Alyeska Resort in Girdwood has added a new attraction, the Skybridges Veilbreaker.
It is possible to pay to walk 600 feet over two bridges that are narrow and suspended 2,500 feet above valley floor. Mountain Director Duane Stutzman told the Mountain that demand has been up since the opening on July 10.
“We had hoped that we could have at least three or four people per visit,” the tour director said. “And we’re already selling out.”
Stutzman told reporters that they’ll be training additional guides in the coming week and they plan to increase how many tours per day. At present, tours run every two hours, with six people per tour. The cost is $150 per person.
Stutzman declared it’s an experience other resorts do not have.
“A majority of your resorts have the roller coaster or zip line However, he wanted something that was different and demonstrated was the Alaska lifestyle was about.” the man said.
The tours will be offered every day until the very first snowfall.
“We tear the bridge down in winter, and remove all footpaths off the bridge and leave the cables there for the winter months,” said Stutzman. “We’ll return in the spring and put it back together.”
The trip begins with a tram ride that climbs the mountain. The climbers are provided with helmets and harnesses and given a safety talk. The guides guide the group on a brief but fairly steep climb to the bridges, from where they are tucked into the safety cable, and then cross at their own speed and one or two at one time.
Visitors are allowed to snap pictures of bridges, but guides advise that if visitors fall their smartphones, they will not be able to retrieve them.
Ryan Merrill, a tourist and self-described adrenaline addict from Ohio He crossed the border together with his child Caden on a Thursday afternoon. He claimed it was more thrilling than he expected.
“Initially it’s okay until you get towards the middle, and you feel the bounce as you’re looking to your foot,” he said. “It’s all down.”
He said the perspective made it worth it.
