Sensationalist Nik Wellenda is scheduled to cross the Little Colorado River on Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation land but the tightrope walk is not over Grand Canyon or in the park. This is a National Park not an Amusement Park.
None the less, this is an amazing feat to attempt. You wouldn’t catch me walking on a wire 1500 feet over a river.
But Nik is a pro and comes from seven generations of Great Wallendas. Nik’s Mission: “To inspire people around the world to follow their dreams and never give up,”
The Navajo Nation with the help of NBC and the Discovery Channel worked diligently to ready for this big event. Yet only the first 600 spectators will see this daring walk along with local Navajo entertainers on a jumbotron.
However the event will air live on Sunday, June 23, on the Discovery Channel.
Just setting the record straight as many think this is happening in Grand Canyon National Park.
I had a feeling they were pushing the whole “Grand Canyon” thing. I actually get tired of stuff like this. Somebody’s always got an envelope to push. I don’t plan on watching it at all. It irritates me.
Wallenda may be a world renowned tightrope walker but this kind of thing irritates me too. And thus this post.
Glad to hear that. Someone posted about his practice sessions in Sarasota in preparation for the walk and I couldn’t believe the NPS would go along with it.
The Park Service doesn’t promote this sort of activity.
Me three. I don’t watch any of this “dare devil” stuff. Ridiculous I think and I knew that our National Parks would not stoop to this stuff. I doubt this has as much to do with inspiring anyone as it does with filling his wallet. What did TV pay or the Navajo Nation. I’m a little bit surprised at the Navajo actually. Or perhaps he paid them. That might make more sense. Not surprised at all at NBC and the rest. No thanks. I like my walks along the rim and down in the canyon.
Unfortunately the Navajo Board is a greedy lot, much like our own governing body. I doubt he’s been paid anything but loves the publicity. I too will stick with walking on the rim and into the canyon, with no publicity other than on the blog. 😉
Amen! And when these guys fall, guess who has to pay to go down and recover him. Not him, that’s for sure.
Not something I would try. Hope it is successful.
Guess we’ll know if he made by tomorrow night.
Nik Wallenda having been raised in a “circus family” that is the kind of things to expect in a world of “sensation” and of “profit.”
Yes. And I can remember as a child going to the circus and dreaming of being a trapeze artist. Just not over the Grand Canyon.
I saw this on the ads of cnn.com today; live on the Discovery Channel (we just have a good old antenna…so we won’ t be tuning in). I hope people don’t get the wrong idea about national parks…most of us go to enjoy nature…
So right. The Park Service doesn’t endorse these kinds of sensational activities. Stick to nature.
I turned it on but they are dragging the thing out. Typical Sunday night television.
Glad you set the record straight it was strongly implied that it was the park.
Not having TV I won’t see it but that’s OK. These kind of sensational activities are not condoned by the Park Service.
I was wondering about the validity of the “Grand Canyon” claim!! Thanks for clearing that up!! 8*)
I suppose that’s one way of getting more interest.
Pffft, not my kinda thing. He probably tried to get publicity by trying to associate with the Grand Canyon.
You can be sure of that. And Arija just posted she saw on the TV he made it. Funny how I get that news from half way around the world.
I’ve just seen it on our news. Thank goodness he was successful.
How funny that I find out from you, half way across the world, that he made it. 🙂