Preparing for Petra… 2012

Today we’ve scheduled our next conference call for the Jordan Parks Project (Phase III). Park management has identified their desire for enhanced assistance with their Geographic Information System (GIS), search & rescue program (SAR), and transportation systems. I think we can help them along with our Park Ranger mentoring in those regards. Even though my weakest sub-discipline in Rangering (compared to emergency medical, fire, interpretation/education, law enforcement) is SAR, I’ve been know to tie a knot or two and certain help get folks up/down a cliff with some belays. In addition, our team jefe (leader), Bill Wade, is a former president of the National Association of SAR. Petra Archaeological Park (PAP) has been working towards an expanded transportation system to augment horseback rides from the entrance to the Siq (included in the price of your admission), camel rides to/from the Treasury & Lower Basin, horse cart rides to/from the entrance & Treasury for those with physical challenges, and donkey rides to various unauthorized destinations. The new transit (funded by UNESCO) is hoped be in the form of green-energy efficient buses shuttling visitors from the Lower Basin back to the vicinity of the new Visitor Center under construction in Wadi Mousa. As it so happens, team-member Bruce McKeeman worked at Yosemite when they instituted their bus system, plus the Dept. of Interior’s Int’l Tech. Asst. Prog. (ITAP) has already advertised looking for a transportation specialist within the Department for a short-term detail to PAP this spring. GIS & SAR are probably not far behind. As part of GIS, I can show field rangers some aspects of GPS (Global Positioning System)- though I’m far from earning a merit badge myself on the subject.



Sangre de Cristo Mtns.



This past week I traveled up to Colorado and visited with longtime friends from college days in Denver (Steve & Jackie [Lively] Norris, and Scott Halliday). We were all active in the Colorado Chapter of Vietnam Veterans Against the War in the early 70’s. Driving up I was treated to the breath-taking scene provided by the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains from Raton Pass, and roadways with names like: Abbey Road, Young Hollow. The four of us shared some interesting adventures so many decades ago, and it was great to reminisce. One was going to a Chicago concert (as I recall), with Jackie, her sisters and their dates. I was the escort of the youngest sister, Suzanne, and have always used that term because even though she was heart-stoppingly cute (and a bit "Lively"), she was also 10-years younger than me (and as Jimmy pointed out in the song “Livingston Saturday Night”… “15 may get you 20”): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gzzS0nyMfM




closed portajohns at Ad-Deir

 

One of the serious discussions we had was regarding the state of politics in this-here-land: the polarization partisanship of the extremes (“disgusting”). Even a conservative elder statesman (Senator Alan Simpson ® Wyoming) can’t believe what a mire we’re in. So, Steve mentioned a Third Party on-line alternative: Americans Elect. We need to get our elected representatives thinking of who they represent instead of party and special interests again while we can. I think I’ll check-it-out at: http://www.americanselect.org/?gclid=CNGt0NXsxa0CFRRZhwodUB5NAw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_information_system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belaying