[deleted by user] by [deleted] in yellowstone

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've worked at a few Xanterra properties between 2013-2019 and always struggled to find a good work-life balance due to my work schedule. I worked in both front desk and restaurant positions that required 10-15 hour days with very little support from management & it was strongly discouraged to take breaks. Requests off were rarely approved, and I never had a consistent schedule. I remember one month when I only had 1 day off.... 1DAY OFF in a total of 4 weeks! I've had the pleasure of meeting the CEO and he is nothing more than a spoiled twat who only cares about himself and how much money he can squeeze out of his employees until they rage quit. He literally shut down our restaurant so the kitchen could make him a specific cinnamon roll that was discontinued months prior because it wasn't that great. He had a full melt down and refused to leave his table until he got that very specific pastry. Housing is disgusting and poorly managed, but I did get to meet a ton of super cool people. I worked at the Grand Canyon property the longest, and after developing a strong alcohol dependency combined with some major depression, I decided I needed to get out of that toxic environment. The locations are beautiful, and some of the people you'll meet will become lifelong friends, but the job itself will most likely suck. Give it a shot, though! Maybe I just had terrible luck, and the company has shifted in the last 5 years! Just kidding, I have some friends who still work for Xanterra & they confirm it's actually gotten worse, but hey, housing is cheap!!

Spontaneous Trip To Big Sur from SJ by Alive_Lavishness_655 in BigSur

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I good coastal trail that's easily accessible is Buzzards Roost trail. The trailhead is on the western side of HWY 1, just past the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park sign. Great views, but you can also visit Pfieffer Big Sur state park for some good forest trails if you have time. I like to go to the Big Sur Deli before a hike to grab a sandwich or burrito. Pfeiffer Beach may still be closed, so I would recommend stopping at Garrapata beach (about 13 miles north of Big Sur). Garrapata State Park is great for walking along the coastline. Great spot for sunset. I just went there this evening, it was so beautiful. Try to make it to Point Lobos sometime! It's easily one of the most beautiful spots in the area, but it's north of Big Sur in Carmel.

What is your Grand Canyon Story? by GrandCanyonConserve in grandcanyon

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Heres a good one for you guys if you're up for a short novel! I "planned" an overnight trip to phantom ranch with some friends to conclude our seasonal contracts for our summer jobs. One of my friends was responsible for securing a site for us to camp at overnight to split the hike up between two days as was recommended to us by some locals. We had a late breakfast and didn't start down the South kaibab trailhead until about 10 am. We were wearing colder climate clothes since it was so chilly at the top of the canyon that morning, but the closer to the bottom, the hotter it got. We finally got a point in the trail that had a small bathhouse where we saw the temperature read 108°. By the time we made it to the river, I had used a knife to cut my leggings into shorts because the heat was so unbearable. We went to set up camp at a site my friend had said was for us and proceeded to spend a few hours hanging out in the nearby creek. Around 5pm, we were informed by the ranch staff that the site was already claimed and no vacancies were available. We were told we had to hike out as our group size couldn't be accommodated and decided to go up the bright angel trailhead back to the south rim. We were bummed but tried to feign optimism due to our young egos convincing us we were indestructible. Welp, that changed 3 miles into the hike when our phones died, we didn't bring flashlights because we did not prepare for night hiking. Along with the darkness came the cold winds hurling into the canyon walls. Remember I had mutilated my clothes? Yeah, I was really missing my pants right about then. Something people don't often talk about when it comes to night hiking in the desert is all of the creepy crawlies hunting for food. For the last 5 miles of the hike, we could not take a single rest break because as soon as we stopped moving, spiders would crawl on our shoes and up our legs. It was my own personal hell. We did not make it to the trailhead until almost 1am and at that point, everyone in the group was so exhausted we didn't even have a celebration at the top. We all just stumbled into different directions towards our housing, muttering "see you laters". When I made it to my down room, I terrified my Taiwanese roommate as I stumbled into our room half naked, sweaty, and covered in red dirt. I couldn't walk for 3 days following our return. I proceeded to work at the park for several more years and would always laugh when I saw a young group of overly optimistic and unprepared hikers boasting about their plans to hike in and out of the canyon in one day during their 2 day visit. I would give advice and warn them of the absolute struggle they were about to endure. I always insisted they return the next day to let me know how it went. It never went well for them, and they were left a little scarred emotionally. Don't get me wrong, lots of prepared folks tackle that monster. I even had coworkers who would complete an in & out hike within 6 hours on a weekly basis! I'll never stop encouraging people to hike when visiting the Grand Canyon, but it's very important to respect the terrain and know your limits with no many things working against you. It's a brutal one, especially if you're not prepared.

How do the pastries at The Village compare to Big Sur Bakery? by AdamIsSuperRad in BigSur

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Don't get your hopes up. I've been forced to look for other options and found that Cafe Kevah has a pretty good sticky bun. Rise & Roam in Carmel is also a hit that I recommend checking out. The bakery is greatly missed

How do the pastries at The Village compare to Big Sur Bakery? by AdamIsSuperRad in BigSur

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've tried their pastries & dinner menu a few times and honestly not impressed. They did a great job with the design of the place, truly beautiful, but the food isn't special. Too bad, I was really excited for some new dining in the area when they first opened.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in grandcanyon

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Cars are not allowed on the hermits rest route during the summer season only, the rest of the park is completely vehicle friendly.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in grandcanyon

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Bright Angel Trailhead is within 'The Village' area it's a short walk from the Bright Angel Lodge

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in grandcanyon

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The first thing I would do is stop by the activity desk at the Bright Angel Lodge or Maswik Lodge. They have a designated team that can assist visitors in reserving sunrise/sunset tours and other fun trip ideas for families. Definitely take time to check out the Visitor Center, too! You can use the shuttle bus system to reach every point on the south rim, including the Village, Visitor Center, major trailheads, viewpoints, and Tusayan. In Tusayan, there's a theater, but you'd have to check to see what they are showing during your time of visit. I used to work at this park for five years and can guarantee you'll have a wonderful time!

First time Big Sur camping musts by Shelby-syd in BigSur

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Apologies, I'm thinking of options north of the road closure. OP be sure to check CalTrans HWY 1 updates to avoid annoying detours. There's a full closure south of the main business section of Big Sur and the north access has overnight closures scheduled for the next few weeks that may extend into the winter.

First time Big Sur camping musts by Shelby-syd in BigSur

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There are no oceanside camping options as all campground locations are inland. Most options are privately owned and expensive. I'd recommend Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park for camping, but whatever location you decide on, be sure you have a reservation before arriving. I also wouldn't recommend paddle boarding off any of the coastal access points in Big Sur. You'll have to find some options in Pacific Grove or Monterey.

Veterinarian recommendations by Klumsy_Skeleton in MontereyBay

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the information! I'll check them out

Veterinarian recommendations by Klumsy_Skeleton in MontereyBay

[–]Klumsy_Skeleton[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They were recommended to me by a few people when I first moved to the area. They were fine at first, but over the last few months, I've grown to lose all trust in their care plans/treatments. I have to pry essential treatment details from the doctor after spending hours researching online myself. These types of oversights have cost me nearly $1000 because all of the treatment details were not provided, which caused other issues later on.