Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Could you climb a 248' ladder?

In the late 1970�s, I was an R&D Program Manager for new navigation technologies and applications. We were running tests of a new system which required installing an antenna at the top of a 550� LORAN tower north of Jupiter, Florida. I timed my inspection visit to coincide with the installation and had authorization to accompany the Coast Guard installers. I arrived the day before the climb so I could be briefed on the climb and the safety procedures.

It would take over an hour to climb the tower so we had to check all the gear, equipment and tools before we left the ground (�Hey George, I forgot the �� box wrench, would you mind going back down and bringing it up?�). Each of us would have carried 35 pounds of tools and equipment on the climb. I was given an empty 1 liter soft drink bottle to use as a rest room, and checked out in a safety harness that buckled onto safety stops so your fall was limited to 8 feet or so.

On the morning of the climb, a thunderstorm was forecast, so the climb was postponed. I had to leave and have always regretted missing the climb and the view!

I stopped by Devils Tower in 1961 on my way to Glacier NP. Most impressive! My hat's off to you for climbing it, especially 3 times!

When I was 21 I climbed hand over hand down a 190 foot 1/2" cable. About half way down I stopped to admire my location.

There is quite the story to that.

Tell the engineer that he will have to climb down and back up with the air pack on before it can be certified by use for any employees. If he can't do it, you don't pay him.

Double tap.

I've been to the top of Mt Mitchell , except for an airplane it's the tallest thing we got east of the Mississippi


Mike

That's one way to make him think out the problem!

Once I put in nearly all night climbing what I thought surely was the world's tallest ladder 'till I sobered up enough to realize that I was crawling on a railroad track. Quite an experience.

I was a lineman for 32yrs. I've climbed 115' poles with hooks. My best story is the old guy that they asked to change the bulbs in a 300' tower. His answer was, sure, just lay it down.

Peter;
We knew a chap who worked the high steel in the '70's. He said he was the only Saskatchewan boy out there at that time.

I seem to recall him saying many of his work mates were either Mohawks or Newfoundlanders.

I'm sorry that I can't even guess why that might have been, but that is what I recall him saying at that time.

Perhaps someone else can help out as to why those two groups were drawn to that line of work?

Regards,
Dwayne

Yeah,I could climb it!Might have to stop and catch my breath once or twice.Once you get off the ground,you get used to it,sometimes you even forget how high you are.Working like that everyday,and seeing others do it kinda takes the fear away.I'm a lineman and work off the ground everyday,but not near that high! Lightman

I like heights. They are peaceful. I got to walk on the Golden Gate Bridge. Not only on the road, but also on the cables.

Hey lightman, when I started we didn't have have buckets and didn't glove. Many times I have seen a cloud float over in the background when working with sticks, and grab the pole thinking that it was falling. I climbed poles for years, but I'm still afraid of heights.

Talk about the ultimate deer stand...

Worked on a 485ft steel tower over looking the Columbia river. Man what a view... The falling feeling when clouds fly over never goes away, you get used to it.

nash

The longest I've climbed is about 200 ft--when I got to the top I had to rig up and hang in a bosun's chair.........




Casey

Well it was on the easiest route there, but DT is cool! One of those times was in Aug. I could hear all the Harleys on their way to Sturgis out on the hiway.

Croldfort,Yeah,I've been fooled when looking up at the clouds when they are moving and I'm not.You can't help but to grab for something.When I first started,we still serviced our own radio tower and river crossing tower lights.That duty usually went to the young guys,which I was at one time.Several of those towers were taller that the ladder in this post.Are you retired?Miss it? Lightman

Yeah, I'm retired and I don't miss a minute of the phone ringing in the middle of a stormy night. I retired in 1999 at age 55. I hired on in 1967. The sad thing about retiring is that all the old guys that you want to be at the retirement party are already gone. Hey, there is a great old movie called "Slim" about a lineman. It was made in 1937 starring Henry Fonda, Jane Wyman, and Pat O'Brien. Outstanding, if you can find it. Good luck.

I've seen it,it is a great movie.I probably can't go at 55,but am still looking foreward to it someday.Know what you mean about the party,all of the guys that trained me are gone,now I'm an old fart.Was good to talk with you,stay in touch, Pete