22/08/2011 | C. Martin
Swiss tightrope artist Freddy Nock has set off on a challenge to set seven new high altitude records in as many days across different countries, including Switzerland and Austria, in an effort to raise money for UNICEF.
Nock will be seen trying to set a record for the longest cable crossing with a bike. He will also be attempting to walk the longest and highest rope down a valley.
Although such daredevil feats may not be everyone's idea of the ideal luxury holiday, travellers who are interested in getting to the mountains in Switzerland to spectate can do so by taking an escorted tour.
Nock began his challenge in southern Bavaria by walking 3,000 foot along a two-inch thick cable wire to reach the top of the near-10,000 foot high Zugspitze mountain in one hour and 20 minutes without using a balancing pole or a security harness.
The walk is to be submitted to the Guinness Book of Records as the "longest and highest wire walk above sea level without a balancing pole".
Nock said: "I will attempt seven records during this week. It has everything, incline, to walk down a cable car, walk across a lake that is more than three kilometres wide which in the highest mountain area, in the Jungfrauenjoch in Switzerland that is more than 3,800 metres high, higher than this one.
"Can I get across that in the air? Or cycling with a bicycle across a tight rope over 120 metres at a height of 50 metres. Those are the things I do want to do."
Copyright Press Association 2011