Replies

1. 
   Heck | Mar 21, 2007 12:59am | #1

   GRAND CANYON WEST, Ariz. - Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin took the ceremonial first step Tuesday onto a glass-bottomed walkway overhanging the Grand Canyon that backers hope will lure tourists to the remote west rim.

   A private developer from Las Vegas built the $40 million horseshoe-shaped walkway, called the Skywalk, with the permission of the Hualapai tribe, whose ancestral lands abut the southwest rim of the canyon in Arizona.

   The steel pathway, which is paved with 90 tons of toughened glass, is cantilevered 70-feet out over the lip to give steel-nerved visitors a dizzying glimpse of the Colorado River Valley nearly a mile below.

   The project has stirred controversy on the Hualapai Reservation, where backers say it will create valuable jobs but opponents condemn it as a desecration of a sacred landscape.

   Aldrin, 77, strode out onto the transparent pathway, waving to a crowd of about 1,000 tourists, dignitaries and tribal members, to meet a group of Hualapai elders and children in the center coming from the other direction.

   "I felt wonderful, not exactly floating on air ... but a vision of hope for the future," said Aldrin, who was the second man to walk on the moon.

   The astronaut's few steps marked the official inauguration of the project, which backers hope will draw up to half-a-million paying visitors this year to the site some 120 miles east of Las Vegas.

   It is due to open to tourists on March 28 who will pay $25 each to tread their way around the glass arc, which is bolted to the lip of the plunging canyon.

   DEVELOPMENT OR DESECRATION?

   Sightseers gathered on the rim of the gorge to watch the retired moonwalker step out onto the pathway.

   "It's going to go down in the history books but I'm not sure I will walk out on it," said Joan Stewart, a bookmaker from Las Vegas, who came to see the inauguration.

   "It's a long way down and there's water at the bottom," she said as she peered over the canyon's rim.

   Supporters say the peach-colored walkway will create hundreds of jobs for tribal members on the sprawling pine-covered reservation, where poverty is rife and unemployment stands at around 50 percent.

   But traditionalists say the construction violates the hallowed natural landscape of the canyon, which is central to the tribe's creation stories.

   According to tradition, the Hualapai's ancestors emerged from the plunging gorge. Some elders believe their blood stained parts of it a deep red.

   Although the Hualapai Reservation runs for more than 100 miles along the Grand Canyon, the tribe so far only manages to woo some 300,000 visitors a year, just a fraction of the 4 million paying visitors who trek to the canyon each year.

   Tribal traditionalist Wilfred Whatoname was opposed to the project initially but said he has come around.

   "It's here now so I am hoping for the best. Maybe one day I'll come to embrace it," Whatoname told Reuters as he stood by the canyon with the wind blowing feathers braided in his hair.

   _______________________________________________________________

   It ain't what you make, it's what you don't spend
   

2. 
   calvin | Mar 21, 2007 12:59am | #2

   Thanks. 

   With all the talk around here being the great view OR the detriment of a prestine area, what's your take?   I've never been there before, should be hung for all the places I've never been to......

   edit:  I see now that the controversey isn't just common to the story here.  You're semi close, what do you think?

   A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   http://www.quittintime.com/

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 3/20/2007 6:03 pm ET by calvin

1. 
   Heck | Mar 21, 2007 01:04am | #4

   Been there many times, each time was an experience unique.

   I probably would have to say I don't like the idea of the skywalk, but it is there, as is Glenn Canyon Dam.

   I am convinced that geologic time will take care of erasing all of our follies and triumphs._______________________________________________________________

   It ain't what you make, it's what you don't spend

1. 
   Lansdown | Mar 21, 2007 04:43am | #12

   Did the South Rim years ago, way too touristy for my liking. Prefer the North Rim, hiked the Kabib Trail.

1. 
   Heck | Mar 21, 2007 06:08am | #16

   Yep. It's been a few years, but I lived in Flagstaff for 10 years, and I spent a lot of time in all that country; South rim in the winter-marvelous!; North rim- like a whole 'nother world; Lake Powell, Glenn canyon- had a buddy who guided trout fisherman there, he had 3 jet boats.

   I still miss it._______________________________________________________________

   It ain't what you make, it's what you don't spend

1. 
   Pierre1 | Mar 21, 2007 06:57am | #18

   We checked out the N rim for the reasons others mentioned, and were not swamped by visitors. Camped on the edge of the canyon, in the adjoining Nat. Forest's pine forest, maybe 8000' elev.

   The whole Colorado basin - from CO to CA - is fascinating and ought to be a must-see on anyone's list.

