Grand Canyon Skywalk

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » November 1, 2005 10:29 pm

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... anyon.html

August 26, 2005—Fear of heights? This is definitely no place for you.

The all-glass, balcony-like "Skywalk"--shown in an illustration released this week--will extend over the edge of the Grand Canyon, 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) above the Colorado River.

"The Skywalk will be an attraction unlike any other in the world," said Sheri Yellowhawk, CEO of the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation. The company is building the bridge in the Hualapai Indian Reservation on the south rim of the canyon.

The Skywalk is scheduled to open to the public in January 2006 as part of a new resort on the reservation. The resort, known as Grand Canyon West, is to include a re-created Indian village and a restaurant perched on the edge of the canyon. Tourism is the reservation's biggest source of income.

Grand Canyon West will be on the western edge of Grand Canyon National Park, about 120 miles (about 200 kilometers) from Las Vegas. But perhaps not even the Las Vegas Strip's over-the-top attractions will be a match for this glass-bottom walkway over the world's biggest gorge.

—David Braun

Crazy Navy Flyer · Post by **Crazy Navy Flyer** » November 1, 2005 10:30 pm

No way..no how. Don't think there's enough rum anywhere to get me drunk enough to crawl out on that thing.

Lastplaneout · Post by **Lastplaneout** » November 1, 2005 10:37 pm

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:No way..no how. Don't think there's enough rum anywhere to get me drunk enough to crawl out on that thing.

You're not joking...hell I about freaked out up in the lighthouse in KW...can't do it. Been to the GRand Canyon...hell I don't like standing near any kind of edge...no sir

Crazy Navy Flyer · Post by **Crazy Navy Flyer** » November 1, 2005 10:41 pm

Lastplaneout wrote:
Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:No way..no how. Don't think there's enough rum anywhere to get me drunk enough to crawl out on that thing.
You're not joking...hell I about freaked out up in the lighthouse in KW...can't do it. Been to the GRand Canyon...hell I don't like standing near any kind of edge...no sir

Same here, won't get near the edge. Inside an aircraft is OK at any altitude, (except a helicopter, anything above 1500 is an unnatural act

)

Sam · Post by **Sam** » November 1, 2005 11:10 pm

What's the big deal? Most people have no problem walking on a 2X4 that is on the ground. Move that 2X4 up 4 feet off the ground and se what happens.... then move it 20 feet off the ground.
It is all about perception...
The Grand Canyon is nothing but a ditch....okies a big ditch! BUT it is still a ditch.

CNF I have been in helicopters and we went from 3,000 FT to the ground in under or around 30 seconds....it was a real E- ticket Ride too!!! Disney and Universal Studios should invest in them!!!

Lightning Bolt · Post by **Lightning Bolt** » November 1, 2005 11:16 pm

That overlook just looks gaudy and over-the-top (no pun...)

I hung my legs over the edge of the top of Bright Angel Trail last fall.
Heights don't seem to faze me (until the day I fall, I suppose

)

Sam · Post by **Sam** » November 1, 2005 11:25 pm

Lightning Bolt wrote:That overlook just looks gaudy and over-the-top (no pun...)

I hung my legs over the edge of the top of Bright Angel Trail last fall.
Heights don't seem to faze me (until the day I fall, I suppose )

Don't ever worry about the fall..... just be concerned about the sudden stop at the bottom.

Lightning Bolt · Post by **Lightning Bolt** » November 1, 2005 11:43 pm

Sam wrote:
Lightning Bolt wrote:That overlook just looks gaudy and over-the-top (no pun...)

I hung my legs over the edge of the top of Bright Angel Trail last fall.
Heights don't seem to faze me (until the day I fall, I suppose )
Don't ever worry about the fall..... just be concerned about the sudden stop at the bottom.

Really, though...

Isn't that whast everyone is so fearful of when they talk about their fear of heights? The endless, helpless falling.....

Sam · Post by **Sam** » November 1, 2005 11:55 pm

Lightning Bolt wrote:
Sam wrote:
Lightning Bolt wrote:That overlook just looks gaudy and over-the-top (no pun...)

I hung my legs over the edge of the top of Bright Angel Trail last fall.
Heights don't seem to faze me (until the day I fall, I suppose )
Don't ever worry about the fall..... just be concerned about the sudden stop at the bottom.

Really, though...

