[Travis007]

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/988150--new-cn-tower-attraction-offers-a-walk-on-the-outside?bn=1

http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/63/27/84a99baf43b788c8d982dea9058b.jpeg

Carola Vyhnak
Urban Affairs Reporter
Life on the edge is about to get real scary. Like 116-storeys-up scary. On an open walkway circling the outside of the CN Tower.

Introducing EdgeWalk, “the most extreme experience” in the tower’s 35-year history, according to public relations people.

Opening Aug. 1, the attraction will be “the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk” on a ledge 356 metres above the ground, tower officials announced on Monday.

It will offer thrill seekers a heart-stopping, 360-degree panorama as they walk a 1.5-metre-wide platform a distance of 150 metres around the top of the main pod.

Here’s how it will work:

Adventure lovers will walk hands-free in groups of six to eight while connected to an overhead safety rail via a trolley and harness system. The walk will last 20 to 30 minutes with the entire experience running 1.5 hours.

“Trained guides will encourage visitors to push their personal limits, allowing those who dare to lean back over Toronto, with nothing but air beneath them,” said a news release.

“During our 35th anniversary year we are excited to introduce visitors to the most exciting attraction in our history,” said Jack Robinson, chief operating officer of Canada Lands Company, which owns the tower.

Several staffers admitted last week it would be too wild a walk for them.

“It’s scary,” one restaurant worker shuddered. “You wouldn’t catch me up there.”

“It’ll be pretty windy out there,” another offered. “I hope they’re taking that into account.”

“It’s going to be a thriller,” added a co-worker. “But it’s not for everyone. It’s an adrenalin thing.”

Spokespeople assured would-be walkers that every aspect of the attraction “has been developed with the utmost safety and security in mind.”

One employee compared EdgeWalk to a similar attraction at Auckland Sky Tower in New Zealand.

Still under construction, the steel grated platform will be supported by 36 arms linked to separate rails for the tour guide and group of walkers. The support arms can be seen as a series of rods protruding from the roof of the 360 Restaurant.

The walk will cost $175, which includes a video of the experience, taken by the guide. Tickets go on sale June 1. The attraction will be offered until October this year and reopen in May 2012.

[Calgarian]

That's it, I'm going to Toronto!

[Coldrsx]

pretty awesome, but expensive.

[vid]

I feel dizzy just reading the article. :(

[kool maudit]

back in the 80s the space deck wasn't enclosed. my buddy aaron cohen threw a paper plane off it on a class trip.

[Coldrsx]

So good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvP-7PnN3PQ

Also ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_neYidAwNs

[The_Architect]

Holy s***! You'd never see me doing that..
It'd be an adrenaline rush, but definitely not for the faint of heart.

[patm]

175 bucks is way too much. Basically $200 with taxes.

You can sky dive for that much...

[vid]

Their insurance costs are probably very high, they'd have to cover them. A higher price will also help weed out spur-of-the-moment types, it will be something that someone will decide they want to experience and then plan it out a little more carefully. I would group that experience in with skydiving or base jumping as opposed to visiting an observation deck.

[Hardhatdan]

Ha leaning back over TO...that would be friggen scary

[BretttheRiderFan]

I was thinking more along the lines of an outdoor walkway like at the Space Needle...won't be in Toronto until November of next year so it won't be in season, and it's a bit pricey...I'll have to make it out there and do it once though! Sounds AWESOME!

[Nicko999]

Looks awesome but it's pretty damn expensive.

[Traynor]

Lot's of dissent over at UrbanToronto that the Tower and its historical architecture, has been defaced...

Thoughts?

[caltrane74]

That is nuts. No way No how!

[The_Architect]

Lot's of dissent over at UrbanToronto that the Tower and its historical architecture, has been defaced...

Thoughts?

Meh.. I don't really consider that to be defacing it's architecture, especially since it's not even that noticeable.

And 1975 isn't exactly "historic" either.

[Traynor]

Well, certain landmarks are immediately "Historic" in many people's minds... OK, let's say they are upset because it defaces an icon, then.

Just saying what people are commenting.

[Fog Ducker]

I'll have to add this to the list.

Skydiving w/ a canine companion - √
Putting my life at risk at the top of the CN tower - TBD

[MolsonExport]

If this were to be done at the Burj Khalifa, the wind/dry-heat combination would turn participants into beef jerky.


as I said on a related thread, the uglification of the tower continues.

