Nevada and the west crvoesk.30261 LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL * WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2007 * FIRST STEPS Visitors walk on the Grand ‘Skywalk during Tuesday's mark the opening ofthe new ebservaton deck ‘Hualapai Traian Reservation In Artzona the eis wl ncude acres othe deck na variety of tur pacages rnghng rom $48.95 t 319900 Glass-bottomed walkway juts 70 feet over Grand Canyon Teporters and camera crews from around the world turned ‘out for the event at Eagle Point, 120 miles east of Las Vegas.’The ‘Skywalk opens to the public on risked their lives to leave the hil elder and Work War I first human footprints on the veteran Emmet Bender opened moon. ‘Tuesday's ceremony with a By comparison, this was a blessing and a song as tribal danced in front of the lored structure. ‘Hualapai tribal = ‘at Eagle Point, 120 with a glass bottom that juts 70 ‘walkway opens to the public March 28. feet out over the western Grand, Canyon, “wonderful “it gives you an open-air sense ‘The 77-yearold former astro- compare to of freedom.” aut described the experience ing i he said, but ‘Hundreds of invited guests, Construction cost $30 milion- Las Vegas Review-Journal { NEVADA & THE WEST } > SKYWALK: Construction cost $30 million CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 then convinced a group of private investors to fund $30-million structure and itover to the tribe. Jinand his associates said de- arrangement with packages ranging from $49.95 _ one group that was pelted by a 7” she said the Hi are ial, to $199. wall of dust. afterwards. “TI still kind of got but Jin is expected to share in ‘Tribal Chairman ‘To provide traction and butterflies in my stomach.” the profits attraction Vaughn addressed objections. prevent the glass from being State Sen. Albert for the next 25 years. by some tribal members who scratched, visitors wore cloth Hale offered a different take: ‘Tribal Councilwoman the structure as an affront booties over their shoes. They . “It was awesome.” Counts praised Jin for his vi tothe canyon's natural beauty. were hustled on and off by _ Hale, whose district stretches sion, saying, “He: went out on said he considers security every few minutes to from the western edge of the the ledge to help the Hualapai himself “a traditionalist,” but he keep the line moving. Grand Canyon to the New Mex- people.” hhad to consider what the Sky- A few people reclined on border, said he was proud of of their Grand Canyon West the concerns Ihave the backs of raptors thatcircled “Tb me, it's utilizing the re- tourism-yenture, which offers for the environment.’ hundreds of feet below them sources you have to improve replicas of Indian villages and After the ceremonial first as the Skywalk gently rocked condition,” the former tours by air and ground along walk, the attraction was opened beneath their feet. t of the Navajo Nation