Skywalk: good news, bad news

Skywalk drawing big crowds, but they aren't happy campersWhen the Hualapai Indian Tribe opened the controversial Grand Canyon Skywalk one year ago, members of the tribe were optimistic that they would get 600,000 visitors a year by 2009.

The good news for the tribe is that after the first year of operation, the Hualapais are pretty close to meeting that 2009 goal, getting 2,000 guests a day, or a projected 730,000 annually. That's four times as many visitors as the area got before the Skywalk was built.

But the bad news for the tribe is that many of the people visiting say they felt ripped off when they went and vow never to return.Why do people think it's a ripoff?At the time of the first walk, as it was called, many in the media weren't aware of or didn't report that when they were there, that would be the last time that cameras would be allowed on the Skywalk.

Following my visit, I noted that there may be more cameras per capita at the Grand Canyon than any place on Earth--but that they would be banned at the Skywalk.

In addition to the irritating camera ban, many visitors weren't aware of how much it was going to cost them to get on the glass walkway. The least expensive Grand Canyon West package that includes transport to the Skywalk area goes for $50, plus the $25 ticket to the walk.Comment:  I wouldn't think it would be hard to take surreptitious pictures with a cellphone camera. I'd do it just to protest the tribe's policies.