So TheGerm decided to come down to YYC shortly after Canada Day, so we figured some areas and scouted them out. After a number of passes by cranes in the SW and downtown areas, we decided to attempt a large apartment building with an even larger crane downtown.
We watched and waited for nightfall. The site we wanted to hit wasn't actually accessible on its own, we had to get creative across an exposed rooftop before running inside to find a stairwell. The crane was accessible from that point, but we'd rather use a stairwell to ascend instead of exposed ladders. This was especially true downtown in a city of a million, only a few minutes from the largest 10-day party the city sees each year, the Calgary Stampede. For those unfamiliar, that means downtown is busy with concert tents, taxis, pedestrians, tourists and of course, additional 5-O.
"Hey Germ, ask me how many flights of stairs I can climb." We watched the floor numbers in the stairwell climb from the single digits up into the 30s, while Germ and I grew hotter from the summer night's heat and the sheer number of stairs we had ascended. The paint job in the stairwell turned bare, then the walls on the apartment levels went from drywalled, to electrical, to bare structure, and then we hit the penthouse. A couple auxiliary stairwells and we were on the roof with a great view of the city. AC units, some steel rigging and access to a near 360º view including the adjacent crane.
The gantry near the crane did not provide crane access as we had hoped, so we took a minute to enjoy the rooftop view and headed down to the next crane anchor to see about a POE. We identified the estimated height of the crane anchor and took a look around -- we missed by one floor. Heading back to the stairwell and something took me around a corner and I looked up, standing face to face with a security guard. We both stopped dead.
He asked a few questions, we shared our non-violent, non-destructive intentions and offered him a look through our bags, but he was adamant about calling the police. Germ and I exchanged glances, hearts racing as the guard dialed his cell phone. He called his manager (or equivalent), mentioned in a voicemail that he had two trespassers and requested that that person contact him and the police.
We continued to be honest with the guard in uniform and a hard hat (Germ at this point still shirtless from the temperatures) and he agreed to escort us out the front door. He told us he was sure we had been on site before (not true) and we denied that while bearing everything else in honesty. We headed to the stairs and descended the 20-some floors to the front door. After a quick bag check to see we weren't full of sh*t, he opened the door to the busy street. "Have a good night."
The City.
1. 1/20th, f/4, ISO 3200
Moon was out, not sure if good or bad.
2. 1/10th, f/2.8, ISO 3200
Penthouse.
3. 1/10th, f/2.8, ISO 3200
36th floor.
4. 1/60th, f/2.8, ISO 1600
Germ shooting from the roof. Topless because beautiful summer nights.
5. 1/10th, f/2.8, ISO 6400
On the roof.
6. 1/5th, f/2.8, ISO 3200
Looking out.
7. 1/20th, f/2.8, ISO 3200
We were free. Took some precautions to lose any tail or surveillance, hopped back in the vehicle and headed out to our second site. This time the crane was the main attraction. Low security (and an easy, discrete site entry thanks to nearby housing) made for an easy go up the crane. We dodged CCTV across the street and made our way up.
We get to the top. "It's locked" said Germ. We had a second look at the lock and noticed there was some slack in the steel cable used to secure the door. "We could fit through there" we decided, pushing the hatch as far as we could (about 45º, half way open). I went up and Germ agreed to stay behind to help me back down should anything happen to that steel cable. I stood up and he passed me my bag, and I looked down to see I was standing on a second trap door. This one was unlocked.
See image 8. A quick climb later and we had full access to the spans of the crane. We watched some guy on a very loud ride-on road-painting machine cruise around the parking lots painting yellow arrows with stencils, oblivious to the mischief-makers above. Some observation and exploratory learning took place (this was my first time up a crane) and after the photos were finished, down we went. Stood still for a passing car, took a photo of the crane on the way out, back to the vehicle and that made
two ascents in one night.
Germ demonstrating the highly effective security measures.
8. 1/10th, f/2.8, ISO 6400
The neglected hatch.
9. 1/5th, f/2.8, ISO 6400
10. 1/10th, f/2.8, ISO 3200
From the crowsnest.
11. 1/5th, f/5.6, ISO 1250
Counterweights.
12. 1/5th, f/4, ISO 3200
The span.
13. 1/5th, f/4, ISO 3200
The view of the day.
14. 1/5th, f/4, ISO 3200
Goodnight.
15. 1/10th, f/2.8, ISO 6400
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