Mapping the Rung

Past the corridor marker, a heavy fire door rested slightly ajar, leading into the cool concrete stairwell. At the edge of the landing, a series of vertical black iron balusters formed a repetitive barrier. I approached the lowest horizontal support bar running parallel to the rough floor. Stepping up onto its painted metal edge, I balanced on my boots and looped the outer tracking ring of my right controller around one vertical rung. The cool steel clinked softly against the plastic. Looking down between the gap, I tracked the clean zigzag descent of the steps below, marking a sturdy vantage point for future descents.