NIAGARA FALLS, NY - With one huge hurdle out the way high wire walker Nik Wallenda says, it's time to start work on his life long dream of crossing the Niagara Gorge on a tight rope.
On Wednesday he got the approval he needed from the Canadian government to go ahead with the walk.
Wallenda was joined by several political leaders from both sides of the Falls for a morning press conference at the Niagara Falls International Airport.
"You know dreams can come true and I wouldn't be here today standing at this podium if it wasn't for the gentlemen sitting next to me," said Wallenda.
The 7th generation of the famed "Flying Wallendas" shared some of the specifics about his tight rope walk attempt. Two cranes, one on Goat Island and the other on Table Rock will be used to hoist the 1,800 foot wire that's just 2 inches wide. Wallenda says since the Niagara Gorge is 160-deep, both the wire and walk across will be a little over 200 feet above the water.
As he approaches the center of the cable Wallenda says he will actually be 30-feet lower than the original starting point, and as he continues the walk will be back over 200-feet again.
"The reason why we're elevating is actually for spectator's purposes. You know you can't, you can only line so much people up against the railing to see this walk so if I elevate you can have people back 150-feet and they can see the entire walk," said Wallenda.
One that comes with a lot of risks. 2 On Your Side Reporter Patrick Moussignac asked Wallenda, "Who is going to be responsible for any sort of rescues, let's just say it gets to that point? Will it be Border Patrol? Do you have your own team?"
Wallenda replied, "We actually have our own team, our own rescue helicopter as well as divers that will go into the water with the government close hand in hand on both sides to make sure we their approval and blessings as well because in the end the both state that if there is a rescue and they might have to get involved."
This upcoming walk is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of spectators to both sides of the Falls. Wallenda says billions more all around the world will be watching this on live TV.
"I've done over 150 interviews in the last 24 hours. I was up until about 12:30 at night doing interviews, and up at 4 in the morning doing interviews everywhere from Australia to China, around the world. So the reach is pretty far," said Wallenda.
The live broadcast will also kick off a television series featuring Wallenda that will air later this year on the Discovery Channel.
Its still up in the air where if Wallenda will begin his walk on the Canadian side or American side of the Falls. That will be a last minute decision depending on who the wind is blowing that day. So far he's looking at either July or August to make this attempt.