Grand Canyon Walkway
The Grand Canyon walkway is also known as the Skywalk and for good reason. This bridge is made from glass and provides you with a vertical view of the spectacular gorge. The Skywalk is shaped like a horseshoe and spans 70 feet from the edge of the rim. The bridge is a mile above the Colorado River. People who are afraid of heights may have a real problem with this bridge. When you look down, you get to see a clear view of the canyon bottom 4000 feet below.
The bridge was created by the Hualapai Indian tribe and is located on their reservation at Grand Canyon West. The grand opening of the bridge was in March of 2007 with the first people to walk on the structure the Hualapai elders and famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Although the bridge looks frightening, it is very safe. It can withstand weight equal to 71 Boeing 747 airplanes. In addition, it can hold up under 100 mph winds. It's even earthquake proof up to 8.0 on the Richter scale. Because the most dangerous part of the walk is the risk of slipping, visitors are required to wear protective shoe covers.
You are not allowed to take cameras or other personal belongings on the Skywalk. However, you can purchase photographs taken by your tour guide. The Skywalk is offered as an addition to various tourism packages sold by the reservation. These packages include things like tours through the Hualapai village, cowboy demonstrations, a petting zoo, various exhibits and shows, and more. It costs $25 to add the Skywalk to any of the available packages. This seems pricey but a walk on this amazing glass bridge is the experience of a lifetime.
One of the downsides to reaching the Skywalk is the drive you must travel to get there. The road is rough and bumpy for approximately 14 miles. If you do not want to drive your car there are various tours that go to this region. There has been some controversy associated with the bridge, as some feel it desecrates what is considered sacred ground. However supporters of the bridge feel it allows tourists to get an even more spectacular view of the canyon and helps support the positive economic development of the Hualapai tribe. If you're going to be in the area, a visit to the Grand Canyon walkway is definitely recommended.
Georgia's conservation park called Little Grand Canyon - Examiner.com
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Man rescued after Grand Canyon fall (KTAR 92.3 Phoenix) GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. - National Park Service officials have rescued a Colorado man who fell on his head during a hike in the Grand Canyon... | ||
Four scenes from the Grand Canyon State Games - AZ Central.com
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Extreme heat, altitude, rugged trails present challenges for Grand . - The Canadian Press
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Back surgery unites two Appleton men in a struggle and triumph of . - Appleton Post Crescent
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Travel - Hiking Grand Canyon rewarding, but dangerous (The Wilmington Star-News) By Felicia Fonseca Associated Press Frank Poole worked out at a gym and hiked around his Mississippi home carrying a weighted pack for months in preparation for his trip to the Grand Canyon. But it wasnt long after Poole started hiking on a popular Grand Canyon trail that he was struggling to breathe... | ||
Arizona voices - Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona Desert Dolphins Synchronized Swim Team: Grand Canyon State . Congrats to all our swimmers who participated in the Grand Canyon State Games. The weather was nice, and our team had a great showing! Thanks especially to Coach Becky and her mom for running the meet and making it such a success. ... | ||
The dangers of the Grand Canyon | Gadling.com According to the story, rangers at the Grand Canyon perform more rescues every year than any other park, including 300 helicopter evacuations a year. Many more are treated for exhaustion and dehydration, mostly because they come ... | ||
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Heat may explain why West is grand - Deseret News
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The Ketelsen's!: Back From The Grand Canyon Star Party! Just a brief post to tell all we've returned safely from the Grand Canyon. It was a jamb-packed 4 days and the narrative of all that happened would likely bore everyone, so will touch on some of the high spots here. ... | ||
Geogypsy: Storm over Grand Canyon We were so absorbed with our noses against the rock we barely noticed this storm coming at us. But when we did, we all hightailed it back to the Lodge. I love seeing the many moods of Grand Canyon and hope you will too. ... | ||
backpacking tentsbad » Trusts and Estates: Backpacking Grand . In April 2005, I backpacked the Grand Canyon since the gold medal at intervals. almost always deflating I was accompanied by means of my confrere, Gary Leister, and my son, Jason Tompkins. We hiked the South Rim routes, descending the ... | ||
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Untamed, unequaled: Colorado River rafting - Denver Post
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Colorado man rescued after Grand Canyon fall (KRDO Colorado Springs) Associated Press - June 21, 2009 6:04 PM ET GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) - National Park Service officials have rescued a Colorado man who fell on his head during a hike in the Grand... | ||
THE WRITE SISTERS: Poetry Friday: From "The Grand Canyon" I've never seen the Grand Canyon. In a couple of weeks I will be there, looking over the edge, legs most likely feeling like rubber, but heart and mind awed by the imposing view. I searched for a poem that would prepare me. ... | ||
Geogypsy: Grand Canyon North Rim Lookout Tower Currently, North Rim Grand Canyon Arizona, United States: I've lived full-time in an RV for 12 years. I work as a seasonal Park Ranger six months and play the rest of the year. I'm too young to retire, yet old enough to know I don't ... | ||
National Park memory--Grand Canyon from different perspectives - Examiner.com
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Grand Canyon fraught with peril for unprepared (Park Hills Daily Journal) GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) EUR” Frank Poole worked out at a gym and hiked around his Mississippi home carrying a weighted pack for months in preparation for his trip to the Grand Canyon... | ||
The Jack Welch MBA Coming to Web - Wall Street Journal
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Colorado Man Rescued After Grand Canyon Fall (CBS4 Denver) National Park Service officials have rescued a Colorado man who fell on his head during a hike in the Grand Canyon. NPS spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge says the 60-year-old Boulder man was climbing in a drainage off a popular trail about two miles below the South Rim on Sunday morning when he fell a short distance and landed on his head... | ||
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