Now that I've settled into a new city, I decided to kick off my time exploring here with something I've never done before- scaling a tower crane.

While looking for a good crane to climb, I found two options- one crane which was difficult to access and in a busy area, and one that was easy to access, but across the street from the County Courthouse and the police station. I chose the later.

I apologize for the blurriness of some of the pictures- I tried touching them up the best I could with photo editing software, but "night" mode on my camera was meant to be used with a tripod, and there's only so much computers can do.


1.) Descend To Rise

In order to reach the base of the crane, I had to go to the lowest part of the building's foundation, four stories underground. Many of the floodlights were left on in the lower levels, making it easier to navigate.


2.) Beacon of Order


3.) Above The Law

This is the County Courthouse and police station from above. I had to dodge police patrols at semi regular intervals to get into the construction site, and the entire time I was worried that one of them would look up. In fact, while descending the crane, a police officer parked across the street and went into a nearby building.


4.) Not Worth The Risk

No, I didn't go out on it. I'll keep my feet firmly planted on a tiny catwalk 20 stories in the air, thank you very much. In fact, I don't think I've ever maintained "3 points of contact" as strictly as I did on this climb.


5.) Rise To Meet Me


6. I Freaking Hate Heights


So, thus ends my first crane climbing experience. That's something I can check off the ol' Urbex Bucket List. Anyway, thanks for checking these out.

Glad you did your first crane, it's an experience unlike anything else that's for sure. It's five and a half years since I did my first - and only - crane, on a freezing cold January night, sitting up top having to hide from the security guard wandering around at ground level for what seemed like an eternity will be with me forever.

Looks like great fun
Climbing structural steel is a blast.
It's as safe as you make it.
Fear is your friend; listen to it, but don't let it control you.

Posted by mookster Glad you did your first crane, it's an experience unlike anything else that's for sure.

Posted by blackhawk Looks like great fun

Yeah, it was quite an experience. Not sure if I'll ever do one again, but I'm glad I did it. Climbing that crane was really intense, and I don't think I could ever imagine what it was like standing at the top with the wind whipping at my clothes and the city sleeping below me. I've also discovered that I get really nervous that high up, but that just makes succeeding sweeter, you know?

Posted by mookster It's five and a half years since I did my first - and only - crane, on a freezing cold January night, sitting up top having to hide from the security guard wandering around at ground level for what seemed like an eternity will be with me forever.

Yeah, I didn't have to wait, but I nearly had a heart attack when a cop pulled over and got out of his car. I was too high to get down quickly, but low enough to be easily seen if he just turned his head to the side. Fortunately, he was too preoccupied with whatever he was doing to notice me, and was gone within five minutes.

Posted by blackhawk It's as safe as you make it. Fear is your friend; listen to it, but don't let it control you.

That's why I didn't go out on the boom. I would have had to climb onto the mechanism that turned the crane, and then climbed the outside of the tower to get onto the boom from what I could tell. No ropes, no way. Great view though.

A little fear is good, nervousness is not.
If you're in good shape and can do 6+ chin ups in strict form, you're good to go. You need strong lats, biceps, forearms, and legs.
Avoid wet steel,climbing in ice, lightning, and moderate to high winds.
Always wear a good pair of high top laced boots suitable for climbing steel.
Take your time. Never think twice to stop if it doesn't look safe or doable; remember you'll need climb back down too
Otherwise, the 3 points of contact rule will keep you safe if you concentrate on climbing.
The nervousness fades when you concentrate at the task at hand rather than the height.
-All- that matters is the next hand and foothold.

Rest every 50 feet or as needed.
Learn to lock yourself in place when resting such interlocking your leg through the ladder rung and leaning back on the cage if there is one.

I prefer free climbing on steel. A fall with a safety harness can easily prove fatal; falling is never an option.

It seems like there are always a plethora of cranes and not much else to explore in Madison. My first crane was there too. In fact I ended up doing 8 of the 9 or so they had up one season out of boredom. They are a good way to get above the building height restrictions there. Damn near impossible to get a correctly exposed photo of the bright capitol though. I settled for just letting it blur out.

Posted by NotQuiteHuman It seems like there are always a plethora of cranes and not much else to explore in Madison. My first crane was there too. In fact I ended up doing 8 of the 9 or so they had up one season out of boredom. They are a good way to get above the building height restrictions there. Damn near impossible to get a correctly exposed photo of the bright capitol though. I settled for just letting it blur out. https://c8.staticf...9_c9684e9e9e_z.jpg

Lol, you have crane shake in that pic
Hard to get around that except with a faster shutter speed.

