June 19: Reaching New Heights
While climbing into my jumpsuit, cinching the safety harness around my body, and learning how to maneuver up and down stairs attached to a safety cable before beginning my trek up the world’s largest steel arch bridge today, I wondered if my rather significant fear of heights would prevent me from successfully reaching the summit. It turned out that conquering my fears was almost as rewarding as the stunning 360-degree views at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
I have to say, the climb preparation process this afternoon made me feel a little like an astronaut getting ready for a trip to outer space. My group of 13 climbers watched safety videos, had our blood alcohol levels checked, removed all of the personal items from our bodies, zipped up our jumpsuits, cinched up our harnesses, and then used clips to attach our gloves, hat, headlamp, and radio communication devices before passing through a metal detector.
We began our hike by traversing a narrow catwalk of steel near the base of the bridge hovering above eight lanes of cars speeding in both directions. With trains roaring above me and open air on both sides, I concentrated on watching the back of our group leader, Jesse, and listening to his vivid descriptions of the history of the iconic structure.
As we neared the arched portion of the bridge, we ascended a series of narrow and steep sets of stairs in the bowels of the structure, navigated through dark walkways while ducking around beams protruding in our pathway, and then climbed up a succession of panels set above the riveted steel. Instead of thinking about how high up I was, I focused on looking up and enjoying the exercise.
The Sydney Opera House appeared on our right, its beautifully curved domed rooftops reaching elegantly into the sky above the blue waters of the harbor. As we ascended the last of the over 1,300 steps to the top of the arch we could see breathtaking views of the Sydney skyline, boats in the harbor, and peninsulas all around. I found myself accustomed to the height and fully able to enjoy the panoramic views and camaraderie with other climbers in my group.
After taking some photos at the top, admiring more of the scenery, and learning additional facts about the history of the area, we made our way across the arch, down the narrow stairs in the middle, and across the catwalk back to the base of the bridge. The sun set in the sky, and we were treated to a vivid display of sparkling lights all around. What an exhilarating day!
