Grand Canyon Walkway

[sapblatt]

I am not sure if this makes me nauseous, or if I just find the idea of it nauseating?

GRAND CANYON

 

[roadtripper]

Mike that's so funny...I was just about to see if anybody posted anything about this. I just read this article and I also became nauseous.

 

[Woody]

I wonder how long it will be before someone BASE jumps off of the skywalk?
I hope they had real good engineers and contractors. The Hualapai Indian Tribe is looking for economic opportunity. I'd hate to think about the law suit when someone falls from the walkway. Does the potential benefit outweigh the risk?

 

[Maddy]

I am not sure if this makes me nauseous, or if I just find the idea of it nauseating?

For me it's both!

 

[dr_wu002]

I am not sure if this makes me nauseous, or if I just find the idea of it nauseating?

GRAND CANYON

Hey, aren't these the same guys that put that durn train up the top of Mt. Washington??????

-Dr. Wu

 

[charlos]

i feel really, really, awful and embarrassed that the treatment of native peoples by our government has changed them from the original leave no tracers to the builders of casinos and sky-walks.

 

[sapblatt]

i feel really, really, awful and embarrassed that the treatment of native peoples by our government has changed them from the original leave no tracers to the builders of casinos and sky-walks.

It is pretty pathetic - take everything from them - and then give it all back to them in the various forms such as the skywalk and casinos...really moving our society right along...

 

[Tom Rankin]

Not to disrespect the Native Americans, but to me, it simply detracts from the beauty of a natural wonder.

Does anyone really think more people are going to visit the Grand Canyon because there is an observation deck made of 90 tons! of glass?

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Personally, I find the concept of the walkway jarring and totally out of context with the surroundings. But, from what I've read, economic desperation is a large factor in why it was built. Let's hope that the local tribe gets to keep most of the money.

It's only 2 hours from Las Vegas, so I suspect that the tour bus operators will be busy hawking this latest techo-wiz to the tourists. Vegas isn't just about gambling and shows - it also has some pretty scary rides as well. I guess one more has been added to the mix.

 

[Chip]

Does anyone really think more people are going to visit the Grand Canyon because there is an observation deck made of 90 tons! of glass?

I'm waiting for the escalator to be installed.

But, from what I've read, economic desperation is a large factor in why it was built. Let's hope that the local tribe gets to keep most of the money.

Apparently the construction costs were "donated" to the tribe for a cut of the profits, hopefully the tribe is not responsible if it tumbles into the canyon.

 

[roadtripper]

It's only 2 hours from Las Vegas, so I suspect that the tour bus operators will be busy hawking this latest techo-wiz to the tourists. Vegas isn't just about gambling and shows - it also has some pretty scary rides as well. I guess one more has been added to the mix.

I predict a huge failure with this project. They are charging a $25/fee per person, plus "other" access fees. They are also neglecting the fact that the majority of Grand Canyon visitors want the most amount of tourist facilities possible and the simplest possible highway access.

Also, this project was significantly financed by a Las Vegas businessman. I don't think the tribe will be receiving anywhere near the amount of profits it needs to pull the 1/3 of their tribe that are living in "poverty" status...

 

[Toe Cozy]

Nausea and guilt

My husband and I were out in AZ this fall and drove through a portion of the Hualapai Reservation to get to the trailhead for our trip down to Havasu Falls. I had never been on an Indian Reservation before. We hiked through the village of Havasupai before getting to the campground. It was eye opening. I'm sure there are many people here who have been on or through a reservation before and know what I mean. It was a third world country. I will try not to sit in judgment of how the Hualapai feel they might gain some economic advantage since I can't possibly understand the desperateness and likely hopelessness they feel in their current situation. I am in complete agreement with Charlos on this one:

i feel really, really, awful and embarrassed that the treatment of native peoples by our government has changed them from the original leave no tracers to the builders of casinos and sky-walks

.

