Pre-TAM9 Touristy Shenanigans

phyz · 12th February 2011, 05:55 PM

For some reason, I find this strangely intriguing. West Rim ... SkyWalk ... floating on the Colorado.

http://www.sundancehelicopters.com/tourpage.aspx?id=181

Wednesday? I suppose it could be done Monday (post-TAM), too.

Hutch · 13th February 2011, 06:05 AM

Tim, lynn, rebecca and I did something similar to this a couple of years ago and if you don't have time to make it to the National Park site (240+ miles), this is an excellent 1-day way to see a part of the Canyon. And the helicopter ride into and out of the canyon is nearly worth the price.

Here's the thread (with pictures) http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=74864

phyz · 13th February 2011, 02:30 PM

Thanks, Hutch!

SkepticScott · 14th February 2011, 07:46 AM

I did a west end helicopter tour before TAM7 Papillon Helicopter, which landed in the canyon for lunch. Last year Showercomic, Mattfn and I did the day-long bus and helicopter trip to the South Rim. That helicopter trip was a 30-minute flight over the canyon which gave us some excellent scenery and views.

Both trips were about $200-$250 total. Adding the helicopter to the bus trip was cheap, less than $50 additional IIRC.

phyz · 14th February 2011, 04:29 PM

I was focusing on SkyWalk and building an excursion around that. I've spent time at South Rim (great views but, wow: the crowds!), and North Rim (I'm a convert: I don't know if I'll ever go back to South Rim), but haven't dipped a toe into West Rim.

The Central Scrutinizer · 14th February 2011, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by phyz

I was focusing on SkyWalk and building an excursion around that. I've spent time at South Rim (great views but, wow: the crowds!), and North Rim (I'm a convert: I don't know if I'll ever go back to South Rim), but haven't dipped a toe into West Rim.

Luciana and I went to the North Rim. Hardly anyone around. Based on what I have heard about the South Rim, I have no interest in going there.

SkepticScott · 15th February 2011, 07:54 AM

Yeah, there were crowds, but the airport is on the south. Can you get a helicopter fly-over from the north?

The Central Scrutinizer · 15th February 2011, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by SkepticScott

Yeah, there were crowds, but the airport is on the south. Can you get a helicopter fly-over from the north?

No. There's not much of anything there. A lodge (with a nice restaurant) and some cabins.

phyz · 16th February 2011, 01:02 AM

Point Imperial, access to Point Sublime via a 4WD road. Incurred some pin-striping on the truck, but that's what trucks are for. Nice trails, and (usually) access to viewpoints and trails on the Walhalla peninsula.

North Rim is what a National Park experience should be. South Rim is more of a zoo. Great views, but very crowded.

SkepticScott · 16th February 2011, 07:02 AM

I highly recommend a helicopter trip. The one from the South Rim was a little bumpy at times, but the view straight down as you go over the edge and the ground just falls away and away and away is awesome.

phyz · 18th February 2011, 01:49 AM

Enhanced by low-altutude flying on approach to the rim and perfectly cued Also Sprach Zarathustra.

Tamazon · 21st February 2011, 11:27 AM

I'll be flying in on the 12th this year giving me Wednesday free. I'd love to tag along on a pre-Tam trip if nobody minds. I've never been to the Grand Canyon. Never been in a helicopter either.

I think if I go up in aircraft this year, I'll stay in it for the landing as well.

SkepticScott · 21st February 2011, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Tamazon

I think if I go up in aircraft this year, I'll stay in it for the landing as well.

It's one way of avoiding goggle marks on your face.

zooterkin · 23rd February 2011, 08:05 AM

I haven't booked anything else yet, but I have booked vacation time to cover TAM9, so I'm probably going to be there.

I'd be interested in a trip of some sort out to the Grand Canyon, either before or after TAM, as it's one thing I wish I'd done last year.

phyz · 17th April 2011, 02:37 PM

Looks like the price has jumped a wee bit for the 2011 season, but it still looks (to me) to be the best option for seeing/doing a bunch of Grand Canyon stuff in a relatively short interval.

phyz · 13th June 2011, 04:23 PM

My inclination is to book this thing for Wednesday, July 13. If there's a crash, numerology will be proved correct. If not, better to generate Del Mar iPad pic-sharing fodder pre-TAM rather than post.

hcmom · 13th June 2011, 04:34 PM

Anybody have $611 they want to lend me?

