From: Aiko (dlvdisc@geekbabe.com)
Date: Fri Jun 08 2007 - 22:58:14 CDT
In the DLV photo Staging 7, are some images that some
of you may be wondering what they are, and where they
were taken. Although the images are not of an
official DLV activity, they were taken just prior to
the start of DLV week.
Yes, the pictures are of the Skywalk. The Skywalk is
a horseshoe shaped bridge that goes out seventy feet
from the edge of the Grand Canyon, and has a glass
floor. The ground below the Skywalk is 4,000 feet
down.
Four of us went there on the Sunday prior to DLV.
The hardest part of the trip was getting there. It
takes time to get over Hoover Dam, then another 43
miles to the Dolan Springs turnoff, then another 49
miles to the Grand Canyon West airport. The last 49
miles includes 14 miles of very bad dirt road.
It took even longer on the return trip due to a
traffic jam at Hoover Dam. When the new by-pass
bridge past Hoover Dam is completed, the whole journey
should be much quicker.
Rumor is that the 14 miles of dirt road should be
paved by late August this year, but that's just a
rumor.
After arriving at Grand Canyon West, we were guided
into a building where we paid the $75 fee/each to go
to the Skywalk. Then, we boarded a bus for the two
mile trip to the Skywalk.
Cameras, cell phones, or anything metal is not allowed
on the bridge. You must go through a metal detector,
similar to airport security, before you can go on the
Skywalk. Your shoes have to be covered with a cloth
cover, supplied by security just prior to walking onto
the glass floor.
Since cameras are not allowed over the Grand Canyon on
the Skywalk, there is a photographer who can take your
picture while on the bridge. For a fee of $15, you
can buy a picture, which we did.
Visiting the Skywalk was actually very interesting and
something I was looking forward to since viewing it on
television during its grand opening. The fee of $75
is somewhat spendy, but does include lunch.
Prior to making any plans for the Skywalk, try to
visit it on a sunny day with little wind. The day we
went was quite cold and very windy, so anyone wearing
a wig should keep that in mind. :)
I'm not sure about this being a DLV mid-week
mainstream activity, since it does take the better
portion of a day just in travel time, and the cost is
about $100 (fee, fuel donation, and picture). Another
option would be to hire a tour company. There were
some "Pink Jeep Tours" vehicles that passed us on the
way, and were parked in the GCW parking lot.
I'm glad I went, and the others were too. It takes
your breath away when stepping onto the glass floor
that's 4,000 feet above the ground below. :)
I wonder, how do they clean the bottom of the glass
floor? :)
Aiko
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