Stratosphere Climb

On March 3, 2012, I took part in a fundraising event called Scale the Strat, organized for the American Lung Association. It involved racing against the clock while climbing the stairs to the summit of the Stratosphere Tower. I thought it would be an enjoyable way to stay fit, and since the proceeds supported a worthy cause, I felt compelled to participate. This entry will recount my adventure.

As far as I remember, the entry requirements included a $50 registration fee that was due immediately, coupled with a commitment to raise at least an additional $150 through pledges. If I failed to meet the pledge target, I would have to cover the deficit. Therefore, I documented my climbing efforts in my blog. forum Thanks to the generosity of ten members from Wizard of Vegas, including Chad S., Scott P., Scott S., Nedson S., John Z., Tim B., Alan V., Jaime G., Steven H., and William Tr., donations were made. Excluding my own contribution of $50, we managed to raise a total of $322.08.

I had roughly a month to prepare, which might seem like ample time. You would assume I would hit the stair machine at the gym frequently, but realistically I only managed four or five sessions. Unfortunately, I spent about two weeks suffering from a cold accompanied by a nasty cough. It seemed like many residents in Las Vegas were dealing with similar health issues, yet I hadn't encountered anyone with a clear diagnosis.

On the bright side, I had previously ascended Mount Shasta in the summer and completed the Las Vegas half marathon in 1:49 the prior December. So, even on a less-than-stellar day, I was confident in my ability. My primary concern was recovering well enough to participate, and fortunately, I managed to do just that.

A few days leading up to the event, I was advised to arrive at 10:00 a.m. Much like the marathon, I received a timing chip to attach to my shoelaces. Coincidentally, I was in the same starting group as K.M., my proofreader, who had initially encouraged me to take on this challenge. The start times were staggered over a three-hour window. Registration took place just outside the entrance. At 10:00, roughly 30 climbers, including myself, were called into the stairwell. We ascended about two flights to a waiting area on the second floor of the Stratosphere, where we were instructed to pause briefly to allow the previous group to exit. Then they began to launch us in 30-second intervals to ensure safe spacing as we began our climb.

Before proceeding, let me share some insights about the Stratosphere Tower. It is advertised as having 108 stories, complete with an observation deck and thrill rides located on the 108th floor. Just below that is the '107 Bar.' However, I have my doubts about the accuracy of the floor count. For comparison, the Empire State Building stands at 102 stories, with a roof height of, \"...\". The Stratosphere claims a total height of 1,149 feet, including the spire. The rides are situated at, \"...\". Considering all factors, I estimate that the timed portion of the climb was roughly 830 feet, which is about 66.4% of the Empire State Building's height, effectively equating to around 68 floors. 1250 feet When it was my turn to start, I surged forward from the starting line with incredible speed. During the first ten flights, I skipped steps and sprinted as if I needed to catch the cast of the Big Bang Theory before they left. It's probably no surprise that I'm an avid fan of the show. 866 feet Even though I was racing ahead, I noticed something peculiar with how the floors were numbered. It seemed that they began counting somewhere in the twenties, and some floors in the twenties and thirties were inexplicably skipped. Whatever the case, I found myself past the 40th floor in just a few minutes, which was baffling. In the Stratosphere's defense, they are not alone in Las Vegas when it comes to confusing floor numbering, likely done to create an illusion of height.

Regardless of the mysterious floor counting, my initial burst of energy had to slow down eventually. They don't call me the '60-second wonder' for nothing. At this stage, I needed to take my time, stepping carefully and adopting a brisk walking pace. Eventually, I regained my rhythm and increased my speed, although it was nowhere near as fast as my initial sprint. I found a comfortable pattern of alternating between skipping stairs on every other flight while maintaining a steady walking pace. During this segment, I overtook several other participants. I thrive on healthy competition and derive pleasure from outperforming others.

You may be curious about what the stairwell inside the Stratosphere looks like. The stairway is quite narrow, measuring about four feet across, and constructed from corrugated steel, making it ideal for climbing. The surface offered good traction, unlike concrete, and it absorbed energy less than a carpet would. The handrails on both sides were positioned closely enough together that I could reach out to grasp them simultaneously, which helped with balance and allowed me to use my arms for additional assistance.

On either side of the stairwell, there was a long view both upward and downward. At two key points along the route, around floors 50 and 70, there were platforms accessible by elevators. For this event, those platforms featured around six chairs for tired climbers, cases of water bottles, and paramedics on standby.

After roughly 12 to 13 minutes, according to my watch, I regrettably reached the summit. I was genuinely enjoying the experience and felt capable of continuing for much longer. Upon crossing the finish line, I was handed a towel and a medal. Refreshments such as juice, water, oranges, and bananas were available. Unlike at the Las Vegas Marathon, the bananas were perfectly ripe.

However, I wasn't quite ready for refreshments yet, so I found a secluded area to recuperate. As my heart rate began to decrease, I was suddenly struck by a fit of coughing. I'm not entirely sure if it was due to still feeling unwell, being fatigued, or perhaps the staircase’s dust. It was likely a mix of all three factors. Yet, I overheard someone mention that it was less dusty than in previous years. I wasn’t alone in my coughing; I could hear it echoing from many other climbers around me. Eventually, I collected myself and sipped some orange juice. I settled at a table next to an attractive young woman who was sitting alone. We lingered there in silence until she broke the ice. A pretty girl striking up a conversation with me without any financial incentive? That isn’t something that happens frequently... if at all. Anyway, what did she say? 'Your nose is bleeding.' With my cough and now this, I must have looked quite a mess.

Once I gathered myself, I went to check the times on a nearby display. My recorded time was 12 minutes and 41 seconds. I realize that this might not mean much to many readers, so let me provide some context. Here's how my performance stacked up against the published results:

The top 50 climbers earned the chance to return the following day for another go. The time for the 50th place was 11:50, which surpassed me by 51 seconds. This gives me a target to aim for in the next event.

In conclusion, I want to express my gratitude to the event organizers for orchestrating such a well-run occasion. From the moment I entered the building from the parking area, staff members were quick to identify participants in athletic attire and guide them on where to proceed. At registration, I encountered no lines and plenty of personnel ready to assist. My corral timing of 11:00 kicked off precisely on schedule. During the ascent, assistance and water were offered by staff about every three flights. At the top, people congratulated the winners, and there was an abundance of food and drink. Plus, I received a complimentary photo I was never aware had been taken. While it isn't the most flattering image, I'm willing to share it regardless.

The organizers also arranged a viewing area in a showroom so that friends and family of the climbers could witness the event unfold. Four cameras positioned at the start, finish, and two emergency platforms provided real-time video of the climbers in the stairwell to a large screen. K.M.'s mother-in-law captured this slightly blurry photo when K.M. crossed the finish line.

This is an annual occasion, with 2012 marking its fourth installment, although it was my inaugural participation. I sincerely hope to encourage some readers to consider joining me next year. Should you not be in Las Vegas at that time, there are similar climbing challenges held in towers and skyscrapers across the globe that you can explore.

Analytically sound tactics and insights for various casino games like blackjack, craps, roulette, and hundreds more.

Please examine your email and click on the link we provided to finalize your registration.

Written by: Michael Shackleford