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It’s Wednesday morning in Phoenix and even under thick clouds, the thermometer
is hovering above 100F (37.7C).

Related: Floods, tornadoes, heat: more extreme weather predicted across US

Arizona’s capital city is nicknamed “Valley of the Sun”, and residents are used
to scorching heat. But by day 12 of a vicious heatwave that’s sent temperatures
soaring into triple digits, with little relief overnight, limits are being
tested – and it’s only going to get hotter.



The city is on track to break a grim milestone. If the heatwave continues as
predicted, Phoenix will have endured an 18-day stretch of temperatures above
110F (43.3C) by Tuesday.

“Phoenix has always been hot,” said Michelle Litwin, the city’s heat response
program manager. But this is something else.

Michelle Litwin and her team are tasked with aiding the city’s most vulnerable
during the city’s brutally hot months, a season that now stretches from April to
September. On Wednesday, she and a crew of city workers and volunteers set up a
booth at a sprawling homeless encampment to hand out cold water bottles, hygiene
kits and other resources that, for those living on the streets, could
potentially mean the difference between life and death.

“This is Arizona’s natural disaster,” Litwin said. “We might have flash floods
but heat is our issue.”

The city was the first in the country to fund a dedicated heat department in
2021, which has launched dozens of programs with ambitious goals, including
planting more trees, opening cooling centers and ensuring people across the
region have working air-conditioning units.



Despite the work, the numbers of heat-related fatalities have swelled
dramatically in recent years, culminating in a record 425 lives lost last year.
The climate crisis is upping the stakes, with temperatures only expected to
surge further in the coming years. Staying one step ahead has proved a difficult
– and deadly – challenge.

More people are making Phoenix their home even as the risks rise and a growing
population is putting strain on housing and water – two resources that help dull
the strain of stifling heat – both resources in short supply.

Heat, a quiet killer and one of the world’s deadliest disasters, takes an
unequal toll. Fifty-six percent of those who succumbed to the heat last year in
Maricopa county, where Phoenix is located, were unhoused. Of the people who died
indoors, all of them were living in homes and buildings that weren’t cooled. In
78% of cases, AC units were present but not functioning.



The county’s statistics also show the disparities run along racial lines. Only
6.8% of Maricopa’s population is Black, but 11% of heat-related fatalities were
Black people. Indigenous people, who accounted for 8% of deaths, are only 2.9%
of the population.

At the homeless encampment, a line is forming at a booth where Arizona State
University nursing students have joined the city workers to distribute coolers
full of water bottles, wet towels and information to the hundreds of tents
sprawling along the streets just steps from the city center.

It’s early afternoon and the cloud cover has burned off, leaving sunlight to
cook the sidewalks which can reach temperatures of 160F (71.1C). Shade is sparse
and the stale air is stifling as nurses cart wagons of refillable water jugs
through the tents, offering them to inhabitants. They run out quickly.

Michael Shaw, a 49-year-old encampment resident, rings a soaking towel over his
head and neck, lamenting the weekend heat that lies ahead. He knows people who
have already lost their lives to the extreme conditions and is concerned their
numbers will grow. Before securing his own stash of water, he alerted the
workers that a woman in a nearby tent had suffered a stroke and was in need of
help.




“It is hell on earth,” Shaw said. “I am pretty tough but these last few days are
everything I can handle.” Life on this block is filled with danger and violence
and the lure of drugs to dull the pain is constant, only adding to the strain.
“I have been robbed and mugged. But the heat,” he said, “– it’s the killer.”

The city has been ordered to clear this area, known as “The Zone,” and officials
have asked for more time to ensure people living here are provided with
somewhere to go. There are shelter spots available and city-run cooling centers
offer a reprieve. But it’s unclear how many will get a bed inside at the end of
the day; for now, at least, they will have access to essential hydration.




‘EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE HERE’

By the afternoon it is approaching 110F (43.3C). But Pomello Park on the other
side of town, where trees sway over verdant lawns that line quiet cul-de-sacs,
feels a world apart.



Greenery makes a big difference in how a person fares during extreme heat. Shade
can make temperatures feel up to 30 degrees cooler, according to Lora Martens,
the urban tree program manager for the city’s office of heat response and
mitigation. She is leading the effort to spread the shade to more exposed areas
of the city, but that isn’t as easy as it sounds.

“The parts of our city that need trees the most are the hardest places to plant
them,” she said. Trees struggle to thrive in the hottest areas, especially when
landscapes are encased in cement. The city is also having to balance the
increasing need for shade with the decreasing availability of water. It had
hoped to hit its goal of 25% canopy coverage, but the drought is making it
harder. “We are reassessing that goal with a lighter water future,” Martens
said.




Such realities have forced a difficult reckoning with what’s possible as global
heating pushes Arizona into uncharted territory. “The effects of climate change
are here,” she said. “We are having conversations no one has had before.”



