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| High-wire artist Nik Wallenda walks across canyon, but maybe not Grand | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The high-wire artist Nik Wallenda has completed a tightrope walk that took him a quarter of a mile over the Little Colorado River gorge near the Grand Canyon. | The high-wire artist Nik Wallenda has completed a tightrope walk that took him a quarter of a mile over the Little Colorado River gorge near the Grand Canyon. |
| Wallenda performed the stunt on a 2-inch-thick steel cable, 1,500 feet (457 meters) above the river without wearing a harness. | Wallenda performed the stunt on a 2-inch-thick steel cable, 1,500 feet (457 meters) above the river without wearing a harness. |
| Wallenda took just more than 22 minutes, pausing and kneeling twice to get "the rhythm out of the rope" and murmuring prayers to Jesus almost constantly along the way. He stepped slowly and steadily, but jogged and hopped the last few steps. | Wallenda took just more than 22 minutes, pausing and kneeling twice to get "the rhythm out of the rope" and murmuring prayers to Jesus almost constantly along the way. He stepped slowly and steadily, but jogged and hopped the last few steps. |
| The event was broadcast live on the Discovery Channel. | The event was broadcast live on the Discovery Channel. |
| Winds blowing across the gorge were expected to be around 30 mph. Wallenda said after the walk the winds were at times "unpredictable" and dust had accumulated on and around his contact lenses. | Winds blowing across the gorge were expected to be around 30 mph. Wallenda said after the walk the winds were at times "unpredictable" and dust had accumulated on and around his contact lenses. |
| "It was way more windy and it took every bit of me to stay focused the entire time," he said. | "It was way more windy and it took every bit of me to stay focused the entire time," he said. |
| About 600 spectators watching on a large video screen on site cheered him on as he walked toward them. | About 600 spectators watching on a large video screen on site cheered him on as he walked toward them. |
| Before the walk, a group of Navajos, Hopis and other Native Americans stood along a nearby highway with signs protesting against the event. | Before the walk, a group of Navajos, Hopis and other Native Americans stood along a nearby highway with signs protesting against the event. |
| The stunt was touted as a walk across the Grand Canyon, an area held sacred by many Native American tribes. Some local residents believe Wallenda has not accurately pinpointed the location and said the Navajo Nation should not be promoting the gambling of one man's life for the benefit of tourism. | The stunt was touted as a walk across the Grand Canyon, an area held sacred by many Native American tribes. Some local residents believe Wallenda has not accurately pinpointed the location and said the Navajo Nation should not be promoting the gambling of one man's life for the benefit of tourism. |
| "Mr Wallenda needs to buy a GPS or somebody give this guy a map," said Milton Tso, president of the Cameron community on the Navajo Nation. "He's not walking across the Grand Canyon. He's walking across the Little Colorado River Gorge on the Navajo Nation. It's misleading and false advertising." | "Mr Wallenda needs to buy a GPS or somebody give this guy a map," said Milton Tso, president of the Cameron community on the Navajo Nation. "He's not walking across the Grand Canyon. He's walking across the Little Colorado River Gorge on the Navajo Nation. It's misleading and false advertising." |
| Wallenda, 34, is a seventh-generation high-wire artist and part of the famous "Flying Wallendas" circus family. | Wallenda, 34, is a seventh-generation high-wire artist and part of the famous "Flying Wallendas" circus family. |
| His great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, died at the age of 73 after falling during a performance in Puerto Rico. Several other family members, including a cousin and an uncle, have perished while performing wire-walking stunts. | His great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, died at the age of 73 after falling during a performance in Puerto Rico. Several other family members, including a cousin and an uncle, have perished while performing wire-walking stunts. |
| Nik Wallenda grew up performing with his family and has dreamed of crossing the Grand Canyon since he was a teenager. Last year he crossed Niagara Falls. | Nik Wallenda grew up performing with his family and has dreamed of crossing the Grand Canyon since he was a teenager. Last year he crossed Niagara Falls. |
| Wallenda wore a microphone and two cameras, one looking down on the dry river bed and one facing straight ahead. His leather shoes with an elkskin sole helped him keep a grip on the steel cable. | Wallenda wore a microphone and two cameras, one looking down on the dry river bed and one facing straight ahead. His leather shoes with an elkskin sole helped him keep a grip on the steel cable. |
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