The Cowboys in the Sky: A Study in Agility, Balance, Endurance, and Strength

I love to watch the ironworkers–cowboys in the sky– those men with nerves of steel (no pun intended) who walk the beams and girders like you and I walk the sidewalks in front of our homes. The higher the steel building goes, the more I enjoy watching their skill as they balance on the narrow edges between columns. From the ground, I saw no evidence of knocking knees, no hesitation or stutter steps for these cowboys. I saw no trembling fear of heights expressed on their faces as they walked about the steel five and six-stories up. To my surprise, as I enlarged the photos on the computer screen, I saw some smiles. Today was one of those days where there was a lot of activity in the sky, and as I snapped photo after photo, my mind went back to my childhood and the monkey bars in our local park. 🔨

The yellow highlighted area is the featured section on this blog. The ironworkers will complete one bay on which they were working when I arrived. That’s where the first photo begins. The photographs following, illustrate how the ironworkers connect a section. 🔨

A closeup of the featured two bays (sections) in this blog. The yellow lines represent where the steel will be set. 🔨

Jason (left) and Kenny (right) stand on a girder as they listen to an ironworker standing on the metal decking. 🔨

Jason (left) and Kenny (right) wrestle with the crane’s cable. Kenny straddles the girder while Jason stands on the narrow lower flange. 🔨

Out for a Friday morning stroll: Jason walks toward the end of the steel girder where he will place the bolts securing it to the column. At the other end, Jason holds his piece in place. 🔨

Yes, that’s what I’d do: stand on a girder five-stories in the air and drink my water as Jason is doing. NO PROBLEM! In the meantime, while the boom of the south crane lurks high overhead, Kenny stands on the massive girder just south of where Jason is drinking his water. 🔨

With an outstretched arm, Kenny gestures to his partner below as Jason tightens a bolt. 🔨

The three amigos are hanging out waiting for another steel delivery. 🔨

At last! Carefully and gradually the beams are lowered. 🔨

The ironworkers are carefully nudging a perpendicular inside beam into place. 🔨

While balancing on the steel beams, the ironworkers (Jason and Kenny) are carefully stabilizing the next inside beam. 🔨

Kenny (left) and Jason (right) patiently wait for a massive girder. Can you imagine standing on a column flange five-stories above ground while watching this massive girder coming at you from above? Kenny (left) and Jason (right looking up) patiently wait for the piece of steel to come within reach. Can you imagine standing on a column flange five-stories above ground while watching this massive girder coming at you from above? Kenny (left) and Jason (right looking up) patiently wait for the piece of steel to come within reach. 🔨Can you imagine standing on a column flange five-stories above ground while watching this massive girder coming at you from above? Kenny (left) and Jason (right looking up) patiently wait for the piece of steel to come within reach. 🔨

Jason and Kenny are carefully maneuvering and nudging the massive girder into the column slots. 🔨

With the girder now in place, the ironworkers stabilize the next beam as it is lowered. This piece of steel is smaller as the step out is not a load bearing section of the building tower. 🔨

As Jason walks the beam, an ironworker, in the upper left, releases the crane’s cable. 🔨

Hammer Blows:  There is nothing like the ring of a sledgehammer bouncing off a piece of steel to get one’s attention. 🔨

Jason carefully guides the girder to the outside columns. 🔨

After the ironworkers set this girder, the perimeter of the bay is complete. Once secured, the ironworkers will move on to the next bay. 🔨