Grand Canyon Skywalk: Difference between revisions

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36°0′44″N 113°48′40″W / 36.01222°N 113.81111°W / 36.01222; -113.81111 The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a tourist attraction along the Colorado River on the edge of the Grand Canyon (Grand Canyon West) in the U.S. state of Arizona. It was funded by the Hualapai Indian tribe in partnership with Chinese-American businessman David Jin.^[1]

The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway stands at a 3,600 feet (1,100 m) height above the floor of the canyon, a height exceeding those of the world's tallest skyscrapers.^[2] The Skywalk is not directly above the main canyon, Granite Gorge, which contains the Colorado River. Instead it extends over a side canyon and affords a view into the main canyon.^[3] USGS topographic maps show the elevation at the Skywalk's location as 4,770 ft (1,450 m) and the elevation of the Colorado River in the base of the canyon as 1,160 ft (350 m), and they show that the height of the exactly vertical drop directly under the skywalk is between 500 ft (150 m) and 800 ft (240 m).^[4]

Commissioned and owned by the Hualapai Indian tribe, it was unveiled March 20, 2007, and opened to the general public on March 28, 2007. It is accessed via the Grand Canyon West Airport terminal or a 120 mile (190 km) drive from Las Vegas, which includes an unpaved and bumpy 18 mile (29 km) stretch.

Technical achievement

The Skywalk protrudes 20 metres (66 ft) beyond the edge of the canyon. The walls and floor are built from glass 2 inches (50.8 mm) thick. The glass appears tinted on both edges; however, this is a protective cushioning for the glass. This running along the sides can be used as a sort of "safe zone" by nervous visitors. While the Skywalk is capable of holding 70 tons of weight (the equivalent of 800 people weighing 80 kg (176 lb) each), the permitted capacity is limited to 200 persons. Visitors are provided with shoe covers to protect them from slipping and to prevent the glass floor from being scratched. The Skywalk was built by the French company Saint-Gobain.

Construction began in March 2004. It was rolled onto the edge of the canyon on March 7, 2007, after passing several days of testing to replicate weather, strength, and endurance conditions of its final destination. The structure was built to withstand up to 100 mph (160 km/h) winds and a magnitude 8 earthquake.^[3] Tuned mass dampers were used to minimize vibration from wind and pedestrians.

Cornerstone of a larger plan

According to Hualapai officials, the cost of the Skywalk was $31 million.^[5] Future plans for the Grand Canyon Skywalk complex include a museum, movie theater, VIP lounge, gift shop, and several restaurants including a high-end restaurant called The Skywalk Café where visitors will be able to dine outdoors at the canyon's rim. The Skywalk is the cornerstone of a larger plan by the Hualapai tribe, which it hopes will be the catalyst for a 9,000 acres (36.42 km²) development to be called Grand Canyon West; it would open up a 100 miles (160 km) stretch along the canyon's South Rim and include hotels, restaurants, a golf course, and a cable car to ferry visitors from the canyon rim to the Colorado River, which has been previously inaccessible. ^[5]

Controversy

Hualapai

Opponents within the tribe view the project as disturbing sacred ground.^[1] Supporters within the tribe counter that it is an opportunity to generate much-needed cash to combat serious problems that plague the small 2,000-resident reservation, including a 50% unemployment rate, widespread alcoholism, and poverty.^[5] Other tribal members are happy with the Skywalk, but they have expressed concern over future over-development. They are also concerned about the potential lack of sustainability because the water used in both the development and the neighboring Grand Canyon National Park is not taken from the Colorado River but piped or trucked in from elsewhere.^[5]

Access and Pricing

Access to the Skywalk can be made from Las Vegas, NV in the North or Kingman, AZ in the South, via Highway 93. Both roads converge on Dolan Springs, the only access leading to Diamond Bar Road. Diamond Bar Road, as at June 20 2009, is currently being reconstructed. It consists of 20 miles of an ungraded gravel and dirt road, with several detours through gully washes. The average travel time across the unsealed road can extend to an hour.

Parking at The Skywalk is provided but access to the Skywalk is only permitted by supplied coach buses. The cost of the coach ride as at June 20 2009 is $30, which will take you the Skywalk and two other viewing areas. There is also an additional fee of $45 for being on Hualapai land making the total cost $75 per person. No personal equipment is allowed on the Skywalk and lockers are provided. No photographs may be taken by visitors to the Skywalk; however, up to three photography stations are installed. Photographs taken may be purchased in the gift shop at $29 each.

