Skywalk at Grand Canyon

[Ron Marshall]

What do others think about this construction at the canyon rim?

I think in itself it is not so bad, but it sets a precident.

I think there could be some interesting shooting angles from it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/gallery/2007/mar/21/internationalnews1?picture=329752914

[George Kara]

Hi Ron

I live in Arizona and have been following the development of the skywalk. The prices are extremely high. Entrance to the area is $ 50 per car + $ 25 per person to go on the skywalk. . There are a whole lot of free views of the Grand Canyon that are stupendous.

I believe today they have officially opened and the first people out on the sky walk were some of the first astronauts, - Buzz Aldrin and others. I wish the tribe well, but it really is out in the middle of no where and is again quite expensive.

George

[Richard Raymond]

The Skywalk opens to the general public on 28 March. Currently they are running "tours" for newspapers and tour companies to market the operation. As mentioned, the total price of $75US is expensive and the site at the west end of the canyon is not on the regular tourist routes. Most of the visitors to this part of the canyon have been part of helicopter tours out of Las Vegas. It will be interesting to see how many folks are willing to drive there for this look at the canyon.

[Ralph Barker]

Personally, I can think of less expensive ways for my knees to go weak and my palms to get sweaty. While I wish the tribe good luck with the venture, I won't be among their visitors. :eek:

[Kerry L. Thalmann]

As a large format photographer, I have to wonder if tripods will be allowed on the Skywalk. In addition to possible issues of congestion and safety, from the photos it looks like the Skywalk has some sort of glass or plexiglass surface. While I'm sure this heightens the sense of being suspended over a great abyss, in the photos all the visitors are wearing some sort of booties on their feet. Obviously, this is designed to protect the glass/plexiglass walkway surface from scratching. May they will offer a set of mini tripod booties for an additional fee.

Kerry

[eric black]

While I wish the tribe good luck with this, I cant help but to think there are better ways to try to coax people into that section of the canyon and much better ays to spend the money that went into constructing this.

[GPS]

Architecturally it's a disaster. As for the photo opportunities it's completely useless - you cannot take any valuable pictures through the floor and whatever pictures you can take over the glass fence will be just a picture that anyone else takes from the exact spot - and anyone else can take from just a short distance away from the Terra ferma. As a means of thrill it's cheap too.

[Dave Parker]

Sorry,

They could not pay me $75 to go out on that thing, I am interested in seeing how it does, but will not be contributing my money to this venture!

Dave

[naturephoto1]

I am not interested and I am sure that there will be much flex in the platform as people walk.

Rich

[John Kasaian]

I'd be more inclined towards visiting a casino overlooking the Grand Canyon. It would be less intrusive and besides, they need a good buffet in that part of the world :cool:

[Bruce Watson]

Architecturally it's a disaster. As for the photo opportunities it's completely useless - you cannot take any valuable pictures through the floor and whatever pictures you can take over the glass fence will be just a picture that anyone else takes from the exact spot - and anyone else can take from just a short distance away from the Terra ferma. As a means of thrill it's cheap too.

I recall that big tower in Toronto has a glass floor in the observation deck. Mostly I remember walking on it made me exceedingly uncomfortable. Not a great thing when you are behind a view camera with your head "in the bag."

And I cuncur that photographically this glass skywalk is next to useless. That and I've heard that your $25 gets you 15 minutes. I don't know how long that will last though - probably depends on the amount of biz they do.

Good luck to the tribe. I doubt they'll ever see me however.

[C. D. Keth]

Is it operated by the parks service? I can't believe they are charging such outrageous admission. I understand it took money to create, but that is ridiculous. There are thousands of miles of canyon rim and all the rest are free. Screw 'em.

[Dave Parker]

Is it operated by the parks service? I can't believe they are charging such outrageous admission. I understand it took money to create, but that is ridiculous. There are thousands of miles of canyon rim and all the rest are free. Screw 'em.


No, this is outside the park, it is ran by the native American tribe in that area, the park service has nothing to do with it.

Dave

[Wayne Crider]

For such a poor tribe where the heck did they get a loan to build the walk? I wonder what they put up; That end of the Canyon to a mining company?

[Eric Woodbury]

How much money would it take to fill the Grand Canyon?

[Dave Parker]

For such a poor tribe where the heck did they get a loan to build the walk? I wonder what they put up; That end of the Canyon to a mining company?

They didn't get a loan, they consummated a deal with the contractor, where as part of the income goes to the contractor and part of the money goes to the tribe because it was built on their land, at some time in the future, albeit a long time in the future, the $30Mil will be paid back to the contractor and the tribe will derive all of the income from the skywalk, they didn't promise to a mining company, but there is wild land speculation going on in that area right now as companies line up to build resorts and such...and they are putting BIG money commitments on the line to get their little piece of the pie. If the income does not equal the cost, the way the sky bridge was built allows it to be removed and taken to a different location by the contractor...

Dave

[Doug Dolde]

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

[gregstidham]

$30 million???

$1 million to build and $29 million for liability insurance.

:)

[Brian C. Miller]

One of the articles I read said that tripods would not be allowed, due to many tripods having spikes. Also, the glass fence was supposed to be six feet high. As a nervous thrill, aren't roller coasters cheaper?

[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.

:rolleyes:

[Shen45]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Was there a business plan?

[Kerry L. Thalmann]

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]

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... :)

[Greyhoundman]

And as a kicker>
No cameras will be allowed on the Skywalk. A $500.00 fine will be levied for violations.
Special shoe covers will be issued to every person going out on the glass.

[Ole Tjugen]

We've got one of those here in Norway, too. Not glass, but solid concrete, and a low railing.

The main difference is that ours is free. :)

[QT Luong]

Right. "We're concerned about people accidentally dropping their cameras and chipping the glass,". Not bad for Getty Images and other media guests invited at the opening.

[GPS]

[QUOTE=Van Camper;230678...
Their attitude likely will hinder their success, and they deserve it.
[/QUOTE]

Who are "they"? And why do "they deserve it"??

[Eric James]

...and athletes foot fungus from wearing their shoes. Hope the shoes they give you were not worn by someone with smelly feet. IT ISN'T WORTH IT!

By shoe covers I think "they" are referring to disposable covers, like those worn in an operating room or clean room. I wonder if they are included in the price; and are those blessed with a photographic memory subject to the same fine?

[Greyhoundman]

The tribe can place any ordinance they wish on the law books. They have their own police and court system. They have jurisdiction on all violations up to a state felony level.
And the ban and fine were verified by a member on RFF by phone.
Expensive thrill it may be. But one you can't get anywhere else. :)

[Dave Parker]

The tribe can place any ordinance they wish on the law books. They have their own police and court system. They have jurisdiction on all violations up to a state felony level.
And the ban and fine were verified by a member on RFF by phone.
Expensive thrill it may be. But one you can't get anywhere else. :)


By time you pay the fee to get in and the cost of the fine, I know I could get a better thrill, cause I know for a fact, I can rent a helicopter for $600 bucks and can play for at least an hour or more! In fact, for $600 bucks, I bet I could play long enough to cover most of the canyon! And I know for a fact, I can get better pictures from a copter than I can through glass, that might be chipped by a plastic camera!

:)

Dave

[GPS]

From a video of the first visitors it is indeed simple disposable covers the visitors get on their shoes. I wonder how effective it can be in the long term - isn't there enough sandy dust to scratch the glass anyway?

[Juergen Sattler]

They are not running shoes, they are indeed covers for your shoes - you keep your shoes on and you just cover them with these booties. I am not sure they throw them away or if they are being re-used.