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 by
Jacqueline Monahan
jaxn8r@msn.com
Photos by Judy Thorburn
A Grand
Las Vegas Daytrip: Grand Canyon West, Part I
Just 120 miles east of Las Vegas, Grand Canyon West beckons, due to the
gracious members of the indigenous Hualapai nation, (2000 strong) who
share their private land with visitors from around the world. Settlers
in the region since 600 A.D. the Hualapai are the owners and protectors
of more than one million acres throughout the western rim of the canyon,
which is not part of Grand Canyon National Park. More than 30 tour and
transportation companies attend to the region, making it possible to
customize your visit with a variety of options. Boat and off-road Hummer
tours are available, with river access via helicopter. The following is
an account of your humble correspondent’s adventure at the west rim:
With a rental car and two companions, we maneuvered past the Skywalk
sign, with an astonishing 21 miles to go. 14 were of a rough gravel road
and the final seven on blessed pavement. The gravel cause car tires to
kick up a dust storm so that cars before and after us obliterated the
road for anyone who followed. You’ll actually get a passive exercise
workout, bouncing around the car. It’s not advisable to go too fast, so
we spent 30 minutes feeling like microwave popcorn before hitting the
last seven miles of paved road. I was busy giving thanks for cement
mixers and construction crews.
Arriving at what looked like a small military airbase, we noticed
several helicopters and small planes in a continual cycle of take off
and landing. Our tour did not included air travel, but many tourists opt
for aerial views deep inside the canyon. It’s the only way to view the
lower canyon walls. It costs $25 to enter the Skywalk, although you must
buy a package first and have that option added on if it is not already
included. On-site package tours run from $29.95 – $199.00. My party
opted for the Sky package ($74.95) which included the Skywalk, along
with stops at the Indian Village, Eagle Point, Guano Point, Hualapai
Market and Hualapai Ranch.
Picnic on the ledge
Transportation on the property is by bus. Moving with a herd of people
is an inconvenience, but it’s the only way to get around here.
International tourists were plentiful and German, French, Italian, and
Japanese conversations could be overheard. There were plenty of
Americans along the way to swarm the line of busses waiting to take us
to the Indian Village. You’ll meet the dashboard of the bus more
intimately than you ever wanted to if you’re not careful. Some of the
internationals are experts at packing onto public transportation and
will happily demonstrate their aggressive boarding technique as you give
the windshield an unexpected and unwelcome kiss.
At the Indian Village, you’ll find Hualapai, Havasupai, Hopi, Navajo,
and Plains Indian dwellings, built by representatives of those tribes.
Some are made of pine logs; others are made of mud, pine branches or
animal hide. There’s a classic white tipi and a tiny brown sweat lodge,
used for relaxation and medicinal purposes, along with a small log
cabin-type dwelling. These are spaced along a trail where all are
welcome to visit and enter. Meanwhile, by the visitor’s center, you’ll
witness a tribal dance being performed in full native dress by one of
the Hualapai. Again, visitors are welcome to join the dance, a maneuver
I declined out of respect to my fellow tourists. No one dies (of
laughter) before we get to the dangerous points of interest.
Dwellings
Tribal Dance
Sweat Lodge
Onward to Eagle Point, the first magnificent rock landmark you’ll see
after arriving at the rim. You can also make out a battleship, a cat and
a rat in the various rock formations. Red shirted guides stand on flat
plateaus, marking off the distance that tourists can walk outward for a
picture. Any further and they run the risk of crumbling rocks and
drastically lowered expectations for any more life on earth (meaning
your own). Brave guides, huh? This will be your first glimpse of
uninterrupted canyon magnificence before entering the Skywalk, and they
want to make sure you get many more.
Eagle Rock
You will be required to check everything (purses, cameras, video
equipment) into lockers that cost $1.00 and are under constant
surveillance. Don’t try sneaking any contraband either. A uniformed
guard will escort you through a metal detector and wand his way over any
part of your body that may beep. The point is that no hard material can
find its way onto the Skywalk, which has a pristine clear glass floor;
five layers thick. It’s kept that way by limiting things that can drop
scratch or put tiny cracks in it, thereby dulling the surface and
obstructing the magnificent, terrifying view more than 4000 feet
straight down.
To be continued….
For further information:
http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com
702-878- WEST
877-716-9378
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