Hello everyone!
After around a year of lurking, I've decided that I should probably start posting some of the pictures that I've accrued over the years. I've been exploring on my own for a few years now and I've recently gotten much more into it. In the coming few weeks I hope to entertain you all with my posts!
For today, please enjoy this photo I took while on the roof of the Water St. Cafe in Gastown.
The photo uploader kept telling me the file was too big so i had to shrink it down to like 500x300. Here is an external link to the fullsize version:
http://i.imgur.com/CB3aStW.jpg ((if anyone has some advice for this, please share! I'd love to upload full HD versions of my photos))
Full Debrief:
The Water St. Cafe is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. My parents used to frequent it when they were dating, and I seldom have seen an empty table while I walk by on my way to work.
I have a bit of a confusing relationship with daytime climbs. On the one hand, they're a lot safer, since one is less likely not to see an obstacle, and they're more convenient since I don't have to stay up late for them. On the other hand, the risk of getting caught is dramatically higher than nighttime climbs, and the risk of causing a scene is as well. This is particularly a rooftopping risk, since in rich countries such as Canada, people standing on the edges of roofs are rather likely to be suspected of attempting suicide, which will motivate a call to the police much more than the suspicion of trespassing (at least for ordinary passersby).
I'd become familiar with this building through some other business that I had there. On a regular explore of the neighbourhood, I noticed that the upstairs washroom window allowed access of the fire escape (which leads to the roof). I didn't have my camera at the time, but I promised myself that I'd return with it.
On the day of the climb, I entered as usual and asked the lady at the desk if I could use the washroom. She permitted me, and I walked past the other workers towards it. It was particularly hot this fine summer day, so they actually had the door to the fire escape open. However, that was not a viable point of egress, as the wall beside it was entirely glass, and on the other side sat a very bored woman clacking away at her keyboard while she sipped her herbal tea.
After reaching the washroom and locking the door, I set my things down and prepared myself. I wore a baseball cap and sunglasses to mitigate recognition by anyone who happened to see my, put on my camera bag, and grabbed my tripod.
The window was stickier than I anticipated. Years of rot and ruin have left the grooves which it slides up and down on filled with detritus. I managed it open, but likely due to that same wear and tear, the latching mechanism had broken off. Improvising, I propped it open with the garbage bin, though this did not leave me much room to maneuver out. It probably took me around 4 minutes to squirm myself up onto the ledge and get just half of my body out the window; 4 minutes that I could not afford to spend exposed to the alley below. Deciding that the lateral space was more valuable than the vertical, I removed the garbage bin and simply held the window open with my hand, which worked out fine.
The tripod was a triproblem. I should have looped it through the strap of my camera bag, but I was just carrying it (rookie mistake). Only having one free hand when slipping backwards out a window that is closing on you every second is a serious challenge. Through a combination of holding the tripod with a few fingers while the others grasped the window and resting the tripod on the ledge and grabbing it after moving, I managed to get a foot and hand over to the banister of the fire escape. Once I had that anchor point it was smooth sailing up the ladder to the roof. Luckily, the open door was on the other side of the ladder, so I didn't have to cross over.
I knew I had to be quick, so I limited myself to only one photo. I expanded my tripod and took a second to look for the best angle, then set it up to see the street below and the mountains and water behind. As I assumed my signature position, I looked down upon the intersection below. A crowd of tourists were gathered around the Gastown Steam Clock. The streets were busy and slow. The clouds cast a beautiful broken sunlight upon the cobblestone ground.
My camera went off.
I ran back to check the photo, and was satisfied. Quickly collapsing it, I slipped it through the sling of my camera bag and took off back to the ladder (but not before getting a quick video for the snap hoes). The descent was a lot easier than the ascent, especially since I had now properly stored my tripod. Though there was a scary moment where the weight of the swinging tripod pulled me backwards out the window, I managed to slip in feet first, unscathed.
I flushed for realism and left, thanking the lady on the way out.
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P.S. I'm looking to become a full member. I've had this account for almost a year and I comment infrequently on posts, so I'm now just trying to build up my own post history. I've been out with a few other explorers from here who can vouch for me as well. If any of the mods can let me know if I'm missing anything that'd be great!