Posted on 06/23/2013 8:18:53 PM PDT by mykroar
LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GORGE, Ariz. (CBS Las Vegas/AP) — Daredevil Nik Wallenda does it again.
In an unofficial time of 22 minutes, 54 seconds, Wallenda crossed a quarter-mile tightrope 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River Gorge near the Grand Canyon.
Wallenda paused and knelt twice to get “the rhythm out of the rope” and murmuring prayers to Jesus almost constantly along the way. His stepped slow and steady, but jogged and hopped the last few steps.
“Thank you Lord. Thank you for calming that cable, God,” he said about 13 minutes into the walk.
The stunt comes a year after he traversed Niagara Falls earning a seventh Guinness world record. He used the same 2-inch-thick cable he used to cross the falls, only this time he didn’t wear a safety harness.
The Discovery Channel broadcast Wallenda’s walk on live television after 8 p.m. EDT on Sunday with a 10-second delay. Wallenda wore two cameras, one looking down on the dry Little Colorado River bed and one facing straight ahead. His leather shoes with an elk-skin sole helped him keep a grip on the steel cable as he moved across.
Winds blowing across the gorge were expected to be around 30 mph. Wallenda told Discovery after the walk that the winds were at times “unpredictable” and that 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at lasvegas.cbslocal.com ...
I’d bet Nik Wallenda’s prayers were a source of great consternation for the liberal crowd. Especially since his prayers were answered.
“elk skin soles”, “Jesus”, and doing so on Government lands.
I expect this to be his last televised walk
Great to hear.
Related: great tune from the 70s by Duke Jupiter, “Poppy”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bXjOJ15kug
This song is primarily based on the tragic 1978 death of Karl Wallenda, matriarch of “The Great Wallendas” aerial high wire act. The Wallenda act was noted for not using safety nets. On March 22, 1978, at age 73, Wallenda attempted a walk on a high wire between the two towers of the ten-story Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The wire was 121 ft (37 meters) above the pavement. Wallenda fell to his death when winds exceeded 30 mph (48 kilometers per hour). He was known as “Poppy” to his multi-generational family of daredevil high wire performers who were present.
I’m very happy to hear he made it!
I wouldn’t watch it myself. Not fond of stunts like that, personally.
But it’s his life, and he can risk it as he chooses.
This is not the sort of bravery that a good Christian father displays. This is a poor example to his children and others. Far better ways to exercise strength and courage and earn a living.
Take that doggies. :)
It was on private land belonging to the Navaho Nation. Its President and VP were there.
God love him, he was witnessing the entire crossing.
Good man!
No respect for life IMO, but he is driven, and I imagine he will continue...
I think it is Navajo land.
This is not the sort of bravery that a good Christian father displays. This is a poor example to his children and others. Far better ways to exercise strength and courage and earn a living.
.................
If you were talking about someone who didn’t know how to walk the high wire—the risk would be foolish. But you’re talking about a guy and his whole family who for GENERATIONS have made their living and a good living— —walking the high wire—without a net.
This is what they do. This is who they are.
Consider your words. For example is a christian bull rider unchristian for the risks he takes? How about a christian football player. Is he unchristian for the risks he takes with his head and body?
Here’s a list of the top 20 riskiest jobs. These folks make far less than the Wallendas for the risks they take. What is the cut off for christian vs unchristian for these people.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2011/04/12/deadliest-jobs.html#slide1
I thought it was the most extraordinary thing I’d ever seen. I was praying and praising right along with him.
What an imposing backdrop! What a great examplar for the concept of man in God’s image! Man could not make that canyon; God did; but man could rig an apparatus for traversing it, and learn all the strategies for conquering the obstacle, and the fear.
Kudos to Nik, not just for accomplishing the unthinkable. but for keeping his focus on Jesus and giving God the the glory. WOW!!!
Thank you. I almost choked on the sanctimony.
Nope, has a contract to develop more shows for the Discover Channel. Technically, he was on Tribal land since the Feds would not give him access.
"Man could not make that canyon; God did; but man could rig an apparatus for traversing it, and learn all the strategies for conquering the obstacle, and the fear."
The most moving part of his prayers to me was when he thanked God for making the canyon.
I think he is done, the look in his eyes after he finally made it said he had looked into the abyss and didn’t like what he saw................
He will never do anything like that again. He said they didn’t have the right pressure on the wire. The damn thing nearly killed him.
Yeah - during the lead-up to the walk they showed his walk and fall. It’s was Nik’s great-grandfather. He and his mother completed the walk a few years back together where he fell.
A ten second delay? Kind of takes all the fun out of it.
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