Grand Canyon News

Andy Warhol once said that everyone is famous for at least 15 minutes.  Pam Wasner of Phillips, Wisconsin will certainly be enjoying at least that much notoriety in the next few weeks as she and her husband Jim became the first customers to set bootie-covered foot on the American Southwest’s newest sensation, the Grand Canyon Skywalk.  They camped overnight to secure their place in line, and they were not alone. 

Yesterday was the official opening day of the long-awaited, much-hyped glass-bottomed walkway jutting 70 feet out from Eagle Point at the Grand Canyon’s Western rim on the Hualapai Indian Reservation.  Thousands of people journeyed to this remote corner of Northern Arizona to share the distinction of being among the first to walk on – or just look at – this innovative yet controversial attraction.  They came by car, bus, hummer, motorcycle, plane and helicopter.  The consensus?  It’s not cheap ($75 a pop)… it’s hard to get to (20 miles of washboard road to the Grand Canyon West complex)… it’s not quite finished (the publicized cafe and gift shop have yet to be built)… but all things considered, it’s a hit.  

Ms. Wasner stated that she “still had goosebumps” long after stepping off the horseshoe-shaped platform hanging high in the air above the Colorado River.  Her husband Jim likened the experience to walking on a pond when it first freezes and you can see fish swimming below you.  Even those who were a bit dubious at first were impressed.  Check out this video. 

It is hoped that the Grand Canyon Skywalk will generate much-needed revenue for the 2,000 member Hualapai Tribe, who have grappled with widespread poverty and unemployment for decades, especially after Route 66 was bypassed by Interstate 40 in the 1970’s.  Their visitor services complex, Grand Canyon West, has been in development since the early 1990’s and presently includes an airstrip and helipads, a small airport terminal with a cafe and gift shop, a barbecue/picnic area at Guano Point, a cowboy town, an Indian village, amphitheatre and stables.  Various Grand Canyon tour companies offer airplane, helicopter, Hummer and jeep tours to the area.  Most tours operate from Las Vegas due to its proximity to Grand Canyon West, but tours are also available from Phoenix, Flagstaff, Sedona and Lake Powell.  The Hualapai Tribe also offer the only one-day Grand Canyon white water rafting excursion from Peach Springs, Arizona. 

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is not everyone’s cup of tea.  Its detractors have called it everything from an “eco-travesty” to a “butt-ugly eyesore” to an “architectural abortion.”  Even some members of the tribe share those feelings, viewing the steel and glass contraption as a desecration of sacred land.  A commentor in response to an article about the Skywalk in the Arizona Republic stated “I will never go to the Grand Canyon because of it.”  Why???  The Grand Canyon Skywalk, as we have stated repeatedly, is NOT located at Grand Canyon National Park.  If you visit Grand Canyon South Rim or North Rim, you won’t see the Skywalk.  You won’t be anywhere near it.  Grand Canyon West is situated on the Hualapai Indian Reservation and is therefore separate.  I would hate to see this poster deprive him/herself of the experience of visiting Grand Canyon National Park because of something they wouldn’t even see while they were there. 

As for us, we will always recommend that you go to Grand Canyon National Park if you possibly can, especially if it’s your first visit.  The South Rim in particular is still the “quintessential” Grand Canyon with vast, expansive views of the canyon and the Colorado River; the North Rim is “the connoisseur’s Grand Canyon,” offering a quieter, more “back-to-nature” experience.  If you go to the South Rim, you can still visit Grand Canyon West on our Colorado River Heli Adventure tour.  Or if you fly to Las Vegas, consider visiting Grand Canyon West on your way to Grand Canyon South Rim.  Remember, one of the main access roads is unpaved, and there is very little lodging in that immediate area.  But if you’re going to Las Vegas for a conference or convention, and you’re really squeezed for time for a Grand Canyon visit, Grand Canyon West is definitely an expedient and exciting alternative. 

‘til next time, Happy Skywalking! 

Alley Kaye

Well, you’ve gotta love the internet.  Within hours of Buzz Aldrin’s official “christening” of the Grand Canyon Skywalk at Grand Canyon West, the dispatches began pouring in and the kinda-sorta semi-official verdict is ……….. among those in favor………the Grand Canyon Skywalk is pretty cool.  Rob Cuthbert, a writer from Viator, had this to say about it:

“It’s brilliant. Despite the concerns of many, it takes absolutely nothing away from the Canyon, but instead adds a subtle yet powerful new dimension to the Canyon experience that every visitor willing to buy a pair of throw-away bootees for $25 will certainly enjoy. Actually, enjoy doesn’t quite seem like the right word, it’s maybe a little understated, but after the Skywalk experience, I’m at something of a loss for words… By the way: I wondered if the Skywalk would induce vertigo.  It’s a long sheer drop to the bottom, and the glass walkway is the only thing between you and the distant but no doubt merciless rock below. But no, it doesn’t seem to.  It’s about the most solid structure you can imagine.”

