Racers to climb 1,455 steps in Scale the Strat

F. ANDREW TAYLOR/VIEWLong a training ground for local firefighters, the Stratosphere will welcome racers to scale the stairs in the first Scale the Strat race set for Friday. Advertisement

Former smoker Chris Digsby never imagined he might climb 108 flights of stairs to reach the top of the Stratosphere Tower just for fun, but life never turns out the way we expect.

"It's so strange to think that eight years ago when I was still a smoker, there's no way I could have done this," Digsby said. "That, your health, should be motivation enough for anyone to quit."

On Friday, Digsby will participate in the first Scale the Strat competition, a fundraising race that will require participants to climb 108 flights of stairs -- 1,455 steps -- from the basement to the top observation deck of the Stratosphere. The race, which organizers hope will become an annual event, will benefit the American Lung Association in Nevada.

Digsby said he became an avid runner after kicking his pack-a-day cigarette habit. The stage director for a show on the Strip said that when he heard about the Stratosphere event from a friend at work, he decided to participate.

"I think it will be a real experience," he said. "I can't wait."

Brian Hosier, special events manager for the American Lung Association in Nevada, said the event is being billed as "the ultimate stair climb experience," reminiscent of many popular stair races held throughout the world in landmark buildings such as the Empire State Building in New York City and the Sears Tower in Chicago.

"Most races are held in office buildings with exits on every floor," Hosier said. "Those are usually open to anyone who wants to participate. In our race, you need to really be in shape from the beginning because beyond a certain point, there's no turning back."

Flights 26 through 102 of the Stratosphere's core stairwell are located at the center of the tower, where no landings or exits are available until participants reach the last flight.

"This is not for the faint of heart or your average couch potato," Hosier said. "You don't have to be an athlete, but you need to be somewhat in shape to participate."

The chamber has a wall around the staircase but it's not directly beside the steps. A railing protects climbers from accidentally falling off the steps, but there is space between the railing and the wall. The unusual design of the stairwell can tend to cause vertigo for some, Hosier said.

"Climbing up will be easier than it would be walking down, in terms of vertigo and fear of heights though," he said.

After reaching floor 26, Hosier said, climbers will not be allowed to turn back unless a medical emergency exists.

The interior stairway leads to an observation deck on floor 108, where a race winner will be declared.

Hosier said the lung association chose the 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower for the event because it is considered to be such an icon of the West and of Las Vegas.

"It's a unique venue which makes the event unique," he said. "The building makes this climb different than others worldwide."

Hosier said the event also gives participants an opportunity to see the inside of the tower, which is monitored under heavy security.

There will be a $50 registration fee, and participants must pledge to raise an additional $250 (or may opt to pay the additional $250 themselves). Money raised from the event will go toward funding lung health research, education and advocacy.

Hosier said that public support of the association has become even more important during this time of economic stress, when some programs are in danger of suffering cutbacks.

"It is vitally important we continue to provide services in the form of tobacco prevention and promotion of lung health programs," he said. "We host an asthma camp for kids and hold a health conference each year. That's what the money goes towards."

Registration for the first qualifying event will take place at 8 a.m. Friday . A second qualifier will open registration at noon. A "Climb Off" will be held Saturday , where winners from both qualifying events the day before will compete for cash and prizes. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

For more information, visit www.scalethestrat.com.

Association officials were projecting last week that nearly 400 people would participate.

"People fly in from all over the world to do this," Hosier said. "We plan to make this an annual event. It's going to be a great time."

Contact North Las Vegas and Downtown View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.