a different sort of stair climb

My niece posted on FB about a stair climb at Lehigh tomorrow. She just had gastric bypass surgery and is looking for interesting ways to exercise. "I got an invite for a stairs climb at Lehigh University. Am thinking Tuesday is a bit early for me plus work BUT I am thinking next year we should DO IT together!!! It could be alot of fun." Okay girl. You're on.


Then she sent me the invite: "The Lehigh M4M Steps event is going to be Tuesday, July 13 with a rain date of Wednesday the 14th. We will be meeting at the southside boys club on 4th St. in Bethlehem at 11am. We will promptly head to the Lehigh University campus (walking) to begin the climbing of the stairs. This will probably last until 1:30pm.We expect about 100 kids from the Bethlehem Boys and Girls club to be attending and joining Chris Eline as he continues his training for the climb of Mt Rainier in just 5 weeks. The steps are about 600 steps round trip. If you have ever been to the Lehigh U campus you are aware of how many and how high these stairs are. It is a beautiful campus, with brutal hills and stairs. See pics from the last time we were there and the three boys that finished the climb along side of Chris."

But all this got me thinking. I knew there were stairs at Lehigh. It's built into the side of a mountain. So you either have stairs or hills. Modern students, I think, prefer stairs.

So this morning I got up and decided to walk to Lehigh and check out the stairs. They are everywhere. How did I not notice them before? I guess since I wasn't looking. Small groups of three, larger groups of six, and huge series of 80 to 175!

So I went down to Morton street and decided to walk up the hill. I went thru Campus Square and up a series of 80 stairs to Packer Avenue. (#1) I crossed Packer and headed up 60 steps to the University Center (#2). Then I headed toward Grace Hall. Two flights of about 80 there (#5, 6). One one side, by the old Newman house, and by Grace Hall itself.

When I reached the top I noticed a really steep set. They were very old and each one of the 50 or so steps was a different height. They were tough. (#4) I headed back toward Webster Street and somehow ended up in a neighbor hood. I doubled back, discovered even more steps at Zollner (#7), and started looking for 8th Street. I was pooped and ready to go home.

Then, next to a frat I see four stairs. But there's more...it twists and turns and there's still more, They wind up the hill side. I start walking and counting. When I reach the road there was a 100 steps and more to come. So I continue up. It finished at 175. At another frat. That's a whole lot of steps to do for a beer and a frat party!

I returned home about an hour and a half later. Sweating and feeling great.

Thanks Lyd.