RICK CRANDALL

This site is a collection of articles on subjects that may be of interest to researchers.. They are all copyrighted, however abstracting and quoting may be done without my permission (although I’d like to know!) and literal copying may be allowed, contact me. 

Climbing a New York City Skyscraper

City Climb, the highest external building climb in the world, is a one-of-a-kind aerial adventure experience. Located above Edge,a cantilevered, glass floor protrusion attached at the 100th floor, is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere,

The opportunity is to climb from the Edge up to the top of the building. Climbers get to scale the outside of a skyscraper more than 1,200 feet above the ground, then lean out and look down from the highest outdoor platform in New York City.

 

 

 

It’s an adventure unlike any other in the world and an achievement that you will remember for the rest of your life.

All Climbers must have a blood-alcohol reading below 0.080 in order to participate in City Climb. During check-in, all City Climb participants will be breathalyzed. Any Climber who tests over the allowable limit will not be permitted to climb. If a Climber refuses to be breathalyzed, they will not be able to participate, and their ticket will not be refunded.

According to Architectural Digest the participants will climb and descend a total of 370 steps during the 90 minute – 2-hour experience.

They test us for alcohol, make us swear we’re not on drugs and then suit us up in a one piece – they do not want one item to possibly fall off our bodies or pockets – that would not go well for someone on the street.

Heading up from the Edge deck.

 

As we head up, Mona is tentative at first.

We’re hanging on a double banister, and we are attached via harness, so it’s safe, but what mountaineers would call “exposed.” We’re about 1100’ above the street and the building is straight down on the left.

 

 

 

We are at the top, a small, metal-grid platform 1200’ above terra firma.
Here is a video with clips of the whole experience.  https://www.dropbox.com/s/8v8mhoac56xbafl/City%20Climb%20Final%20Video.mp4?dl=0

Then we are given the “opportunity” to rely on our belay and hang over the edge – as you see in the video, we really had to think that one through. It’s not hard, but it is mental.

We head back down another set of stairs, into the building, un-suit and here we are doing a selfie at the deck with at least glass between us and 1000’ down.

It’s not a fourteener, but the thrill is there!

 

Welcome

This site is a collection of articles on subjects that may be of interest to researchers.

They are all copyrighted, however abstracting and quoting may be done without my permission (although I’d like to know!) and literal copying may be allowed, contact me.

See Hiking and Climbing Equipment Checklist HERE

New Articles

Climbing a New York City Skyscraper

In Hudson Yards, NYC there is a building called the Edge that has the highest cantilevered deck in North America at the 100th floor. We elevatored to there and then went outside to climb to the top!

Mt. Sherman Revisited

After four years passing from finishing climbing all 58 fourteeners, I am back at a summit on Mt. Sherman with Mona Long.

My Favorite 14er Climb Stories

Pikes Peak – Summiting My 58th and Final 14er

Pikes Peak is the 2nd most visited mountain in the world. I saved it for last because it has a road to the top so that some friends could climb with me and others could ride to the top to begin the celebration completing a 9-year mission to climb them all. We chose the Crags Trail, and then we had quite a party!

K2 and Capitol Peak (“The King”)

Capitol Peak is undoubtedly the standard bearer of all the fourteeners in Colorado. It features a very long boulder hike/climb to a sub-summit called K2 at 13,688’ followed by a knife-edge ridge crawl to the Capitol summit cap. The final push is a 550’ Class 4 climb to summit.

Little Bear Peak – Bad Boy of the Colorado Fourteeners

This is a pure climbing story because this mountain is a skilled-climbers’ mountain that most recognize as one of the two most difficult of all 57 Colorado fourteeners.

Crestone Peak … and a Self Rescue!

“Crestone Peak, or “The Peak” as known among many climbers, is one of the “double-black diamond” 14ers for climbers. It and its companion fourteener, Crestone Needle were the last of all the fourteeners to be scaled back in the 1920’s. This remote and rugged mountain was once thought impossible to climb.”

Blanca Peak – Sacred Mountain of the Navajo

with a 130-year old Eagle trap at summit …and close encounters with hungry bears.

North Maroon Peak – Going Technical

Climbing North Maroon with Andy Mishmash changes a dangerous climb into pure joy. This peak is notorious for casualties but with care watching for loose rock and someone experienced in route finding, North Maroon becomes one of the most beautiful fourteener climbs. The views on the way up and from summit are stunning

Pyramid Peak – a Dream Climb

Pyramid Peak near Aspen, one of the most challenging fourteeners with its narrow ledges, Leap of Faith, Class 4 Green Wall and the impressive Amphitheater; climbed during fall aspen colors with climbing expert Andy Mishmash.