SARASOTA, Fla. — Nik Wallenda is preparing to take on what he says is his most dangerous tightrope challenge yet.
- Nik Wallenda plans to walk across active volcano
- Calls feat an 'engineering nightmare'
- He’s training with a gas mask, eyes closed
In less than two months, Nik plans to walk across the mouth of the active Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. He says he first decided he would take on a live volcano almost seven years ago, when on vacation with his wife.
“When I walked up to the edge, I knew that it was the one,” he said. “This is the one I had to face.”
This is the longest high-wire walk he has ever attempted at more than 1,800 feet. It’s also the highest. When completed, Nik will also be the first person to have walked across the volcano, which is a part of the Ring of Fire.
A walk of this magnitude creates an array of unique circumstances for Nik and his team. He called it an engineering nightmare.
“There’s not much I’m not worried about, to be honest,” he said.
The heat and gases and are known to disintegrate the cables Nik uses. During past trips to check out the location, he says their equipment, drones, and cameras were all damaged by the volcanic gas.
“The heat that’s in the air effects the tension on the cable, it even affects the cable itself,” he explained.
Nik is also learning to walk with a gas mask and practicing with his eyes closed. He’s expecting to have little to no visibility. It’s not yet clear if he will be wearing a safety harness of any kind. Nik says with insurance companies and permitting involved, he’s not sure he will be allowed to walk without any type of safety mechanism.
“I’m at the highest level right now of negotiation to not wear that tether,” he said. “We just don’t have a firm answer at this point.”
The walk will be airing live on March 4 on ABC.