Posted by blackhawk Lol, you have crane shake in that pic Hard to get around that except with a faster shutter speed.

yup. I got fed up with trying to expose the capitol with the rest of the city, so letting the crane do it's thing gives it a cool effect and embraces the fact that the capitol is wayyy over exposed.

Posted by NotQuiteHuman yup. I got fed up with trying to expose the capitol with the rest of the city, so letting the crane do it's thing gives it a cool effect and hides the fact that the capitol is wayyy over exposed.

An IS lense or cam might have been able to grab it depending on the amount and frequently of the shake.
WTF though, the real rush is being there

Posted by NotQuiteHuman It seems like there are always a plethora of cranes and not much else to explore in Madison. My first crane was there too. In fact I ended up doing 8 of the 9 or so they had up one season out of boredom. They are a good way to get above the building height restrictions there. Damn near impossible to get a correctly exposed photo of the bright capitol though. I settled for just letting it blur out.

Yeah, the Capital building is way too bright. What kind of lens and settings were you using on that picture, if I may ask? I've been using a point and shoot digital camera, and I can't quite figure out how to get that much exposure.

Also, I thought there was more in Madison? Are the old asylum, the feed mill, and the Lost City still standing? Or are they no longer accessible? I've been doing some research, but very few sources are recent.

Posted by Aran Yeah, the Capital building is way too bright. What kind of lens and settings were you using on that picture, if I may ask? I've been using a point and shoot digital camera, and I can't quite figure out how to get that much exposure. Also, I thought there was more in Madison? Are the old asylum, the feed mill, and the Lost City still standing? Or are they no longer accessible? I've been doing some research, but very few sources are recent.

Yeah. There are those, but not a whole lot more. I also haven't lived in the area for a couple years, so I don't have the latest info. The lost city is a fun hike, but there really isn't much to see. The feed mill is a pretty cool building, but gets boring after a few explores. The problem is that land is at a premium in the city due to building height restrictions and the fact that it's on an isthmus. Nothing remains abandoned very long, so the windows to explore things tend to be pretty short. The best advice is to stay on top of things, so you don't miss any opportunities. There is however potential for some drains that haven't been explored yet.

It looks like you could use a tripod so you can take some long exposure shots. Learn how to shoot in manual if your camera allows it.

Posted by blackhawk An IS lense or cam might have been able to grab it depending on the amount and frequently of the shake. WTF though, the real rush is being there

I kinda like the blur. I think it's an interesting way to separate foreground and background.. Agreed on the second point. I never even hauled the camera out to a few of the climbs.

Posted by NotQuiteHuman I kinda like the blur. I think it's an interesting way to separate foreground and background.. Agreed on the second point. I never even hauled the camera out to a few of the climbs.

I like the way you captured the reflection on the glass and it's sharp contrast to the reverse blur is cool.
I don't like anything that distracts me when I climb steel; minimum gear, fast and loose.

Also, try not to be like these kids and end up in the news. This is how things get secured. http://www.fox28.c...respassing-charges

Posted by NotQuiteHuman Also, try not to be like these kids and end up in the news. This is how things get secured. http://www.fox28.c...respassing-charges

Yeah, I'll try. Then again, it sounds like he posted a video under his real name- that's just asking for trouble.

The problem with cranes is that there's nowhere to go if you get spotted. Any tips on avoiding detection besides "Go at night and don't make a spectacle out of yourself?" I don't think a cop will believe me if I say I work there at 3:00 in the morning.

Do you think six months is enough time for the cops to forget about it?

Posted by Aran Yeah, I'll try. Then again, it sounds like he posted a video under his real name- that's just asking for trouble. The problem with cranes is that there's nowhere to go if you get spotted. Any tips on avoiding detection besides "Go at night and don't make a spectacle out of yourself?" I don't think a cop will believe me if I say I work there at 3:00 in the morning. Do you think six months is enough time for the cops to forget about it?

Cops aren't your biggest concern; everyone else is. If you get silhouetted as you climb you are easy to spot. People tend not to look up though and that includes cops. After this many cops will be doing just that. You're safer the higher base of the crane is by this logic such as those on a high rise.
Sunday early Monday mornings tend to be more quiet.
It's a crap shoot.
Avoid climbing when it's raining. To spite the cover a slip wouldn't be good.