This week’s progress continued to be about preparation for the final set of tasks, and actual completion and refinement of finish work, both inside and out. The site looks very much like building and surroundings nearing completion. Of note this week, the main visitor desk has been completed along with cabinetry, and installation of the ranger worktable in the administrative area. Preparations for new road surface and final concrete pours around the building are well underway as asphalt is scheduled to arrive next week. Most exciting for this week’s work is the installation of the new flagpole. This new pole will be more than twice as tall as the old installation and will hold an aerial for our radio system allowing us much improved reception across the park.
It’s important to note that all crew members are employing all those health and safety measure that we are all practicing, including social distancing. Work crew members are being monitored regularly, and sanitation facilities are available for the crew. While the project is certainly important, the health and safety of employees and workers is much more important.
(A) Below, almost ready to welcome visitors. Here we see the new desk for greeting visitors. This is the first touch for rangers as they interact with the public and it’s here that we make our first impression.
(B) Stepping back and looking northeast in photo (B) above we see the entire site as it nears completion. Next week this same shot should show pavement and expanded final concrete work in front of the building.
(C) As the visitor center is also the main work area for rangers, having that space be functional and comfortable is important. Here we see the main worktable that will host up to three rangers and their equipment in addition to an office for the lead ranger just to the left of this photo.
(D) The new entry road is in, subsurface prepared, and shoulders now graded. All that’s left is pavement.
(E) In photo (E) we see concrete pours now extending from the main building out to the main drive. We are reusing as much natural stone uncovered during site work to line paths and drives. If you look closely, you will see that this uncovered stone is mostly granite even though there is no naturally occurring granite on the island. Hmmm, where did it come from? That’s right, glaciers brought it from the North Cascades.
(F) You certainly can’t have a visitor center without a flagpole, and very soon we will have one. In photo (F) below we see the base for that new flagpole set. This new pole will also support a radio aerial allowing us, for the first time, full coverage of American Camp from the visitor center.
