THE EXPLORER’S CLUB: BREAKING RULES FOR FUN AND PROFIT
In high school my best friend, Dane, and I enjoyed breaking rules. Transgressions were mostly innocent juvenile pranks like faking hall passes, hiking without a permit or practical jokes on teachers. When we somehow discovered previously unknown tunnels under the school, we had to explore where these utility corridors led. It was exciting to enter a door in one part of the school and come out in an entirely different section. Finding empty beer bottles confirmed suspicions we had of some janitors drinking on the job.
As we became bored with the easy tunnel access points it occurred to us we needed to get up on the roof, dubbed a “roof job.” Unfortunately, the highest roof access was often locked, though we would randomly check and when the padlock was off, up we’d go.
The administration became aware of our escapades and were on the watch to catch us in such a heinous crime. We became quite cavalier, once taking a girl wanting bragging rights along up the vertical ladder to the roof.
We called ourselves The Explorers Club. Our yearbook listed The Chess Club, The Foreign Cookery Club, The Latin Club, etc., so why not? Except that it was secret with a handful of members. Several of us were on the yearbook staff and with the help of the editor we’d taken to the roof, we secretly inserted a full-page listing for The Explorer’s Club. Dane was unaware of the page, or his picture being centered as Our President. When the yearbook came out, Dane was aghast, even worried about his pending Yale admission. He immediately wrote a letter to The School Principal that he knew nothing of this prank, condemning it strongly.
I lived close to school and got very good at sleeping to the last minute before rushing to class. One morning I arrived in Homeroom to notice key Explorer Members missing. They had finally been caught on the roof by a janitor and sent to the Principal’s Office. We later joked about what payday bonus the janitor might have received. My friends were all sentenced to detention the rest of the school year. Classes were out at 3:20, so they had to stay in Homeroom until 3:30 leaving just enough time to catch buses home. Later I was called down to the office and given the same sentence. To no avail, I objected and pointed out I was not caught on the roof. No, the principal admitted, but had I been around, I would have been with the others. My appeal is still pending.
As I photographer, I’ve always been able to access vantage points unavailable to most. I felt entitled to a bucket hoist to the top of an oil rig, a perch atop a state capitol dome, or a view from an airport control tower. Even without an assignment, I still feel that way when I envision a photo op. Here in Austin our apartment has spectacular city and lake views. Unfortunately, the balcony only faces Ladybird Lake so stunning city views are through tall windows and photographically the glass limits angles and lens selection. From when I moved in nearly a year ago, I’ve wondered how to pull a “roof job”. A friendly maintenance man listened to my plight and took me to the 38th floor roof, but a high wall blocked any view. Outside our door on the 27th floor is a locked hatch to another roof level. But a tall ladder is needed. Though I sometimes see a ladder in place for maintenance work, nothing worked on timing for light and weather.
Until yesterday, when there were puffy clouds and sunshine at a nice angle on the city. I climbed the ladder and faced two window washers collecting their gear. They were a bit surprised, but on seeing pro cameras plus a little chatting, didn’t seem to care about my presence. At the railing I shot the view, including this panorama.
OK, I’m off to that 10 minute detention now.
