nik wallenda originally secured permits to walk across "the grand canyon" in 2008, and planned to make the trip as early as 2009. however, the walk was delayed due to substantial logistical hurdles. his agent, winston simone, commented "there's no electricity [at the planned location], there's no hotels, and for the last half-hour there are no paved roads." additionally, at a then-estimated distance of , the feat would be the longest walk of wallenda's career by a significant margin. when the opportunity to cross niagara falls arose, the grand canyon walk was put on hold. shortly after crossing niagara falls, wallenda said he would try to make the grand canyon crossing "within a year". in august 2012, he said that he was "98 percent" certain that the walk would take place in may or june 2013 and announced he would get "something in writing" that no safety harness would be required for the walk.