Understandably, the reservation lines at Grand Canyon West (www.destinationgrandcanyon.com) have been busy, but that’s what redial buttons are for.  Be persistent, be patient.

At Grandcanyon.com, our motto has always been “an informed traveler is a happy traveler,” so as we get a sense for the questions most asked about the Skywalk, we want to pass them on to you. 

Right now, one of the Grand Canyon area’s most popular activities is the Grand Canyon Railway historic train from Williams, Arizona.  When folks inquire about it, we always like to be sure and point out that the train does not ride along the canyon rim, but rather goes up to it from 60 miles due South.  You don’t see the canyon until you get off the train at the park.  It seems as though another misconception we’re going to have to actively dispel is the notion that the Grand Canyon Railway goes to where the Skywalk is.  The Grand Canyon Railway DOES NOT go to where the Grand Canyon Skywalk is at.

Again, and here’s where I’m being redundant, but this is important: the Grand Canyon Skywalk is situated at Grand Canyon West, which is part of the Hualapai Indian Reservation. it is NOT situated at Grand Canyon National Park.  The Grand Canyon Railway goes to Grand Canyon National Park South Rim. 

Some of you have also asked about the glass on the Grand Canyon Skywalk and how is it possible for 120 people to stand on the skywalk at the same time.  The answer: Ultra-Clear DuPont Sentry Glass.  For more information, read this article on PRNewswire.   Speaking of the glass, things like cameras and cell phones are apparently going to be banned on the Skywalk so the clarity of the glass can be maintained.  Hopefully the staff at Grand Canyon West will offer some other way to allow visitors to take home a memento of their trip on the Skywalk.  We’ll keep you posted on this “work in progress” at Grand Canyon West. 

Today’s the day…. it’s about that time… the event everyone in the Southwest is talking about…T minus three hours until astronaut Buzz Aldrin leads the ceremonial first walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk.  When contracted to help “christen” the innovative but controversial attraction at Grand Canyon West, Aldrin apparently joked about bringing a parachute.  I wonder if he actually will.  Aldrin will be joined by another retired astronaut, John Herrington, a Chickasaw Indian who rode aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 2002.

So would YOU walk on it?  Take a look at these pictures and judge for yourself…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6470000/newsid_6470400/6470453.stm

Now THERE’s the topic of our next Grand Canyon travel poll….

‘til next time, Happy Traveling and Happy Skywalking! 

Alley Kaye

Many Grand Canyon vacation planners, upon hearing about a particular tour or hotel that piques their interest, will say “tell me more about it.”  Well, right now, we can do you one better – we can SHOW you more about it! 

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a film has to be worth at least a million, and in the last few weeks we’ve gathered a nice little collection of informational videos about Grand Canyon hotels, tours and more.  Where can you see it?  None other than YouTube, of course.  We also have a lot of these videos posted on Google Video, but the cool thing about YouTube is that you’ll not only see Grand Canyon videos that we have made here in-house, but you can also check out the contributions of other people, like our tourism industry colleagues, past Grand Canyon visitors, and folks like you!  Just go to www.youtube.com and type in “GrandCanyon86023.” 

Right now our boss is heading to Las Vegas, and with a little luck, should see astronaut Buzz Aldrin lead the ceremonial first walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk tomorrow – we’ll keep you posted!

Happy viewing and Happy Travelling – Alley K

Are we Arizonans obstinate as mules, or what?  Back in the fall, we said, “we won’t back down.”  Well, we won’t “spring forward,” either!  

Just a friendly (and short) reminder as we make the jump to Daylight Savings Time, travellers: Arizona is on Mountain Standard Time year-round.  Of course, to every rule, there is an exception, and there is one here: the Navajo Indian Reservation DOES observe daylight savings time.  This would matter a great deal to those of you who are leaving Grand Canyon National Park headed for places like Monument Valley, Navajo National Monument or Canyon de Chelly.  These destinations will be one hour ahead.  So if you’re leaving Grand Canyon and doing a horseback ride in Monument Valley or perhaps a jeep tour of Canyon de Chelly when you arrive in the area, remember you’ll have to leave one hour early.  Same thing applies if you’re heading to Utah, Colorado or New Mexico. 

Confused?  Remember this one sentence that will bail you out of any quandary that comes your way on your Grand Canyon vacation: “WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK IT OUT!” 

L8R – Alley K

P.S.  Those of you saying “wow, these other places sound cool, tell me more!”  Well, we’ll SHOW you more – click this text link to view a short video on other incredible attractions you can easily enjoy on your Grand Canyon vacation!