Skywalk at Grand Canyon

**Shen45** · 22-Mar-2007, 00:35

I wonder who the first base jumper will be?

Not a very high rail to get over if someone is determined. Like others have said I would probably feel a bit uneasy on the walk but I've filmed from helicopter skids and that wasn't too bad. I was wearing a harness though.

Quite a structure but it doesn't really seem to match the harmony of the area.

**GPS** · 22-Mar-2007, 02:05

Originally Posted by Doug Dolde

I get a little freaky just at a few of the overlooks. Stand on a glass floor over the canyon....YIKES !

I still didn't forget the scene I saw on a canopy walk (the second highest in the world, in Malaysia)...A young couple came there to see the nature wonders at the eye level. As soon as the boy entered the swinging platform, he froze! He was white in his face, trembling with his whole body, holding the stronger rope on the side of the walk, unable to do a simple step ahead or back. His girlfriend talked to him with great patience, encouraging him in all possible ways, holding him etc. Nothing had any effect. The guy was passed by many other tourists, small kids, all walking normally. He was suffering this humiliation with a great pain but still unable to move. His cramps started to take away his strength even more. After about 20 min the girl left him there to see the walk for herself with a promise of coming back. When she did, the guy was still there, covered with sweat. When she took him back (and that was not easy to get him off the rope!) once on the Terra ferma he was telling her that he never new he suffered from vertigo. Indeed, you never know, unless you had been in such a situation. He felt very humiliated as his girlfriend took it as a lack of courage.
I would like to know how long their relationship lasted after this trip...

**Aggie** · 22-Mar-2007, 06:49

The tribe in the past tried the casino thing to raise money for it's people. It failed miserably. The skywalk is their latest venture to raise needed monies for their people. One part of me doesn't like the skywalk, the other part of me thinks it is a great idea. These people are actively trying to make sure that all members of their small tribe have enough for basic care like health care, education and housing needs. We may not like the price of admission. We may not like the commericalism of it, we may not like how it is built. But I admire the fortitude of the tribe seeking to help it's own. Yeah they got a outside company to help pay for it. But in the end the intended people will benefit.

I remember back in the 70's when I worked for a travel agency taking tours around the Southwest. The south rim was not so overblown with a vegas feeling. Now it is turning into a garish over crowded mess. Gone are the quaint scenic surroundings. The North Rim is still the old fashioned quaint feeling. Yet we have people griping that the new skywalk will ruin the GC. That it is a garish mess. Well I disagree that it is worse. The former head park ranger should go look at the mess he left on the South Rim.

As to it being dangerous, again I think it is in the minds of those who walk it. I use to with other tour operators play a trick on our passengers. I would go running out to the edge of the canyon at Point Sublime and melodramatically say, "I can't take it any longer, and jump off. This started the screaming from the tourists. Other tour guides would rush to the edge and shake their heads. After about 5 minutes I would pop my head back up, and climb back up to the rim. It was all a big joke for us guides. The little ledge I would jump down to was only 4 feet from the edge. I went back a year ago, and that ledge is now gone. It fell into the canyon. I also wonder if my antics (I was young and stupid back then) was the cause of the park service putting up chain link fences along that stretch. Makes taking pictures hard.

**Jim Galli** · 22-Mar-2007, 07:10

I'd far rather walk out to any one of thousands of bends in the river edge and have the same view for 180 plus degrees. Unobstructed. They had investors that are seeking a profit. I can't imagine it will ever be profitable. 2 hours on a dirt road from Las Vegas....to pay them $75 for 15 minutes....I don't think so.

**Jack Reisland** · 22-Mar-2007, 08:25

I thought I would point out that the developer that funded and still currently owns the Skywalk is a Las Vegas speculative casino developer, and it was the he that approached the tribe with the idea in the first place. Also, there was a large amount of of the tribal members that were against the development.

**GPS** · 22-Mar-2007, 08:37

And another interesting detail is that native Indians are known that for some strange reason they don't suffer by vertigo! That's why they were often used as skyscrapers workers in NY...

**Brian C. Miller** · 22-Mar-2007, 10:19

My landlord is Navajo, and I helped paint his house last year. We put up two ladders. One ladder was just a little shakier than the other, and it was over a stairwell. I went up 3/4 of the way on the shaky ladder, and I just could not make it to the top. We switched ladders, and all was well. I also found out that my cat could climb the ladder rungs, both up and down.

**Jim Ewins** · 22-Mar-2007, 10:41

Was there a business plan?

**Kerry L. Thalmann** · 22-Mar-2007, 10:48

Originally Posted by Eric James

Why should modern contrivances such as tripods be allowed – such props will only detract from the spiritual experience. People should pay their 50 bucks then walk the 70ft, and just enjoy the canyon, in all its “natural” beauty.

At least it's quieter and less obtrusive than all the helicopters and small, low flying planes used for "flightseeing".

Kerry

**Janko Belaj** · 22-Mar-2007, 10:58

my knees melted just when viewing those shots... standing on the glass with over 1000 meters of nothing under? yes - I would like to visit that part of America once in my life, but... no thank you. I like earth. ground. dust. rocks. solid rocks...