[SpongeG]

the price is about right - the sydney harbour bridge climb starts at $198 in off season and $220 in season goes as high as $298 depending on the option you choose

http://www.bridgeclimb.com/The-Climbs/Pricing/

[north 42]

That's great, but I'll never get anywhere near it, that's for sure!

[Travis007]

Wow, definitely surprising. I didn't expect this to be so popular!

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1001225--cn-tower-edgewalk-overwhelmed-by-high-demand

CN Tower EdgeWalk overwhelmed by high demand

Published On Wed Jun 01 2011
Dan Robson
Staff Reporter

Terrifying heights aside, the most challenging part of the CN Tower’s new EdgeWalk appears to be just getting a ticket.

Walking around a ledge at 356 metres above sanity is, apparently, highly appealing.

Tickets sales for the CN Tower’s new attraction kicked off on Wednesday to the continuous drone of a busy tone.

Kennedy called two dozen times, only to receive a busy signal again and again. The EdgeWalk website is not set up to process online orders.

....“It’s brutal,” Kennedy said. “I was willing to wait on hold for 30, 60 minutes. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing

Jack Robinson, the CN Tower’s chief operating officer, said the first day of sales had been terrific. He didn’t specify numbers.

“We are thrilled with the response” he said. “Due to the huge response, customers may experience some delays in getting through, but we ask them to keep trying. It’s worth the wait.”

“This is such a cool thing, but they’re just not ready to take the demand I guess,” she said. “If you have an international attraction, you’ve got to have international customer service.”

EdgeWalk opens Aug. 1.

[freeweed]

Technically, all those quotes say is that the Tower folks were completely unprepared for more than one person being interested. :haha:

Seriously though, I'm not surprised. I could see demand in a city like Toronto being huge at first. It's like skydiving, only safer and easier.

[Melroy]

shit that's cool! Too scary for me, but very cool.

[Traynor]

Yikes!

I started to watch this video and then almost lost my breakfast. (I am such a coward)

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/cn-tower-boss-gets-breathtaking-view-toronto-while-151410350.html

[Gresto]

Whether or not one is a "thrill-seeker", I can't fathom who would be willing to fork over 180 clams for that. It's arguably worth $20.

[The_Architect]

Whether or not one is a "thrill-seeker", I can't fathom who would be willing to fork over 180 clams for that. It's arguably worth $20.

$20? You're kidding right?

Go to Sydney or Auckland and let me know what the similar attractions cost..
Hint: It's around the same price.

[You Need A Thneed]

I'd spend more than $20 to do that walk, but I wouldn't spend $180. $50ish probably.

[caltrane74]

Imagine you're doing CN Tower walk, and then the steel buckle that's holding you breaks, just like in Cliffhanger, and then a gust of wind takes you off the top of the observation level, and only thin straps of fabric are keeping you alive....whilst you hang from the side of the tower... buffeting against the glass..

and then Sylvester Stallone has to rescue you. That would suck eh; cause you remember what happened in the movie, when he dropped the chick down the chasm.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Whether or not one is a "thrill-seeker", I can't fathom who would be willing to fork over 180 clams for that. It's arguably worth $20.

It may be worth $20 to you, but you'll never get the opportunity to go at that price!

[Gresto]

It may be worth $20 to you, but you'll never get the opportunity to go at that price!
That's about what it's worth to me to walk around the circumference of the skypod hanging from a strap. But for those who want to pay the money, have at it.:shrug:

[Antigonish]

If you could jump off then it would be worth 180 bux. Since you can't then its a ripoff"

[SpongeG]

scary
not
for me

[1ajs]

the insurance they would have to have for that must be ridiculas.........

[North of 49]

That would be scary, rode the rides on the stratosphere tower in Vegas and damn right its scary being out doors. It takes a while to get use to the wind. That's what I had to deal with. I can only imagine considering that the CN tower is that much taller....

[Traynor]

Considering new Calvins are more than 25 bucks a pair... And I would crap at least 6 pairs worth as I walked around... $180 seems about right.

:D

[North of 49]

now for a million bucks would you walk around the edge of the tower with crap running down your pants.....

I think I would for $100,000

think of the number of CK's you could buy with that!!!!