I wonder if Nik sings "Because Your Mine I Walk the Line" song by Johnny Cash to his wife.

Sorry couldn't resist.

Kidding side, Mike 164...thanks for doing such a good job explaining some of facts here and someone said

it was a "nice family event." We had a little excitement and anticipation in our household also. i know, it doesn't take much sometimes, but we loved Nik.

Notice the direction - he walked from the U.S. to Canada.
If he did the walk the in other direction into the U.S., the TSA would have demanded a strip search before letting him get off the cable!

I think he should have done this stunt for a cause. Its selfish that he only thought of himself when there are so many things to bring awareness for.

He should have dropped the safey harness ten feet out. Do you really think the news wouldn't have covered that? Hell, he'd have become instantly more famous thanthe Beatles!

He should be doing this for a cause. There are so many horrible things happening the world that need awareness. Ironically hes crossing over two of the richest countries in the world and he couldnt think of doing this for any reason.. Blows my mind.

I'm amazed at his ability! How he conditioned himself, and has the mental toughness and power of concentration needed to complete such a nearly impossible physical feat. Yes, he wore a safety harness because that was the terms of getting the necessary permits. But he didn't need to use it! I watched the whole thing. He never wavered or seemed to lose his balance for an instant, even in the swirling mist area. He even talked to the news coverage people a couple of times. The wire was dripping wet, too. A stunning example of what human beings are capable of.

I am amused by those who are wah-wahing because he has a safety harness. "Oh no he displayed some COMMON SENSE! HOW DARE HE??" LOL he ~still~ made the walk across without falling. Let's see any of you do it, with or without a harness! I know I couldn't.

Oh, and Blah blah blah Democrats blah blah Republicans blah blah blah ... there, made the obligatory political reference.... can I stay?

If anyone has ever been to Niagara Falls and witnessed it's fury, you would have an idea of how much guts it would take to do what Wallenda did, tether or not. ABC did make him wear it, it was in the contract. Wallenda was concerned that the tether would actually cause him to fall because he has never worn one before. I agree that it did take away some of the punch of Nik's incredible feat. However, as a citizen of Niagara Falls- someone who has been personally effected by the tragedy that this great wonder can bring, and as a spectator at this breathtaking event, I can honestly say that if Wallenda wasn't tethered and he did fall (which would have certainly been to his death), I would have an extremely tough time having witnessed it. Thankfully, Nik Wallenda proved to everyone that he didn't need the tether...he completed the walk which was estimated to take 45 minutes in far less time, and he didn't stumble once. Bravo.

NOT a Big DEAL -- Been more exciting if he took a dip! STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES!

Now the next step would be to set up a zip line from one country to another. That would interest me. They would have to work out the details of how to divide up the money from the enterprise. Coming from a Travis Pastrana fan, this was quite an accomplishment. It was actually the first time I heard about the Wallenda family and their tight rope crossing tradition. Personally I don't really see the point of rope crossing, especially without a harness. The only way to do it without a harness is probably do it illegally, which many have done, but then you dont have as good a constructed line to work with. I could not walk it but maybe for 20 feet and then bye-bye into the rapids below. Anyway I give the dude credit for it; it was insane and amazing.

Wow! wish I would have seen in person , what a Tremendous Feat...I never knew such a feat had been 'done' but its 'over a Century' Amazing.... In fact, my favorite Circus film of all time, 1958's 'The Big Circus' with Victor Mature, Peter Lorre & Rhonda Fleming,....contains a Great scene toward the End with Hispanic Actor Gilbert Roland playing the tightrope/Trapeze expert part 'Zach Colino' who also walks across Niagra Falls then loses his pole halfway..and has to finish his walk to the other side..with arms stretched out for balance, in front of a TV audience. An Amazing Scene. Get the DVD ..A Great Tribute to the Circus ..more so than Charlton Hestons 'Greatest Show on Earth'. So, no 'doubt' this pays homage to the Great Wallenda Niagra Walk of the early 1900s. I trust this footage of this 'new Wallenda' walk will be shown again...

To everyone saying he was required to wear the safety harness. He also could have ditched it halfway across. He chose not to. Just saying.

That's it we need public executions. When our daredevils become wussies, we need something for entertainment

Is anyone taking into consideration the strength it took for him to walk against the wind and spraying water, while holding on to the balance pole? All on a two inch space.

Angels were with him--he was ready anyway to meet his maker--John 3:1-36 tells how to know you'll meet your Maker & vs. 18-21 tell why most won't be meeting him--but going to the "hot" place, sadly. LOL

To people who criticize him for wearing a safety harness and think that took the drama out of it... the safety harness is a 100% guarantee of his safety? It's a walk in the park to be hanging by a wire being blown around by wind with the Falls 1800 feet beneath you until rescuers can get to you? If he'd fallen even with the harness I'd have been scared to death for him. If he hadn't been wearing one I don't think I could have watched, knowing that one slip would mean certain death. This way it was only the possibility of death he was facing.

He had a safety leash on.

That makes this somewhat similar to a very dangerous stunt I did once: I walked to the bathroom on a jetliner, while it was flying over dangerous falls and cliffs and mountains.

When he got to the Canadian side did anyone ask for his passport?

The thing "trailing him" wasn't a safety harness. What you see in the picture is one of a series of weights used to try to steady the tightrope he was walking on from the impact of the wind.

Guess it's better to keep an adequate record of your taxes and budget, but not everybody's perfect. Was his intention to cross into Canada to advoid the Draft, avade taxes, or raise money to pay taxes?

Next!

I am from the area. This article failed to mention he was tied to the wire so he stood no risk of falling into the water and rocks. This was common knowledge here and the source of some debate. This whole feat was a great big snoozer. How ANYONE is calling him a daredevil is beyond me. The risk was minimal. Most people around here had no interest in this after hearing he was tethered to the wire. An utter farce. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I remember when six of Wallendas fell off the rope doing a pyramid on bikes at a circus in Detroit probably 30-40 years ago. Several of them died. You can say all you want about the safety equipment Nik wore, but to walk on a 2 inch cable across Niagara Falls without falling - now that takes some balls. Way to go, Nik.

And to you libs and cons putting politics into this article - go somewhere else and spew your krap.

Congratulations on this daring feat to Nik Wallenda nad the Flying Wallenda's family! He has added a triumph and testament to the bravery of his family.

I keep seeing people referring to Nik as "Karl Wallenda's grandson" - I'd like to set the record straight: he is Karl Wallenda's GREAT grandson. Nik's mom, Delilah (Wallenda) Troffer is Karl's granddaughter. I had the great fortune to meet Nik's parents back in '82 when I worked as a soundtechnician/musician for the circus. Two genuinly nice people with (at the time) two very small kids, Nik and his sister. My girlfriend and I would watch their kids for them while they were on the wire - and now I look at the little kid that used to sit on my lap and watch his parents and see that he is now a real star in his own right. Very cool.

That safety gizmo was a condition by both countries to perform the stunt. The way that guy is wired, he definitely didn't want that thing hindering him (or taking the gloss of of the feat), but he worked around it. Obviously, he didn't need it, despite the wind and the water that you could see just gushing off the cable. Apparently, that guy knows something about focus and concentration.