Wallenda To Wear Blindfold For Part Of November Tightrope Walk
By Todd Feurer
CHICAGO (CBS) -- As if walking a tightrope uphill for more than two city blocks 50 stories above the Chicago River in November weren't enough of a challenge, daredevil Nik Wallenda is adding a new twist to his Chicago adventure next month: a blindfolded tightrope walk between the Marina City towers.
On Nov. 2, Wallenda plans to walk on a tightrope between Marina City on the north bank of the river and the Leo Burnett building on the south bank, a distance of more than two city blocks. On top of that, the tightrope will be at a 15-degree incline and 50 stories high, making it the steepest tightrope walk Wallenda has ever attempted.
He'll then walk from Marina City's west tower to its east tower. On Friday, he announced he'll be doing the second walk blindfolded, an extra challenge he didn't mention in September announcement of the event.
"For both parts of the tightrope walk, I'm going to face challenges like I've never experienced before," Wallenda said. "I'll not only need incredible physical strength to complete this walk, but laser-focused concentration. I'm incredibly excited to show the world what you can do if you put your mind to it, pursue your dreams and never give up."
Dozens of cameras will record Wallenda's tightrope walk, which will be broadcast live by the Discovery Channel at 6 p.m. on Nov. 2.
The Discovery Network and Team Wallenda will be covering all of the costs for police, fire, and traffic. They also are working with the city and state to obtain the necessary permits for the event.
When he announced his tightrope walk last month, Wallenda said he picked Chicago because he "absolutely" loves the city.
"Where can you find a more beautiful city with beautiful skylines like that right on the water?" he said.
Wallenda says the weather will likely be his worst enemy on the tight rope walk.
"Whether those winds are too strong or whether the cable wants to freeze or there is a snowstorm, we just don't know," he said.
His focus will be right on his next step.
"I'm very, very focused on what I'm doing. Of course that's extremely important that I stay focused and don't get distracted," he said.
