Grand Canyon glass bridge to open

[Evan G]

[center]Grand Canyon glass bridge to open
Visitors to the Grand Canyon are to get stunning views from a raised glass platform being inaugurated on Tuesday.
http://tinyurl.com/2owumm[/center]

[center][/center]

Rising 4,000ft (1,220m) from the canyon's floor and 70ft (20m) beyond its rim, the Skywalk is being described as an engineering first.

The Hualapai Indians, who own the site, are hoping to attract visitors to a high unemployment area.

But some tribal members say this is a desecration of sacred ground and environmentalists are also concerned.

Former astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin will be among the first to go onto the walkway on Tuesday.

How the Skywalk measures up to other constructions

Construction of the Skywalk began in March 2004 - and will open to the public on 28 March with 120 people allowed on the platform at any one time.

The bridge will be able to sustain winds in excess of 100mph (161km/h), as well as an 8.0-magnitude earthquake within 50 miles (80.5km).

[center][/center]

Las Vegas businessman David Jin raised the money to build the Skywalk which will be given to the Hualapai in exchange for a percentage of the profits.

"When we have so much poverty and so much unemployment, we have to do something," Sheri Yellowhawk, told the Associated Press news agency.

"It sounded like a good idea."

The BBC's Andy Gallacher says that, for the majority, this is an investment that will bring much needed cash.

But some members of the Hualapai tribe have voiced concerns that the project will disturb sacred lands.

"When that Skywalk came about it hit me like I was being stabbed," said Dolores Honga, a tribal elder.

[center]BBC Cont.:http://tinyurl.com/2owumm[/center]

[CaverScott]

FYI - I heard a report on NPR this morning.

[Squirrel Girl]

The best pictures I could find were on AZ Central:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/

[Scott McCrea]

On rope!

[Evan G]

On rope!

No doubt! Maybe a western bridge day?

[Scott McCrea]

I just canceled my order for a 4000' rope. Looks like the a few hundred feet may do the job. Here's the (under construction) satellite photo location on Google Maps: LINK
It's almost 4k feet vertical distance to the river, but straight down is not nearly that far. Oh well.

[Phil Winkler]

With a rappel that far I'd be afraid of falling asleep anyway.

[Mike Cato]

Yeah, you can run Google Earth and find the site by pecking in "Grand Canyon West" in the "fly to" box. The site is north of the airport.

Then, play with the tilt feature to bring out the 3D effect and you can see that at the point where it hangs out it couldn't be more than a few hundred feet. Probably pretty intense anyway as you look through the glass and out toward the really deep parts. (Used the measuring tool and found it's less than 1500 feet to the very bottom.)

But sadly no big straight drop rappel...

...maybe a "J" style?

[Squirrel Girl]

I just canceled my order for a 4000' rope. Looks like the a few hundred feet may do the job. Here's the (under construction) satellite photo location on Google Maps: LINK
It's almost 4k feet vertical distance to the river, but straight down is not nearly that far. Oh well.

OK, so It's not 4000' to the bottom. But it is impressive! (especially when you're scared of heights)

[Evan G]

Here are some more images:

http://tinyurl.com/2m3mb8

It looks like a really nice fishing platform

[fuzzy-hair-man]

This even made it to our TV news over here.

[Squirrel Girl]

First off, here's what *they* say the height is:
http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/compare.html

Second off, they are denying all extreme sports. Too bad. They ought to do something like once/month allow extreme sports enthusiasts. They're whole point was to make money. This would do it, and do it in a way to not overly interfere with ordinary gawkers, and it would cut back on the BASE poachers.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2995501&page=1

[Stridergdm]

First off, here's what *they* say the height is:
http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/compare.html

Second off, they are denying all extreme sports. Too bad. They ought to do something like once/month allow extreme sports enthusiasts. They're whole point was to make money. This would do it, and do it in a way to not overly interfere with ordinary gawkers, and it would cut back on the BASE poachers.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2995501&page=1

I'd have to check the topos, but I think the problem the BASE jumpers would have is getting the heck back out.

[David_Campen]

One of my wife's students went here over Easter vacation - she did not think it was worth the $75 per person ($50 to enter the reservation, $25 for the skywalk) plus very long drive. You are not even allowed to take photos or video and are only allowed 15 minutes on the skywalk (not that there was any reason to want more).

[Squirrel Girl]

One of my wife's students went here over Easter vacation - she did not think it was worth the $75 per person ($50 to enter the reservation, $25 for the skywalk) plus very long drive. You are not even allowed to take photos or video and are only allowed 15 minutes on the skywalk (not that there was any reason to want more).

Hokey smokes. That's amazing. I wonder what's with the 15 minute limit. I can't imagine there are so many people clamouring to get on that they have to keep people shuffling through.

I sort of understand the no picture rule. I don't like it, but kind of understand. But on the other hand, why wouldn't it all be about as good to be right on the edge? I just as soon take a walk on a trail myself.