Downtown Uphill View

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Seattle's tallest building, the contemporary black Columbia Center, and its second tallest building, the rosie curved top Municipal Tower, seem to be peering down the stairs at us on a blue sky but cold day. I get a little workout just getting around hilly downtown, but can you imagine last Sunday when 1500 firefighters from all over the USA lined up to participate in the 2009 Firefighter Stairclimb competition to the top of Columbia Tower to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! Montana firefighter Kory Burgess of Lolo broke the record with an amazing 10 minutes 55.75 seconds ascent of 69 flights of stairs, 1311 steps in all, in full gear and breathing apparatus.