   Edit: Aldrin - met him very briefly once in a shopping centre, 20 years ago maybe. He was there to promote something or other. Looked like an astronaut should, but in a nice suit. No moonboots.

   Did not hear Aldrin speak and still wish I had. Those guys were something else weren't they.

   Edited 3/21/2007 12:02 am ET by Pierre1

2. 
   tek | Mar 21, 2007 11:31pm | #20

   I am convinced that geologic time will take care of erasing all of our follies and triumphs.

   My thoughts exactly.

3. 
   Shep | Mar 21, 2007 01:03am | #3

   I was talking to a friend about that walk a week or so ago.

   neiher of us plan on going on that thing while we're alive.

   More power to those willing to walk out there, but if I'm going out somewhere where its thousands of feet above ground, I want wings.

1. 
   Heck | Mar 21, 2007 01:05am | #5

   Some fool will base jump off of the thing, you watch. Or worse._______________________________________________________________

   It ain't what you make, it's what you don't spend

1. 
   Shep | Mar 21, 2007 05:05am | #14

   I know someone will drop a coin or rock or something off it to see how long it takes to hit bottom.

   Its just not gonna be me.

4. 
   rwjiudice | Mar 21, 2007 01:37am | #6

   I'm just waiting for one of the engineers for that skywalk to post a question here (to Piffen) asking if it was "OK to notch the bottom of the cantilevered joists, or should I have notched the top to run Romex to the light ??"

   oh, oh

5. 
   davidmeiland | Mar 21, 2007 01:54am | #7

   Initial artists' renderings of that project made it look much more dramatic. As a lifelong GC backpacker I think the whole idea is terrible--the entire south rim is already designed for drive-by visits from RVers.

   http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/skywalk.asp

1. 
   RRooster | Mar 21, 2007 01:58am | #8

   I've been to the GC many times, hiked down and back and camped overnight by the river,,,,,,,,,I'll never go out on that thing.  It's just about money for the tribe.

   $25 per person.  Better than a casino, I guess.

    

   For good new rock music, click on: http://www.wolfmother.com

    

    

   Edited 3/20/2007 7:00 pm ET by RRooster

1. 
   Snort | Mar 21, 2007 03:28am | #9

   Dang, looks like the next target for The Monkeywrench Gang<G>...look out beloooooow... Outside of the gates the trucks were unloadin',

   The weather was hot, a-nearly 90 degrees.

   The man standin' next to me, his head was exploding,

   Well, I was prayin' the pieces wouldn't fall on me.

1. 
   plantlust | Mar 21, 2007 04:36am | #10

   Anyone else but me see a GIGANTIC slingshot?I LOVE the smell of primer in the evening.

1. 
   Lansdown | Mar 21, 2007 04:41am | #11

   I see a gigantic magnet.

2. 
   plantlust | Mar 21, 2007 04:44am | #13

   Ooooooo you are right. I was aiming the slingshot over the canyon & not trying to attract cars from the parking lot<g>.I LOVE the smell of primer in the evening.

6. 
   Link | Mar 21, 2007 05:23am | #15

   I've been to both rims many times.  If you can only go to one, go to the North rim.  It is very difficult to really see down into the canyon with out going at least part way down into the canyon.  This is not possible for a lot of people.  The Indians built this on their land to help bring in some money to the tribe.  The poverty level of the local tribes are abysmal.  what's considered a good job for a person is spending the day driving tourists around in a 1950's truck for the tips.  Minus what you have to kick back to the guy that actually owns the truck and the route.  For many people the only income is selling crap jewlery to tourists at rest stops along the highway.

   If this helps out some of the tribes people and allows some tourists to see the canyon that wouldn't be able to -- I think it's great.  Much better than a casino.

   If this is to political, I'm sorry.  But this bothered me a lot when I was visiting that part of the country.

1. 
   Heck | Mar 21, 2007 06:11am | #17

   I see what you're saying. I don't absolutely disagree. It would be nice if everything could stay in it's natural state, but, as I stated earlier in this thread, it's all relative- and fleeting when you think in terms of geologic time.

   However much we muck it up, nature will eventually have her way._______________________________________________________________

   It ain't what you make, it's what you don't spend

7. 
   JeffBuck | Mar 21, 2007 11:03pm | #19

   "I went to see the coolest site in America and there were other people there and it ruined my inner peace ... blah blah blah bitch moan bitch moan cry cry cry .... etc ...."

    

   but to answer the original Q ... hubcap's are supposed to hit the canyon this summer. I recommended the train up from Williams. Very cool ...

   then again ... there were other people ... and it's "tourist-y" ... so I'm sure it'd ruin the whole thing for half this crowd.

   Jeff

    

    

    

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