For now, that means two starkly different realities for the residents of
Phoenix.

As the sun sinks in the sky on Wednesday evening, some emerge from
air-conditioned homes to walk their dogs, taking advantage of temperatures
hovering just under 100F (37.7C).

“This is just our winter,” said Shawn Bohl, out with his wife Debbie after a day
spent inside. Their dog Wally pulled impatiently on the leash as they explained
that, like other parts of the country forced inside during the most frigid
months, the heat is part of life in Phoenix. The weather doesn’t feel as extreme
to them as it might seem to others.

Still, the city will not shut down during the sizzling summers. Trash has to be
picked up. Construction continues through the midday heat.

For those who have to live or work outside, the weeks ahead will be grueling.

“Here we work the whole year,” says landscaper Crispin Allejah, as he wipes
sweat from his face, “and you need work.” Tending to a patch of grass in a Whole
Foods parking lot, Allejah is clad in a long-sleeve shirt to protect his skin
from the sun, along with heavy jeans, kneepads and boots.

“You have to keep yourself moving,” he said. “If you stand in one place it is
going to be too hot.” He also has learned not to drink too much water too fast.
“You have to drink water but if you drink too much, sometimes you throw up.”




Amazon delivery driver Gabe Castle has developed strategies for surviving long,
hot work days – particularly on Wednesday, when he was in the thick of Amazon
prime day with a huge volume of packages to deliver.



In his van he’s packed a cooler with 15 ready-to-drink water bottles, six frozen
water bottles and five Gatorades. He fills every other bottle with a packet of
electrolyte mix. He stashes one of two small towels on ice – and switches them
out between deliveries to drape over his head and neck.

“This is my AC,” he said, gesturing to the material around his shoulders as
sweat and water darken his blue shirt.

He’s used to working in such conditions, but admits it’s getting harder. “You
never really get acclimated to the sweltering heat,” he said. “But you get to
the point where it’s easier to combat it.”

Castle is concerned about the future. Life in Phoenix has brought the climate
crisis into sharper focus but he fears others aren’t heeding the call.

“We have to do what we can to make sure these things are dealt with in a timely
fashion, but we are behind the 8 ball,” he said. He looked quickly at his clock
– his break was over and it was time to go back to work.

“I really hope we can figure this out soon,” he said, as he walked back toward
his van. “Before our planet just totally goes up in a fireball.”




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MORE FOR YOU



If a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon isn't your thing, try seeing it from
a glass-bottom overlook instead.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk offers the chance to see the canyon's western end from
a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that extends 70 feet over the canyon's rim. The
view looks out over the canyon bottom 4,000 below.

The Skywalk, at Grand Canyon West on the Hualapai Indian Reservation in
northwestern Arizona, is a different experience from Grand Canyon National Park.
In addition to the glass bridge, activities at Grand Canyon West include zip
lining, rafting, helicopter tours and pontoon boat tours.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Here's a complete visitor guide to the Grand Canyon Skywalk at Grand Canyon
West.




WHERE IS GRAND CANYON SKYWALK?

Grand Canyon Skywalk at Grand Canyon West is on the Hualapai Indian Reservation
about 75 miles north of Kingman and 236 miles from the Grand Canyon National
Park's South Rim.

The glass bridge is accessible via a building on Eagle Point Road that directly
faces the Skywalk. Getting there requires taking a complimentary shuttle bus
from the parking lot to the Skywalk entrance; the Hualapai Tribe does not allow
private vehicles to drive to the Skywalk.




WHAT DOES THE VIEW FROM THE GLASS WALK LOOK LIKE?

From the platform, visitors have an elevated view of the canyons of Eagle Point,
named because it appears to resemble an eagle in flight.

Below the glass, they'll see a portion of the rocky canyon bottom.

Be aware you'll share the Skywalk with dozens of other visitors. Grand Canyon
West's website touts the glass bridge as strong enough to support the weight of
70 Boeing 747 jumbo jets at full capacity, but the experience may be
overwhelming for those afraid of heights.




HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DO THE GRAND CANYON SKYWALK?



Allow at least three hours to experience Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk.

Besides the Skywalk, Grand Canyon West has canyon overlooks, hiking trails at
Hualapai Point and Guano Point, rafting along the Colorado River, helicopter and
pontoon boat tours, Native American cultural experiences and a zipline.

Grand Canyon West has four places where you can shop: a gift shop at the
Skywalk's main terminal, Walapai Trading Post at Hualapai Point, and a
jewelry/gift shop and a Native American flea market at Guano Point.




WHAT ARE THE RESTAURANTS AT GRAND CANYON WEST?

Grand Canyon West has four restaurants:

Sky View Restaurant: It overlooks the Skywalk and offers dishes such as steak
and chicken bowls and chicken tenders. Vegetarian options are available. Open 9
a.m.-4:15 p.m. daily.

