There are some of us that as we ride down the highway, we are constantly looking up, checking out the wires and equipment overhead. I would wager that our numbers are few and nil to none once you step outside the power systems related industries. However this past year Power Engineers designed a cable that has been viewed by over 13 million people. Yes, you read that right; 13,000,000 people, that is the number of viewers quoted by ABC for Nik Wallenda's walk over Niagara Fall last June.
Being natives of the Western New York area and having visited Niagara Falls numerous times, we made sure that we were part of that 13 million watching as Nik inched his way across the cable. Having felt the power of the Niagara River as it plunges over the rim into the churning pool below, we had a healthy respect for the danger of the feat we were witnessing.
When Wallenda decided to do a walk of that magnitude he knew he needed the help of an expert in the field of cable design and what better place to look then in the power industry. He and his engineer teamed up with Power Engineers to design a cable that would meet all of the challenges of bridging the 1,800 foot span between the US and Canada over Niagara Falls.
The icing on the cake for those of us who attended the Power Delivery Design Conference, sponsored by Power Engineers, in Sun Valley, Idaho in March was the opportunity to listen to Nik, and the team, discuss the expected and unexpected issues they faced in not only designing, but installing the cable as well. At lunch we had the good fortune of sitting at the same table as Nik and I asked him if he experience any fear during his walk. He responded "No, walking tight ropes is what I do, I have taken all the necessary precautions and I am confident in my ability."
Congratulations to Power Engineers Inc of Hailey Idaho and Nik Wollenda for a great show last summer. Oh by the way if you have not heard, they have teamed up again, and on June 23 of this year Nik will be walking across the Grand Canyon on a Power Engineer designed cable.