Oh, $1222, since my son would want to come too...

TheZebu · 13th June 2011, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by hcmom

Anybody have $611 they want to lend me?

Oh, $1222, since my son would want to come too...

Me too, but change lend to give. I looked into this last month when I booked for TAM9, just bit too much on top of everything else. Oh a Sessional Instructor does not make alot....

12th February 2011, 05:55 PM	#1
phyz Muse Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 969	Pre-TAM9 Touristy Shenanigans For some reason, I find this strangely intriguing. West Rim ... SkyWalk ... floating on the Colorado. http://www.sundancehelicopters.com/tourpage.aspx?id=181 Wednesday? I suppose it could be done Monday (post-TAM), too.
	__________________ Dean Baird Phyz Home Page - The Blog of Phyz - Images, Photographs, and Pix Only dead fish go with the flow.

13th February 2011, 06:05 AM	#2
Hutch A broken man on a Halifax pier, the last of Barrett's Privateers Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: About 7 Miles from the Saturn 5B Posts: 6,533	Tim, lynn, rebecca and I did something similar to this a couple of years ago and if you don't have time to make it to the National Park site (240+ miles), this is an excellent 1-day way to see a part of the Canyon. And the helicopter ride into and out of the canyon is nearly worth the price. Here's the thread (with pictures) http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=74864
	__________________ If sheer righteous fury could accomplish anything worthwhile, Wolverines would have inherited the Galaxy long ago." -Web DuHavel, David Weber's "Honorverse" Series

13th February 2011, 02:30 PM	#3
phyz Muse Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 969	Thanks, Hutch!
	__________________ Dean Baird Phyz Home Page - The Blog of Phyz - Images, Photographs, and Pix Only dead fish go with the flow.

14th February 2011, 07:46 AM	#4
SkepticScott TAM Volunteer Guy Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: North of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 2,885	I did a west end helicopter tour before TAM7 Papillon Helicopter, which landed in the canyon for lunch. Last year Showercomic, Mattfn and I did the day-long bus and helicopter trip to the South Rim. That helicopter trip was a 30-minute flight over the canyon which gave us some excellent scenery and views. Both trips were about $200-$250 total. Adding the helicopter to the bus trip was cheap, less than $50 additional IIRC.
	__________________ -- Scott If mho, the unit of conductance, is in units of ¹/_ohm, are IQ and qi similarly inversely related? "I love that you nerds turned a thread about a party into a debate over currency aerodynamics." -- Rebecca

14th February 2011, 04:29 PM	#5
phyz Muse Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 969	I was focusing on SkyWalk and building an excursion around that. I've spent time at South Rim (great views but, wow: the crowds!), and North Rim (I'm a convert: I don't know if I'll ever go back to South Rim), but haven't dipped a toe into West Rim.
	__________________ Dean Baird Phyz Home Page - The Blog of Phyz - Images, Photographs, and Pix Only dead fish go with the flow.

14th February 2011, 05:47 PM	#6
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Pither Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,267	Originally Posted by phyz I was focusing on SkyWalk and building an excursion around that. I've spent time at South Rim (great views but, wow: the crowds!), and North Rim (I'm a convert: I don't know if I'll ever go back to South Rim), but haven't dipped a toe into West Rim. Luciana and I went to the North Rim. Hardly anyone around. Based on what I have heard about the South Rim, I have no interest in going there.
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

15th February 2011, 07:54 AM	#7
SkepticScott TAM Volunteer Guy Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: North of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 2,885	Yeah, there were crowds, but the airport is on the south. Can you get a helicopter fly-over from the north?
	__________________ -- Scott If mho, the unit of conductance, is in units of ¹/_ohm, are IQ and qi similarly inversely related? "I love that you nerds turned a thread about a party into a debate over currency aerodynamics." -- Rebecca

15th February 2011, 08:00 AM	#8
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Pither Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,267	Originally Posted by SkepticScott Yeah, there were crowds, but the airport is on the south. Can you get a helicopter fly-over from the north? No. There's not much of anything there. A lodge (with a nice restaurant) and some cabins.
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

16th February 2011, 01:02 AM	#9
phyz Muse Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 969	Point Imperial, access to Point Sublime via a 4WD road. Incurred some pin-striping on the truck, but that's what trucks are for. Nice trails, and (usually) access to viewpoints and trails on the Walhalla peninsula. North Rim is what a National Park experience should be. South Rim is more of a zoo. Great views, but very crowded.
	__________________ Dean Baird Phyz Home Page - The Blog of Phyz - Images, Photographs, and Pix Only dead fish go with the flow.