Isn't that whast everyone is so fearful of when they talk about their fear of heights? The endless, helpless falling.....

Seriously falling from great heights there is no real sensation of falling. Maybe different in the Canyon, but during freefall you have nothing to judge distance against and you don't want to stare at the ground or you get fixated with what is called "ground rush".
Only thing you are really "sensory aware" of in freefall is the noise/sound of the wind rushing by your ears and feeling it against your body. It is a very most intense peaceful relaxing feeling. Hard to explain until you have actually done it..it is sort of like trying really great sex to a virgin and I am not making a joke.

They have had these huge fans for a while now, that can simulate freefall and some places supposedly have them for rides. Skydivers some military units use them for training.

Lightning Bolt · Post by **Lightning Bolt** » November 2, 2005 12:19 am

Sam wrote:
Lightning Bolt wrote:
Sam wrote:
Lightning Bolt wrote:That overlook just looks gaudy and over-the-top (no pun...)

I hung my legs over the edge of the top of Bright Angel Trail last fall.
Heights don't seem to faze me (until the day I fall, I suppose )
Don't ever worry about the fall..... just be concerned about the sudden stop at the bottom.

Really, though...

Isn't that whast everyone is so fearful of when they talk about their fear of heights? The endless, helpless falling.....
Seriously falling from great heights there is no real sensation of falling. Maybe different in the Canyon, but during freefall you have nothing to judge distance against and you don't want to stare at the ground or you get fixated with what is called "ground rush".
Only thing you are really "sensory aware" of in freefall is the noise/sound of the wind rushing by your ears and feeling it against your body. It is a very most intense peaceful relaxing feeling. Hard to explain until you have actually done it..it is sort of like trying really great sex to a virgin and I am not making a joke.

They have had these huge fans for a while now, that can simulate freefall and some places supposedly have them for rides. Skydivers some military units use them for training.

I went skydiving for that very reason...
to overcome a fear of free-falling that seemed to plague me through the occasional nightmare!
I had to really experience this!

It was amazing... jumped solo via static line and...
it did the trick in solving my nightmares!!
I no longer had an irrational fear of falling

Sam · Post by **Sam** » November 2, 2005 12:36 am

Lightning Bolt wrote: I went skydiving for that very reason...
to overcome a fear of free-falling that seemed to plague me through the occasional nightmare!
I had to really experience this!

It was amazing... jumped solo via static line and...
it did the trick in solving my nightmares!!
I no longer had an irrational fear of falling

KEWLIES, Sad to hear about probs but I AM MOST GLAD you faced and cured them. But a static line jump is different from a freefall jump.

It is different once the chute opens. ( That can be a REAL E-Ticket ride too, if you have right kind of chute......)

Jason Mason · Post by **Jason Mason** » November 2, 2005 12:39 am

Ha! Not for Ian.........

mings · Post by **mings** » November 2, 2005 9:19 am

I'm up for anything once. That may be tough, but I'd give it a go. BUT if I see some huge fat guy/lady - I'm the first one off.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » November 2, 2005 9:21 am

That would be awesome!!! I don't really have an issue with heights. I'm sure I might breathe a little heavy up there...but I'd definitely give it a try.

shakerofsalt · Post by **shakerofsalt** » November 2, 2005 9:22 am

No f'n way would I even get close!

Jodibug · Post by **Jodibug** » November 2, 2005 9:23 am

No way, no how!! (a depth perception problem that causes a fear of heights)

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » November 2, 2005 9:23 am

buffettbride wrote:That would be awesome!!! I don't really have an issue with heights. I'm sure I might breathe a little heavy up there...but I'd definitely give it a try.

let's go together and hold each other

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » November 2, 2005 9:28 am

Not quite as hairy as the Grand Canyon Skywalk but still not for the squeamish is the Mile High Swingin' Bridge atop Grandfather Mountain in NC. When the winds a' blowin' and the bridge starts swayin' you sure don't wanna look down....

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » November 2, 2005 9:31 am

We have the world's highest suspension bridge here in Colorado. I've been there once and was very little so I don't remember much. Definitely worth a visit, though, if you're in southern Colorado.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » November 2, 2005 9:32 am

ph4ever wrote:
buffettbride wrote:That would be awesome!!! I don't really have an issue with heights. I'm sure I might breathe a little heavy up there...but I'd definitely give it a try.

let's go together and hold each other

You got it babe!!