuts every year. These delicious nuts can only be harvested every three to seven years. This irregular schedule prevents animals from adapting to an abundance of pine nuts and guarantees that at least some nuts will become new pine trees instead of a quick meal.
more...
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Last Updated: July 06, 2006 at 19:05 EST |