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UER Forum > Canada: Alberta / BC > [Self-Introduction] Rooftop of the Water Street Cafe in Gastown (Viewed 1895 times)
FiverFiver 


Location: Vancouver, BC
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 15 likes


FiverFiver

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[Self-Introduction] Rooftop of the Water Street Cafe in Gastown
< on 8/2/2017 5:41 AM >
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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.
409606.jpg (60 kb, 439x292)
click to view

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.


\\\\/\////






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!




lying on top of a building the clouds looked no nearer than when I was lying on the street
Lola AB 


Location: YEG
Gender: Female
Total Likes: 122 likes




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Re: [Self-Introduction] Rooftop of the Water Street Cafe in Gastown
< Reply # 1 on 8/2/2017 2:54 PM >
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Posted on Forum: UER Forum
Cool pic! I love Vancouver and can totally picture the area you were in.
Thanks for sharing




RunkPock 


Location: Vancouver
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 129 likes




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Re: [Self-Introduction] Rooftop of the Water Street Cafe in Gastown
< Reply # 2 on 8/4/2017 12:27 AM >
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Posted on Forum: UER Forum
If you want to uploaded higher res images, make a Flickr account, then use the image url tags above the text box on here. You get 1Tb of free image hosting on Flickr too.



[last edit 8/4/2017 12:28 AM by RunkPock - edited 1 times]

skatchkins 


Location: The Desert
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 1476 likes




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Re: [Self-Introduction] Rooftop of the Water Street Cafe in Gastown
< Reply # 3 on 8/4/2017 12:50 AM >
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Posted on Forum: UER Forum
Or just click the JPG button on your post and paste in your photo's imgur address:



Welcome to the forum.



[last edit 8/4/2017 12:50 AM by skatchkins - edited 1 times]

Flickr Pitchrs
FiverFiver 


Location: Vancouver, BC
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 15 likes


FiverFiver

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Re: [Self-Introduction] Rooftop of the Water Street Cafe in Gastown
< Reply # 4 on 8/4/2017 5:40 AM >
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Thanks everyone for the kind words and technical support!

Here I go attempting to use the JPG button! If this works, please enjoy a sampling of my photos from a snowy rooftopping session I did back in december of last year.





lying on top of a building the clouds looked no nearer than when I was lying on the street
UER Forum > Canada: Alberta / BC > [Self-Introduction] Rooftop of the Water Street Cafe in Gastown (Viewed 1895 times)


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