Environmentalists and others

People outside of the tribe, including Arizona environmental groups and former National Park officials, have expressed concern about the project's obtrusiveness in the natural environment, considering it a defacement of a national treasure. Some have suggested it is ironic that the Hualapai had argued they were the best caregivers and stewards of the Grand Canyon, and yet decided to exploit it in this way.^[5] Tribal leaders counter that the 4.5 million people a year who visit the National Park portion are already overburdening an area and, further, that the tribe needs financial income. The tribe's 1 million-acre (4,000 km²) reservation attracts approximately 200,000 visitors a year and charges for rim-side weddings and stunt jumps, including one by Robbie Knievel. The tribe made a foray into opening a casino but it has not been able to generate sufficient income.^[5]

Gallery

The view of the canyon next to the skywalk

References

^ ^a ^b Grand Canyon glass Skywalk opens. BBC. 2007-03-20.
^ Bright, Adam M (2006-05-11). "Skywalk to offer thrilling Grand Canyon view". CNN. Retrieved 2006-05-13.
^ ^a ^b Yost, Mark. Close to the Edge, Wall Street Journal. 2007-04-10. Cite error: The named reference "WSJ041007" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ Acme mapper: USGS topographic map
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Cart, Julie. Grand Canyon Skywalk opens deep divide. Los Angeles Times. 2007-02-11. Cite error: The named reference "LAT001" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

External links

Grand Canyon Skywalk official website
Washington Post Photo Gallery
Destination Grand Canyon West official site
Grand Canyon West Tours from Las Vegas
Robbins, Ted, "Sneak Preview: The Grand Canyon Skywalk", Morning Edition, National Public Radio, March 21, 2007.
Discovery Channel construction photos and video report. (Video requires broadband Canadian ISP connection).
The Grand Canyon Skywalk Video Review
Consulting services performed by RWDI

[BBC001-1] Grand Canyon glass Skywalk opens. BBC. 2007-03-20.

[2] Bright, Adam M (2006-05-11). "Skywalk to offer thrilling Grand Canyon view". CNN. Retrieved 2006-05-13.

[WSJ041007-3] Yost, Mark. Close to the Edge, Wall Street Journal. 2007-04-10. Cite error: The named reference "WSJ041007" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

[acme-4] Acme mapper: USGS topographic map

[LAT001-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Cart, Julie. Grand Canyon Skywalk opens deep divide. Los Angeles Times. 2007-02-11. Cite error: The named reference "LAT001" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

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@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 The [[horseshoe]]-shaped [[glass]] walkway stands at a {{convert|3600|ft|m}} height above the floor of the canyon, a height exceeding those of the world's tallest skyscrapers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Skywalk to offer thrilling Grand Canyon view |first= Adam M |last=Bright |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/05/11/grand.canyon.skywalk/index.html?section=cnn_tech |work=CNN |date =2006-05-11 |accessdate = 2006-05-13 }}</ref> The Skywalk is not directly above the main canyon, Granite Gorge, which contains the Colorado River. Instead it extends over a side canyon and affords a view into the main canyon.<ref name=WSJ041007>Yost, Mark.  [http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110009920 Close to the Edge], ''Wall Street Journal''. [[2007-04-10]].</ref> [[USGS]] topographic maps show the elevation at the Skywalk's location as {{convert|4770|ft|m|abbr=on}} and the elevation of the Colorado River in the base of the canyon as {{convert|1160|ft|m|abbr=on}}, and they show that the height of the exactly vertical drop directly under the skywalk is between {{convert|500|ft|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|800|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="acme">[http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=36.012222,-113.811111&z=18&t=R&marker0=36.012222,-113.811111,Grand%20Canyon%20Skywalk Acme mapper]: USGS topographic map</ref>
-Commissioned and owned by the [[Hualapai|Hualapai Indian tribe]], it was unveiled [[March 20]], [[2007]], and opened to the general public on [[March 28]], [[2007]]. It is accessed via the Grand Canyon West Airport terminal or a {{convert|120|mi|km|-1}} drive from Las Vegas, which includes an unpaved and bumpy {{convert|18|mi|km|0}} stretch.
+Commissioned and owned by the [[Hualapai|Hualapai Indian tribe]], it was unveiled [[March 20]], [[2007]], and opened to the general public on [[March 28]], [[2007]]. It is accessed via the Grand Canyon West Airport terminal or a 120 mile (190 km) drive from Las Vegas, which includes an unpaved and bumpy 18 mile (29 km) stretch.
 ==Technical achievement==