Virtual Reality Video of a Climb Up the Spire of 1 World Trade Center

In a nod to Man on Wire, the New York Times sent photographer and climber Jimmy Chinn to the top of 1 World Trade Center for the virtual reality video, Man on Spire, in the special New York Times Magazine issue: New York at 800 Feet and Above. In the video, Chinn brings along World Trade Center inspector Jamison Walsh for the 480 foot climb up the spire to “bring a human element” to the photography.

Chinn describes of the experience, “You’re climbing and climbing and climbing and all of a sudden you’re outside of a cage.” Of the existential feeling, Chinn says “You get that very visceral feeing of feeling insignificant…It was really beautiful and almost lonely. I think that’s what makes it special.”

Even if you don’t have a virtual reality headset, like Google Cardboard, you can use your smartphone to experience the video through the New York Times VR app. Move your phone around, not just left and right, but up and down too. Below, we’ve included some screenshots but definitely get the app for the full experience.

Next, check out 10 things to know about the new World Trade Center Transportation hub. See our photos from our exploration of 1 WTC when it was still under construction.