Oh, Ranger!

The first time I came to Death Valley I was entranced by the color of the rocks, the quiet of the desert, the immense scale of the valley. It made me feel insignificant, yet it seemed inviting to me at the same time. I covered a lot of ground in my two day visit—Scotty's Castle, Ubehebe Crater, Mosaic Canyon, Badwater, Zabriskie Point, Dantes View, Father Crowley Point, the sand dunes near Stovepipe, the historic Keane and Harmony sites. I knew I wanted to work here.

I got my first chance in 2004, giving tours of Scotty's Castle in 1930's period clothing. This year I'm giving a wider range of interpretive programs in the Furnace Creek area. As in most large parks, there is a large amount of information here to learn in order to interpret the story of Death Valley. My favorite is the human history—the stories of the resident Shoshone, the lost 49ers, the boom towns that grew and vanished with the mercurial scrambles for riches are all calling for my undivided attention. But the park's desert wildlife, plant variety and geology are important too.

I've worked at Zion & Glacier National Parks, as well as John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon. Each has given me unique opportunities for learning about these special places. When you come to Death Valley, make sure you make the most of your opportunities in this land of extremes.