CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The Hustle Chicago stair climb is Chicago’s premier winter fitness event. Every year people climb to the top of the former Hancock Center (now just 875 N. Michigan Ave) to raise funds for Respiratory Health, supporting people living with lung disease and to promote clean air.

February 26, 2023
Chicago, IL

Hancock Tower by Paul Sager, on Flickr


The John Hancock Center is a 100-story (1,128-foot) skyscraper in Chicago. Tower construction started in 1967 and the building was the world's second tallest building when completed in 1969.

Water Tower & Hancock Tower


One of the most famous buildings of the structural expressionist style, the Hancock Tower's distinctive X-braced exterior shows that the structure's skin is part of its "tubular system". This X-bracing allows for both higher performance from tall structures and the ability to open up the inside floorplan.

Hancock Tower


The building is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers. It has won numerous awards for its distinctive style, including the Distinguished Architects Twenty-five Year Award from the American Institute of Architects in May 1999.

Hancock Tower


Located on the 94th floor, the 360 Chicago Observation Deck provides views of the city and Lake Michigan, and on clear days, you can see (maybe) to Indiana to the southeast and Wisconsin to the north.

Hustle Chicago 2023


Some climb for the individual fitness accomplishment. Others dedicate their efforts to honor or remember a loved one. Many participants say they or someone they know have been impacted by asthma, COPD, lung cancer, COVID-19, or other lung diseases.

Hustle Chicago 2023


I lost a grandfather to COPD. It took me 21:33 to climb all 1,632 steps from the ground floor to the 94th floor Observation Deck. It was non stop, passing all but one of those in line shown earlier. But, I was going only as fast as to not need to stop and rest. The idea to rest was seriously in my mind in the 50s, around halfway. Every floor has a sign marking progress.

Chicago's North Side


Above, we look north along Lake Michigan. Many of my images from Chicago are from that park area and shore line, just beyond the buildings in the foreground.

Hancock Tower


When the trees and grass green-up on a few weeks, things should look more inviting across all of Chicagoland and the upper Midwest.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wasabi

Very nice, brings back memories. And congratulations on climbing 100!! As I recall not everyone makes it all the way up.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Bill, Wasabi! There was a separate option to climb just half, occurring in another stairwell. The halfway point in the full option also had an authorized exit. I didn't sense anyone in my 'wave' was going to quit, but there were more and more people paused the higher we got.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Heck of a view.

petercbrandt Loc: New York City, Manhattan

Terrific article and photos, just exhausted without the climb, just show you how much l got into your photos !
Peter

ELNikkor

Great photos and story, thanks for posting; (you're much more fit than me!)

Tito14 Loc: Central Florida

Paul, congratulations! Well done!

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

Congratulations Paul! Himalaya next?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you tcthome, ELNikkor, Ernesto, Sarantis! I've been focused on HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training - for cardo over the past year+, so a 21-minute all-out climb is a good 6-minutes longer than my longest HIIT. I could really feel it in my chest at the end.

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

Yikes! That's a climb! Nice shots!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

More power to you--congrats! Nice photos, too, Paul.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you 13, John! I've now climbed both the Hancock and Sears Towers, for some different kinds of adventures.

Stephan G

Brought several recollections to mind. I climbed the stairs up to the fiftieth floor of the building under construction at the time. The core was complete, but the exterior was yet to be put in. I got a great view of North Chicago going from the building northward. Did not have camera with me though because of the items I had to deliver took both hands.

Good areal view of Navy Pier. I remember when it was run by the US Navy, with a destroyer parked on the south side of the pier. Even remembered Old Silversides, the submarine!

The Chicago Water Tower marked the edge of Lake Michigan when it was built. It is basically a standing water pipe in the center, to provide pressure to move water into the city.

One view well remembered were of the Playboy bunnies running up and down the Oak Street Beach area. They were in great shape to watch. (And great to talk to!)

Great presentation and shots.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Wow, Paul. Congratulations on climbing 1625 stairs without stopping and passing many other climbers. That was demonstrating some Olympic athlete aerobic capacity. Wow. (It deserved two “wows”)😊 Loved the view from the top.