With a national TV audience, and local crowds watching nervously, a blindfolded Nik Wallenda walked along a tightrope between two skyscrapers 600 feet above Chicago.

Those standing below let out a hearty cheer as the seventh-generation son of the Flying Wallenda clan walked untethered between the buildings. He was miked up offering commentary that was broadcast on the Discovery Channel as he safely made the way from the Marina City West Tower across the Chicago River to the Leo Burnett Building.

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The 35-year-old daredevil waxed enthusiastically as he traipsed from the 588 foot high West Tower to the 671 foot high Burnett building. "I love Chicago," he said high above the river, "and Chicago definitely loves me. What an amazing roar."

The walk through a very high space was a two-part production. He took around seven minutes to go from the West Tower to the Burnett Building. Then, he returned to the West Tower, blindfolded himself and crossed over to the Marina City East Tower, a trip lasting one minute 20 seconds.

Wallenda's wire was on a 19-degree incline for the first walk, four degrees steeper than even his test tightrope. He said the cable looked like it went straight up from one building to the other.

It's all in the family genes for Wallenda. His great grandfather Karl Wallenda founded the daredevil Flying Wallendas in the 1920s. The family has witnessed much glory, but also tragedy due to the dangerous nature of their stunts. Karl Wallenda died at age 73 trying to walk on a wire between two Puerto Rico buildings in 1978.

Continuing the family tradition, and business, safely, Nik Wallenda has staged several death-defying wire walks. He made a record walk across Niagara Falls in 2012. He walked on a wire 1,500 feet above a gorge near the Grand Canyon in 2013.

His Sunday feat was no walk on the beach perhaps, but it was a walk for the ages. "I'm so blessed for these opportunities," Wallenda said as he walked on the high wire without a safety net. "You guys watching think I'm crazy, but this is what I was made for."   

TagsNik Wallenda, Chicago, skyscraper walk, discovery, tightrope, blindfolded, skyscrapers