High Rise Diaries: Safety First

Now knowing that our roof installed cameras can work and that their output is significantly interesting to our anthropological and artistic investments, Jesse set about building new cases for the next round of data collection. The cases we have for the cameras need a  few adjustments to work in this climate. Our test models were mounted on wood that cracked, so we had to opt for a different base. The case has a single hole that needed to be filled with epoxy to keep snow and water and out. Battery powered cameras are not an option given that at about -20 celsius they expand and explode. We are running electricity to the cameras via extension cables that line the roof. Jesse drilled holes for power cables and Gen installed them with a water tight connecter.  The apartment, covered in tools and equipment, looked like an episode of the Red Green show (Canadian joke).

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We went back up to the roof to make some final decisions about composition and camera placement. Because we’ve got our local contacts collecting the data all winter, we had to be sure they would be safe. We researched appropriate harness and anchor gear that Jesse brought up and installed. I am afraid of heights so was very happy to be tied down to an enormous satellite dish. The roof is a museum of satellite technology past and present. Cell phone towers, TV dishes large and small and weather related antenna crowd the highest point of the tower. A jungle of black cables hangs from one corner.
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In the late afternoon we went to the town’s only cafe “She Takes the Cake”. Right across from the High Rise, STTC is a good place to get almond milk chai lattes, catch up on field notes and run in to people I know.  We ran into another local photo enthusiast Marilyn. Last December, Marilyn kindly lent our team her truck as she was back home in Newfoundland for a visit. There are quite a few east coasters here in the NWT. I just finished a book on this topic so stay tuned for more there. Marilyn introduced me to C, also from out east and currently a cook aboard one of the barges that delivers goods up the Mackenzie River. I expressed my long time obsession with these barges and C insisted I stop by the next evening for fish supper on board. I could not turn that offer down. In the evening we went to the local sports pub for “Wing Night”. This is a very popular activity and we were lucky to even get a table. Now fully addicted to screamers (see last post) we battled the clouds of sand flies to walk to the Super A for dessert. There is always a solid row of pick up trucks out front and kids pulling up on bikes to run in for snacks or rent DVDs. Coming back to the tower at about ten o’clock, we still had full sun.