Skywalk Cafe: Grab-and-go restaurant with cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and
chicken tenders. Open 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. daily.




Guano Point Cafe: Grab-and-go restaurant with a limited menu of barbecue
specialties like pulled pork and fire-braised chicken thighs. Open 9 a.m.-4:15
p.m. daily.

Gwe Ma'jo: This restaurant serves food based on traditional Hualapai Tribe
recipes, such as fry bread tacos and Hualapai pinion stew. Breakfast is
available Wednesdays-Saturdays. Open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily.

Outside food and beverages are not permitted at Grand Canyon West.

If you can't make it to a national park, your mind can still wander there with
this app




HOW MUCH ARE GRAND CANYON SKYWALK TICKETS?

Grand Canyon West uses dynamic pricing: The ticket cost depends on demand.
Admission for Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk are priced separately, starting
at $49 and $26 per person, respectively, or a total of $75 for both attractions.

The Grand Package, which includes Grand Canyon West general admission and
Skywalk access, starts at $64 per person.

Experiences such as zip lining and helicopter tours cost extra.

Tickets are available at grandcanyonwest.com/tickets.




WHY CAN’T YOU TAKE PICTURES ON THE GRAND CANYON SKYWALK?

Visitors aren't allowed to bring cameras, cellphones or any other personal items
for safety reasons, including protecting the glass bottom of the platform. They
must store their belongings in a locker before entering.

The only way to have your picture taken at the Skywalk is by a professional
photographer. Digital photo packages are $69 and come on a USB thumb drive.
Printed photos are not available, according to Grand Canyon West staff.




IS GRAND CANYON SKYWALK THE SAME AS GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK?

No. Grand Canyon West, which is operated by the Hualapai Tribe, is a separate
attraction from Grand Canyon National Park, operated by the National Park
Service and located on 11 tribes’ ancestral homelands.

Grand Canyon National Park consists of the canyon's North Rim and South Rim. The
South Rim is a 236-mile drive from the Skywalk, while the North Rim is a
393-mile drive from the Skywalk. Admission to the national park is $35 per
vehicle for a seven-day pass.

Because Grand Canyon West is not a National Park Service site, it does not
accept the America the Beautiful pass and other national park passes for entry.




HOW FAR IS THE GRAND CANYON SKYWALK FROM PHOENIX?

Grand Canyon Skywalk is 262 miles from central Phoenix, according to Google
Maps, via Interstate 10, Loop 303, U.S. 60 (which becomes U.S. 93), I-40 and
Stockton Hill Road.




HOW FAR IS THE GRAND CANYON SKYWALK FROM LAS VEGAS?

Grand Canyon Skywalk is a 130-mile drive from Las Vegas via Interstate 515, U.S.
93 and Pierce Ferry Road.




WHAT HOTELS AND LODGING ARE NEAR GRAND CANYON SKYWALK?

Grand Canyon West offers RV parking for up to three nights for $22 per night;
there are no hookups or dump stations. There are three other lodging options
within a 20-mile radius of the Grand Canyon Skywalk:



The Cabins at Grand Canyon West: This complex on Hualapai Point offers rustic
cabins that can sleep up to six people. Standard cabins include two bedrooms
with a queen bed and a pull-out futon in each one. Upper cabins have one queen
bed and one full bed, and cabin suites have two queen beds. Some cabins have
refrigerators and microwaves and offer porches for sunrise and sunset viewing.
Booking a cabin includes one free general admission to Grand Canyon West. Rates
start at $219 per night.

Details: https://grandcanyonwest.com/stay/cabins.

Grand Canyon Glamping Resort: This property about 8 miles from Grand Canyon West
offers three types of accommodations: tents, tipis and covered wagons. All have
heat and air conditioning. In-room bathrooms are available in tipis and covered
wagons, and showers are available in covered wagons. An area with bathrooms and
showers is available near the tents. From $250 per night for tents, tipis and
wagons with shared restrooms and no shower; from $350 per night for wagons with
showers.



Details: https://grandcanyonglampingresort.com.

Grand Canyon Western Ranch: This glamping resort about 14 miles from Grand
Canyon West has tents and cabins with beds that can sleep up to six people.
Cabin amenities include fireplaces, air conditioning and bathrooms with claw
foot tubs and showers. Those who wish to fully immerse themselves in cowboy
culture can book guided horseback rides and wagon rides, where people have a
chance to see wild buffalo. Rates start at $250 per night.

Details: https://grandcanyonwesternranch.com.

Farther away, Meadview, about 35 miles from the Skywalk, has a handful of motels
and campgrounds. Tripadvisor lists at least 29 hotels in Kingman, about 75 miles
away, including Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Best Western and Springhill Suites.

Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on
Twitter @salerno_phx.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Unveiling the Grand Canyon
Skywalk: What to know for an unforgettable experience




Continue reading


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