PHOTO SHOOT: Day 7—Nik Wallenda's Grand Canyon Highwire Tightrope Walk: Event Day & Networks

This post contains some image highlights from event day for Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon.  It is construction related only in that it culminates my six-day construction photo shoot for two customers.  The previous six posts chronicle my brand photography for the installation of Nik's cable.

Above: Performing one of his signature moves, Nik takes a knee before scrambling across the final 50 feet of cable.

PHOTO SHOOT: Day 6—Wallenda Grand Canyon Cable Installation: Cable Stabilization—On The Wire

Day six, the final day of preparation before Nick's scheduled walk over the canyon, was set aside for hanging vertical stabilizers on the cable which helped minimize both sway and rotation.  Two-by-two, crews from both sides of the canyon were wheeled out onto the cable in customized baskets to affix the stabilizers.  I worked the mainland site this day and caught a ride to assist in hanging two stabilizers.

Above: Linemen return from hanging the first stabilizer on the cable.

PHOTO SHOOT: Day 5—Wallenda Grand Canyon Cable Installation: Cable Pull, Lockdown & Tensioning

For the first half of day five, crews split up between the two venues for pulling the cable across the canyon.  Later that afternoon all hands were on deck at the mainland site for final cable securing measures as it was drawn to an event-ready tension of 60,000 pounds.  I flew over with the island crew in the morning to capture happenings from that perspective.

Above: Island crew in final preparations for the cable pull.

PHOTO SHOOT: Day 4—Wallenda Grand Canyon Cable Installation: Leader Rope Flyover & Cable Staging

At 5:23 am on day four the helicopter arrived at the job site—no one wanted to risk the wind building again.  Crews made the leader rope ready that day and positioned the shackle end of the cable just over the precipice of the canyon.

Above: At 5:40 am the helicopter takes flight with the leader rope in tow.

PHOTO SHOOT: Day 3—Wallenda Grand Canyon Cable Installation: Tensioner Cable Feed

On day three, high winds kept the helicopter grounded.  The crew's efforts were focused on positioning the spool truck, feeding Nik's cable through the tensioner and prepping rigging on the mainland side.

Above: The shackle end of the cable is being slowly rolled off the spool and led to the tensioner.

PHOTO SHOOT: Day 2—Wallenda Grand Canyon Cable Installation: Gear Transport & Island Site Preparation

Crews coordinated with various NBC contractors and Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters throughout the morning of day two for transporting materials and equipment to the ‘island’ job site on the opposite side of the canyon.  I flew across that afternoon with the engineers and a portion of the crew as they prepped and assembled rigging at the other site.

Above: Helicopter takes off to begin a round of air lifts.

PHOTO SHOOT: Day 1—Wallenda Grand Canyon Cable Installation: Mainland Site Preparation

Day one of the cable install for Nik Wallenda's high-wire tightrope walk over the Grand canyon found crew members unpacking, assembling, and positioning critical hardware and equipment on the ‘mainland’ side of the job site with the project engineers in attendance.

Above: A view of the primary work site perched on the south rim of the Little Colorado River.