“What do you do all winter?” This is easily the most common question we get this time of year at Timpanogos Cave. It makes sense, since for most of our friends and neighbors, the hike to and tour of the cave define their relationship to this special place. When the trail and cave are closed, what could we possibly find to occupy our time until the next summer season?
In the summer, with tour guides, visitor center staff, and extra maintenance employees covering about 16 hours per day, seven days each week, we have around 50 employees, interns, and partners working. In the winter months, we have just five full-time staff, and another five who work less than full time. For the ten of us, the months between October and April are often busier than the summer months.
This winter, my intent is to use this blog space and Facebook posts to share a few of the more interesting things that happen behind the scenes, usually in the winter, that affect how this park is protected and managed for you. I’ll try to let you know about projects in the works, challenges we face, and some of the people working to get things done.
Developing an on-line cave tour ticket system, creating a better way to schedule school field trips and designing new geology exhibits are things you might expect, but how about monitoring for lethal doses of caffeine in Middle Cave Lake or giving guns to NASA? We’ll share more about these and other stories in the weeks ahead.
Your comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome. See the “contact us” page for various ways to stay in touch. Our goal will be to post a new blog at least once every two weeks, more often if possible, so check in regularly throughout the winter as we open a small window into the winter work at “Timp Cave”.