Friday, November 26, 2010

I decided that I would do a little sight seeing while I was here and had so much time to kill.  I rented an econo-box and drove over to the west side of the Grand Canyon.  I have been to the east side where the Grand Canyon National Park is before and wanted to see something different.  The arch is only a couple years old and is at the west side of the Grand Canyon.  Heard a lot about it and had seen stuff on TV about it and I wanted to see it.

The Grand Canyon West is owned by the Hualapai Native American Tribe.  It took about 4 hours to get there.  Had to drive from Flagstaff (where I am parked) over to Kingman.  That's about 145 miles.  Then you have to drive north about 70 miles.  Some of that is on a dirt road.  They then have you park at a parking lot at the airport.  The airport is really for the sightseeing airplanes and helicopters and that's pretty much it.  Then funnel you into a large bubble building where you purchase tickets.  Its also a large over priced junk shop.  Full of Native American "stuff", none of which interests me at all.  The cost of the ticket to walk out on the arch was $32.05.  Then they took you on a bus from the "bubble" to where the Skyway Arch is.  They charged an additional $43.05 just for that!!!  The bus ride was about 3/4 mile one way.  They would not let you walk there.  When I got to the arch I looked around.  There was plenty of room to build a large parking lot.  They just want to rip you off for the bus money.

When you get to the arch, you can not bring any personal items with you out on the arch.  No cameras, cell phones, back packs, etc.  They have lockers to put them in.  Then you go through a metal detector.  They say it is to protect the glass floor of the arch and to keep things from falling into the canyon.  Balony!!!  They just want you to buy THEIR photos!!!

To walk out on the arch you have to wear paper booties over your shoes.  The arch  was pretty cool.  When out on it you are 4000 feet above the Grand Canyon.   I did enjoy that.  There are a few photographers taking photos of everyone.  Was really awsome looking straight through the floor down the side of the canyon 4000 feet. 

When you get off the arch you go to another over priced junk shop and can see, and purchase, any of your photos.  The photos were $30 EACH!!!!!!!!!!  Although they did give you a "special deal" if you bought 4 or more.  GEE, THANKS!!!    Needless to say, I didn't buy any.

Overall I'm glad I went to see it.  It was something I wanted to see.  Would I do it again? NO!  Would I recommend anyone else going there? Absolutely not.  HUGE rip off.  Way too much money for what you get.

Here are some photos that I took while there.

The arch is located at "Eagle Point".  In the following photo, if you look closely,  you can see the eagle in the rock formation.


In the next photo you can see the Colorado River.  It is 2 1/2 miles away and  4000 feet  below.

Here is another photo of The Grand Canyon.  It was just before sunset, sorry about the shadows.

None of these photos do it any justice.  The Grand Canyon is just something you just have to see for yourself.  Its a truly amazing experience.