A Day at The Grand Canyon Skywalk

The Crew SkyWalking 2016

As family events go, this one was successful. To gather us as Jon & and Marie did was really great. They even made scarves with SkyWalker 2016 embroidered in them.
      In life one is encouraged to live on the edge, no fear, and this experience was literal to that. This vertical territory is, as my son Bill put it, on the misstep edge of death. But the other side of that is then the obviousness of life. The day was cool but bright sun and no wind. The photographers agreed that most of the time there is some sort of wind. But calm prevailed for us and our hardy group, fearlessly looking straight down for a couple of thousand feet! Well some where fearless. Others had cautious optimism that this structure was well built. We went on to visit Guano Point and see the structures that use to haul bat guano out of the canyon for fertilizer.  
                                   

     The tourist also visiting Grand Canyon West were mainly Chinese, Japanese and Korean so it seem as if english was the minority language. But it is what I have experienced on the North and South Rim also. This place is truly international. The helicopters and the utilization of the part of the canyon disturbs some of the solitude for those finishing a three week float to Pearce Ferry and it highlights the problem of here, plans at the Little Colorado and Lake Powell. Many visit this form of attraction that would not hike in or raft down the canyon below. Our National Parks are America's best idea, but Edward Abbey warned that we could love them to death. But the number of people visiting here on this cold February day was impressive and you can see why the developers are encouraged to do something else up on the Little Colorado.

      This left over structure from the Guano Point is the kind of fingerprint mankind leaves throughout the west. Should we be making more?
      In the meantime, thank you to my family for making this such a nice place to be together for a little while. The views are pretty spectacular. And the drive across the four corner region was lovely as we made our way back to the cold here in Salida.
    So back by the Arkansas with ice on its edges and snow on its banks. I guess we will sit by the fire and wait for spring.. Will by the River.