Almost, But Not Quite

In recent years, my home state of Arizona has suffered a loss of reputation, and relatively few things seem to have survived that to remain points of pride. One of the things that has is the Grant Canyon. Of course, that's not something that Arizona's residents can really claim responsibility for, but it's there where Arizonans are and not where those of any other state are. Naturally, we will claim credit for the canyon anyway.

Now, there's this acrobat called Nik Wallenda. He's part of an esteemed acrobat family and has pulled off some impressive high wire stunts, accruing seven Guinness world records along the way. I faintly knew of him, but took no interest until I read of his latest planned feat. It's said that he plans on doing a high-wire walk across the Grand Canyon. His own website says this, as do many media accounts of the event.

In truth, it is not the Grand Canyon he will be crossing. The spot he will be crossing lies outside the Grand Canyon national park (which perhaps refused him). It is within the bounds of the Navajo Nation's Little Colorado River tribal park, and maybe it will look to people like it's the Grand Canyon he's crossing, but it's no more the case than if someone said they were climbing the Sears Tower (which I can't bear to call the Willis Tower) but really only ascended the Hancock building.

It bugs me, that's all. I don't care that he's doing it, but I wish they would be honest about where he's doing it. It's no less dangerous and thrilling for the fact that it's not technically happening in one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Anyway, if you do go to the Grand Canyon, you'll see idiots managing equally impressive stunts on a daily basis just by horsing around beyond the barriers established by the Parks Service.