Quake3World

I did a little work for one of my company's subcontractors today. Due to slowdowns they had to lay off thier tower climber, so I helped them out. We had to hoist up a 75 pound ITV (Internal Television) Antenna, bolt it in place, pull and terminate the cable, and aim the antenna. I was up at the top for about 3 hours. Climbing the 100' straight up was the worst part. Hanging out at the top was quite nice.



Looking down.




Looking around

why would you make us squint to see those, plz make them bigger, thanks

I did make them bigger. Before you posted.

When I was in the Corps we had to do semi-annual preventive maintenance on an antenna that was 500' up a 550' tower. It took 22 minutes of straight climbing to get to it, and the antenna was on a mast that was 3 feet off the tower. The most annoying part was the damn safety harness that you had to keep dragging up with you.

Nightshade wrote:When I was in the Corps we had to do semi-annual preventive maintenance on an antenna that was 500' up a 550' tower. It took 22 minutes of straight climbing to get to it, and the antenna was on a mast that was 3 feet off the tower. The most annoying part was the damn safety harness that you had to keep dragging up with you.

Were you climbing straight up? I mean without any angle. I would not have made it more than another 100' or so, climbing like I was. To make this worse, the rungs are spaced as such that you're required to pull your self up every step. That type of climbing, for me, was physically challenging.

YourGrandpa wrote:I did make them bigger. Before you posted.

good work sir.

YourGrandpa wrote:

i'm guessing some brix were shat during the making of this ascent

fuck that.

When I was working derricks, I would climb about that high daily. After a few times you don't even think about it, you just go.

The view is awesome, I'm glad I wasn't the one doing the climbing. Great shots of your escapade and glad you decided to share them.

Ha, that's awesome. Nice shots, gramps.

+JuggerNaut+ wrote:Ha, that's awesome. Nice shots, gramps.

Hauling the cable up required some effort I'll bet?

Did you have some mechanical assistance/winch/pulleys or something?

That's probably comparable to a 5.3 climbing grade (a little harder than a typical ladder) x 100'. Nice view at the top, especially the waterfront and those nice yachts. In rock climbing I've done 240' on a 5.9 a few times but typically working on harder 5.10-5.11 climbs at shorter 60' heights. If you like climbing up that tall ladder, give rock climbing a try. Good full body workout.

lol

Gramps finally found the place he'll snipe from when the gubment comes to take his guns.

HM-PuFFNSTuFF wrote:lol at gwamps getting tired from climbing a ladder

...but you got to admit it's one hell of a ladder

shit, that looks dangerous
did you bring your guns to protect yourself?

I would definitely feel safer at that height if I was packing.

I didn't think people still wore bright blue jeans...? Unless we went back to 1985 and nobody told me...? GREAT SCOTT!1!

YourGrandpa wrote: Were you climbing straight up? I mean without any angle. I would not have made it more than another 100' or so, climbing like I was. To make this worse, the rungs are spaced as such that you're required to pull your self up every step. That type of climbing, for me, was physically challenging.

Yes, straight up, and it was a bitch. It was a a tower a lot like this one:

[lvlshot]http://www.turbophoto.com/Free-Stock-Images/Images/Radio%20Tower.jpg[/lvlshot]

Whiskey 7 wrote:

+JuggerNaut+ wrote:Ha, that's awesome. Nice shots, gramps.

Hauling the cable up required some effort I'll bet?

Did you have some mechanical assistance/winch/pulleys or something?

I didn't have any assistance with the climb. I actually had the pulley and 1/2" nylon rope that we used to lift things to the top, attached to me on the climb up. That pulley and rope didn't seem to weight much when standing on the ground, but you really notice them when you get about 1/2 way up.

Nightshade wrote:Yes, straight up, and it was a bitch. It was a a tower a lot like this one:

Wow.

Though it does look like the ladder is inside the tower, so you could at least stop and lean back against something to give your arms a rest.

YourGrandpa wrote:
Wow.

Though it does look like the ladder is inside the tower, so you could at least stop and lean back against something to give your arms a rest.

The ladder was internal, but the structure was small enough that while you could stop, there wasn't really any comfortable way to rest where you weren't still supporting your weight. The days we had to climb it after running PT were fun.

That sounds like torture. What were they trying to do, kill you?

I did this mainly for the experience, though it does help that it pays well too.

This company does 3 or 4 towers a year so I may get to do some more climbing.

Here's a little YouTube ditty of the climb.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G5mMeKfdjQ
Enjoy.
(Makes way for the haters)

you're a goober