Our mutant bus continued its slow move across Deep Play and eventually we came upon a tall metal stairwell (titled "Babylon" for some reason) in the middle of nowhere. It is 10 or 11 stories high and is sponsored by a man to commemorate his father, and that is about all I know about that. An LA Times article put its cost at $600,000 and other reports claim over $2 million. It is made of recycled steel, and since most connections are bolted, most of the steel can be reapplied.
This stairwell with viewing platforms simply sits on the Playa – there are no pilings, and no walls. Beams extend horizontally from the ground level corners to increase the footprint. Some floors open to a viewing platform. The viewing areas and the stairs have handrails and are open but feel quite secure. A camera at ground level captures images of passing burners and projects them to a drape covering one side of the structure.
Beautiful? Not really, if found at a construction site downtown. Out here it is impressive, even beautiful, and it will be gone in a week, without a trace.
We joined the horde and dragged our tired bodies up the stairs to the top, confident our mutant ship wouldn’t leave us as the Captain also climbed to the top. The view was extensive but not too exciting at night; fortunately John and Carmen got to it by day, for more pictures.
Continuing in Deep Playa our bus lights caught a structure called The End, so we knew we were at, well, the end. Our ship slowly turned back toward the Esplanade, stopping only in response to stray burners afraid they would miss their last chance at a ride. We were dropped at 9:00 (the street, not the time) and walked home, collapsing exhausted to bed about 2 AM.
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