How To Climb A Transmission Tower

**Adretheon** · 12-15-10, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by jabberwock

Most importantly, I'm happy to see helmets. They have a 78% chance of saving your life in a 1000' + fall.

Wow really or you just sayin that? I woulda never guessed it being that high of a percent from 1000'.

And yea the camera movement was what got to me. If it didn't feel so insecure it would have been fine, but it was bobbing all over I thought I was about to fall.

For me, It's not a fear of heights per say, just the fact that I'd rather not fall, it's security. That's why I dislike roller coasters. I'm ok with the up and downs and the fast as hell movement, it's that I never feel safe on one. Climbing I could prbly do, I used to "free climb" a bit in HS. We'd climb the sides of building, of our school. I was once hanging from the cross on the second floor with my feet dangling and a teacher walked out. lol that was funny...

**jabberwock** · 12-15-10, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by flame

do I want to live after falling that far?

... I hope you don't buy a helmet doing much of anything!!! D: That tower's 1700 feet tall. If you pitch off the top, you'll be at terminal velocity by the time you hit the dirt at ~200km/h or 124mph.

After thinking about this some more, I wonder why they don't just simul climb? Pretty standard practice in the rock climbing world on easy ground, and fast, too.

One climber tied to either end of the rope, and the leader clips the rope to points on the ladder. The idea is to have more than one anchor attaching the pair at all times. The follower unclips 'em as he moves up. Super fast, 100% safer, and you can do the same on the way down. There's still the potential to get fucked up if you fall, but at least you wouldn't go for the long ride.

The really retarded thing is that they don't even use locking biners to attach themselves when they work. Whole lot of 100% needless danger.

**jabberwock** · 12-15-10, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by Adretheon

Climbing I could prbly do, I used to "free climb" a bit in HS. We'd climb the sides of building, of our school. I was once hanging from the cross on the second floor with my feet dangling and a teacher walked out. lol that was funny...

Only way to progress past a certain point in climbing is to fall. Sometimes it's a long ways. If you're not comfortable with falling, your climbing will not improve. Tons of people have fun for a lifetime while never really improving, though. Part of the experience is just getting out there.

**ImpatientWreck1** · 12-15-10, 11:33 PM

Wow, that is insane! I'm scared to be 30 feet up, can't even imagine going up that tower!! lol.

**flame** · 12-16-10, 12:45 PM

yeah... I'll stick to staying up top pulling the stokes basket up. I've done a little bit of repelling, harnessed up a couple times, mostly recoveries with mechanical advantage, then a simple accent after loading and tying the basket.

Was supposed to go through an advanced rescue class but didnt do it. No free climbing for me! I'll just pick up your pieces!

**flame** · 12-16-10, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by jabberwock

... I hope you don't buy a helmet doing much of anything!!! D: That tower's 1700 feet tall. If you pitch off the top, you'll be at terminal velocity by the time you hit the dirt at ~200km/h or 124mph.

and I think we are trading sarcasm?

**Toad** · 12-17-10, 05:44 PM

I'm guessing the helmet is for those short falls where they're strapped in and just wind up slamming into some part of the tower. :P

**dex71** · 12-17-10, 06:20 PM

I'm thinking the helmets have nothing to-do with falling. They are to protect them from bumping their heads on the way up, and in case of dropped tools/parts. The last thing they need at 1700 feet up is a concussion. At 1700 feet....the helmet is not going to do squat in a fall.

**Toad** · 12-17-10, 06:30 PM

Good point, I can just imagine someone dropping something way up at the top. Ouch. I disagree that the helmet wouldn't do squat in a fall... it'd be nice to have if you fell while you were strapped in and only fell a few feet (upside down).

**CivilWars** · 12-17-10, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by dex71

I'm thinking the helmets have nothing to-do with falling. They are to protect them from bumping their heads on the way up, and in case of dropped tools/parts. The last thing they need at 1700 feet up is a concussion. At 1700 feet....the helmet is not going to do squat in a fall.

A buddy of mine saw a piece of equipment go through the telco building from about 800 feet. If you fall, and if you are not strapped to the tower, you will not survive, helmet or no helmet.