This what makes me feel nauseous: guilt that I am part of and support a government through my taxes and my non-action that has created the demise of an entire culture coupled with the fact that despite this guilt I don't do anything about it because it feels hopeless and overwhelming with no solution. Maybe if I don't judge their actions, they won't judge my in-action.

I suppose one positive thing in all this...as long as the Earth itself is still here, that bridge will be gone long, long before the Grand Canyon. Right? I hope that's true because I find that comforting.

 

[michaelb]

I have hiked in the grand canyon; it is a beautiful and very special place. But we can't at all pretend that the south rim is pristine: it has roads and lookouts and hotels and restaurants all along the top of it. Yellowstone is also covered with walkways to special places.

So while I would probably not pay to go, and object to commercialization in our national parks (it is not actually in the park), I can see the attraction of the walkway. I wouldn't want to be that extra person more than a "few hundred" or out there when a wind gust of more than 100mph happens to hit.

 

[MADMAN]

The Grand Canyon is most likely not so grand if you are forced to live there in poverty. I say good for them I hope it helps them out in some way, the canyon is large enough that you never have to see this if you so choose. We are thinking of going to CO. this summer to visit inlaws ,I may have to take a side trip. I will pay $25 to see this no question!!!

 

[SAR-EMT40]

I know people that can't "get the real experience" of the grand canyon because of physical problems. This would allow them to enjoy the beauty of the canyon as well as others. I personally would probably pay the $25 to do it also. This hole in the ground is 4000 to 6000 feet deep and 277 miles long and 15 miles wide at its widest. It has 5,000,000 visitors a year. People go up and down the river in boats, and can hike most areas, they fly helicopters to see the park, etc. How "pristine" can some parts of it actually be? If you can't find a spot that suits you in its 1.2 million acres other than that one spot that really ticks you off then you are probably not really trying.

Keith

 

[dvbl]

... I had never been on an Indian Reservation before. We hiked through the village of Havasupai before getting to the campground. It was eye opening. I'm sure there are many people here who have been on or through a reservation before and know what I mean. It was a third world country. I will try not to sit in judgment of how the Hualapai feel they might gain some economic advantage since I can't possibly understand the desperateness and likely hopelessness they feel in their current situation. I am in complete agreement with Charlos on this one:
.

This what makes me feel nauseous: guilt that I am part of and support a government through my taxes and my non-action that has created the demise of an entire culture coupled with the fact that despite this guilt I don't do anything about it because it feels hopeless and overwhelming with no solution. Maybe if I don't judge their actions, they won't judge my in-action...

I will never feel nauseous, guilty, or any other kind of hand-wringing emotion for something I'm not responsible for. I feel bad about Indians losing their land, and about slavery, and about famine in equatorial Africa. But I'm not responsible for it and I will not feel guilty for it. There is a very long list of things that I'm guilty of without adding unmerited ones to the list.

 

[David Metsky]

<mod hat>
And we've entered into politics. Please keep your comments on the SkyWalk and hiking in and around the GC.

Thank you,

-dave-
</mod hat>

 

[Mad Townie]

I know people that can't "get the real experience" of the grand canyon because of physical problems. This would allow them to enjoy the beauty of the canyon as well as others.

I'd pay fifty bucks to push my brother's wheelchair out onto the skywalk (and back) so that he could appreciate the beauties of nature as I do when I hike.

Of course, he might not WANT me to!

 

[Doc McPeak]

I'd pay fifty bucks to push my brother's wheelchair out onto the skywalk (and back) so that he could appreciate the beauties of nature as I do when I hike.

Of course, he might not WANT me to!

Excellent point, MT.

Yes, I showed it to my Mom (also w/c) and she said she'd shoot me if I tried to push her out on it.

It's a wild design. No worse in my opinion than the drone and buzz of planes clouding the skies overhead.

 

[DougPaul]

No worse in my opinion than the drone and buzz of planes clouding the skies overhead.

Sightseeing aircraft are banned from much of the canyon area.

Doug