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Wallenda to high wire walk between towers blindfolded
(Above) Nik Wallenda on the roof of Leo Burnett Building on September 16. In distance at left is Marina City’s west tower. The bulge at top, the building’s three-story mechanical penthouse, is where he will begin his high-wire walk. (Click on image to view larger version.) October 4, 2014 – As if it could get any more incredible, Nik Wallenda announced Friday morning he would perform part of his November 2 stunt in Chicago…blindfolded. On NBC’s Today show, Wallenda said he will perform blindfolded – something he has never done before – when he high-wire walks from Marina City’s east tower to its west tower. “It’s about challenging myself and hopefully through challenging myself, inspiring other people to challenge themselves,” said Wallenda. If something goes wrong, he will rip off the blindfold, but he is adding the twist because, he says, “I want to make sure that people realize it’s real.” Captured by dozens of cameras, the stunt will be broadcast live on Discovery Channel to 220 countries. Two NBC News personalities, Willie Geist and Natalie Morales, will co-host the broadcast along with The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore.
(Above) View from top of mechanical penthouse on east tower of Marina City on February 13, 2006. In addition to the direction of travel during the second part of the stunt, a video released by Wallenda following the announcement clarifies exactly where the stunt will start. It will not, technically, begin from Marina City’s west tower observation deck – but even higher, at the very top of the mechanical penthouse. The penthouse, in which heating and air conditioning equipment is located, is the top of the building’s cylindrical core. It is 54 feet above the observation deck, reaching a height above ground level of 588 feet. |
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