July 26, 2012 - 1:38 PM
BUTTE, Mont. - A grandson of famous tightrope walker Karl Wallenda is performing in Montana this weekend during the 11th Evel Knievel Days.
Rick Wallenda told The Montana Standard (http://bit.ly/PwqKTC) he has always been a fan of the famous motorcycle daredevil from Butte and agreed to perform even before organizers said how much the event would pay.
Rick Wallenda plans to walk on a 250-foot-long wire cable about 50 feet off the ground.
The 57-year-old from Sarasota, Fla., said Wednesday he plans to use a heavier pole because of the wind.
Tightrope walking has been passed down generation to generation in Wallenda's family, starting with his grandfather. His mother, Carla, continues to do a high-wire act at age 76 and his second-cousin, Nik, made history earlier this summer with a tightrope walk over Niagara Falls.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012