16th February 2011, 07:02 AM	#10
SkepticScott TAM Volunteer Guy Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: North of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 2,885	I highly recommend a helicopter trip. The one from the South Rim was a little bumpy at times, but the view straight down as you go over the edge and the ground just falls away and away and away is awesome.
	__________________ -- Scott If mho, the unit of conductance, is in units of ¹/_ohm, are IQ and qi similarly inversely related? "I love that you nerds turned a thread about a party into a debate over currency aerodynamics." -- Rebecca

18th February 2011, 01:49 AM	#11
phyz Muse Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 969	Enhanced by low-altutude flying on approach to the rim and perfectly cued Also Sprach Zarathustra.
	__________________ Dean Baird Phyz Home Page - The Blog of Phyz - Images, Photographs, and Pix Only dead fish go with the flow.

21st February 2011, 11:27 AM	#12
Tamazon Critical Thinker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 478	I'll be flying in on the 12th this year giving me Wednesday free. I'd love to tag along on a pre-Tam trip if nobody minds. I've never been to the Grand Canyon. Never been in a helicopter either. I think if I go up in aircraft this year, I'll stay in it for the landing as well.
	__________________ "No fate but what we make." - Sarah Connor "There's no such things as ghosts." - Bob the Builder Please help to STOP Sylvia Browne!

21st February 2011, 08:57 PM	#13
SkepticScott TAM Volunteer Guy Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: North of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 2,885	Originally Posted by Tamazon I think if I go up in aircraft this year, I'll stay in it for the landing as well. It's one way of avoiding goggle marks on your face.
	__________________ -- Scott If mho, the unit of conductance, is in units of ¹/_ohm, are IQ and qi similarly inversely related? "I love that you nerds turned a thread about a party into a debate over currency aerodynamics." -- Rebecca

23rd February 2011, 08:05 AM	#14
zooterkin Nitpicking dilettante Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Berkshire, mostly Posts: 24,577	I haven't booked anything else yet, but I have booked vacation time to cover TAM9, so I'm probably going to be there. I'd be interested in a trip of some sort out to the Grand Canyon, either before or after TAM, as it's one thing I wish I'd done last year.
	__________________ The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.Bertrand Russell Zooterkin is correct Darat Nerd! Hokulele Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

17th April 2011, 02:37 PM	#15
phyz Muse Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 969	Looks like the price has jumped a wee bit for the 2011 season, but it still looks (to me) to be the best option for seeing/doing a bunch of Grand Canyon stuff in a relatively short interval.
	__________________ Dean Baird Phyz Home Page - The Blog of Phyz - Images, Photographs, and Pix Only dead fish go with the flow.

13th June 2011, 04:23 PM	#16
phyz Muse Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 969	My inclination is to book this thing for Wednesday, July 13. If there's a crash, numerology will be proved correct. If not, better to generate Del Mar iPad pic-sharing fodder pre-TAM rather than post.
	__________________ Dean Baird Phyz Home Page - The Blog of Phyz - Images, Photographs, and Pix Only dead fish go with the flow.

13th June 2011, 04:34 PM	#17
hcmom Tagger Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Probably lost. Posts: 10,645	Anybody have $611 they want to lend me? Oh, $1222, since my son would want to come too...
	__________________ JeffWagg> hcmom, you can feel that way if you want, but you're quite innocent. Curnir> Hcmom. taking reality into a wholly new direction

13th June 2011, 09:29 PM	#18
TheZebu Scholar Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Guelph, ON - Canada Posts: 57	Originally Posted by hcmom Anybody have $611 they want to lend me? Oh, $1222, since my son would want to come too... Me too, but change lend to give. I looked into this last month when I booked for TAM9, just bit too much on top of everything else. Oh a Sessional Instructor does not make alot....