Posted on 06/17/2023 3:03:48 AM PDT by Libloather
A man fell to his death at the Grand Canyon Skywalk earlier this week, as the Grand Canyon National Park was recently named the deadliest of America's 63 national parks.
The unidentified man, 33, went over the edge of the Sky Walk the morning of June 5, falling 4,000 feet down to his death.
Search and rescue teams from the Mohave County Sheriff's Office used ropes and a helicopter to try and help the fallen man.
Crews pronounced the man dead at the scene and transferred him to the Hualapai Nation, who operate the attraction.
It's not clear if the victim fell from the edge of the canyon or from the Skywalk structure itself, though the county search and rescue team posted a link to a suicide prevention hotline on Facebook.
The investigation into his death is ongoing but the Grand Canyon has consistently proved to be a dangerous spot for those taking risks from great heights.
It is best known for the Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that juts out 70 feet from the canyon walls and gives visitors a view of the Colorado River 4,000 feet below.
The Canyon and the river have deep threads in the Hualapai tribe's history. The lower 108 miles of the Canyon and parts of the Colorado River are situated on the Hualapai Reservation.
Meanwhile, Grand Canyon National Park - which is not affiliated with the Skywalk - was named the deadliest national park in the United States.
A Freedom of Information Act request uncovered that at least six people have died and 56 more have gone missing over the last five years at Grand Canyon National Park.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“Um…uh… The guy fell 4,000 feet. I would say these “first responders” were being just a tad overly optimistic.”
No need to rush.
This could have an impact on park attendance.
“It is owned by the tribe.”
Red mans’ revenge?
My professor of Geology at Rutgers use to tell me stories of his hikes down the Grand Canyon. More than one of his students finished the trip on the back of a mule.
Interesting feat of construction. More here about how they did it. A short video at link.
https://www.canyontours.com/guides/how-did-they-build-skywalk/
It’s not the fall...it’s the sudden stop at the end.
I went skydiving a couple times last year. Two weeks ago, we were in Badlands National Park. Standing near the edge of a survivable precipice, I told my wife I was a bit more nervous there that sitting on the deck of an airplane waiting to get shoved out.
So far so good as you pass 2,000 feet.
Wife and I drove there while staying outside of Flagstaff. Its on a reservation at the west rim, and the experience was overly expensive and regimented. We had to leave our phones behind in lockers, could only buy pictures from their over-priced photographer, and had to keep moving while we were on it, so there was very little time to appreciate the view. OK for a one-time experience but we’ll never go back. Having said all that, I can’t see any way someone would fall from it without being suicidal or very stupid.
when you see their prices for that place, you will certainly think so.
My wife and friends did the mule ride down to an over night stay at phantom ranch lodge. Mule have 200lb limit. Did my best to keep above that number so could not go! I am not trusting my life to some Mule. Many people hike the trails down to river. Meanwhile some cannot make return trip so the mules have to be employed to do a “drag out” as the guides call it.
If the weather was right, you could take a short escalator ride to the open observation area on the roof, which was basically an elevated walkway with guardrails setback about 20 feet from the edge.
I loved it all.
…..yet every time I was up there, there was this incredibly strong feeling of GOD REALLY DOESN’T WANT US UP THIS HIGH.
Unidentified yet they knew he was 33?
The upper end package will have you whisked through like a VIP with a glass of champagne and servers bearing plates of snacks with toothpicks running through them and you get to stay out there as long as you like.
Then there is a lot of in-between packages that are sure to empty your wallet according to your socioeconomic status.
All the various pricing options will make you dizzier than the Skywalk itself.
Arizona wilds, even the mountains in the cities will be the death of 100's of tourists who don't respect them.
Once a week we hear of rescues off Camelback Mountain for some thing or another. People constantly go hiking in flip-flops, without enough water or simply not in the proper physical condition to be taking on that kind of challenge. That's without getting to the part about making really, truly bad decisions along the way.
My wife and I have become kind of numb to hearing this kind of news. It's sad but it needs to be said again and again, "stupid" can get one killed. Per documentation and the book above, "stupid" had a big influence in most of these unfortunate incidents.
Wishing you SAFE and pleasant journeys wherever your adventures take you.
there. fixed it.
He’ll bounce back from this with a new understanding of the gravity of his carelessness
Seems to be the case. One would have to climb over the rail or get themselves on top of the rail in some way in order put themselves in a position to fall over the edge of the glass perimeter.
A free falling human body quickly reaches a max speed of about 120 mph.
4,000 feet of free fall?
Maybe 25 seconds until permanent lights out?
Any thoughts about final thoughts?
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