The one thing it doesn’t show, is the exhaustion of climbing like that. Then you got to work at the top. And hope like hell you brought the right tools!
Back in the 90’s I did some cell towers. Had a professional climber on my crew. He changed the aircraft warning lights on a 600 foot PBS tower. Going wage then was…$16.00 hour.
I once had a gig as a master controller at station KLDT tv55 in Lewisville Tx., and got to know some of these tower-jacks.I will say from experience that they are all crazy type fearless. each n every one of them.
Replaced the lights on a 450 foot tower, that was a cast iron witch. I was dead tired by the time I managed to get up there. Sometimes it really sucks being the newbie.
They don't get paid all that much. If you can't climb for $20/hr, you can't climb for $2000/hr. You can either do it or you can't. No amount of money will take away your fear. It took me a long time working at heights to be comfortable with it. Probably a solid month. I got to climb the candelabra in Baltimore. Clear winter day. The view was awesome. The part where he climbs the slick-stick is something I could never get used to.
when you get to the round stick with the railroad peg steps you can not help noticing that there is nothing to stop the carabiner from sliding off the end
Had to do some work at the end of a boom on a cargo container crane hanging over the Jersey harbor - 300 or so feet off of the water. I never looked down if I could help it. Had to change my tighty-whiteys afterwards. I couldn't spit for about two hours after getting down, and I was up there for 8 hours...
I climbed towers way back when, it's exhausting and harrowing. At least the wind was tame for this guy. He should have a one way feed pulley on his harness that attaches to the cable running in the middle of the ladder. We didn't have those when I started but did have the double carabiner lanyard.
The heavy cloud cover actually makes it seem less scary. Seems like a robot delivered by a drone could be very useful for stuff like this.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a fearless climber. That was gut wrenching, sitting here in my nice office chair. Use it or lose it.
ReplyDeleteI got two minutes in. When he started up the second ladder I got to my H**l no moment.
ReplyDeleteI have trouble going up to the top of sailboat masts to replace the light, I darn sure ain't going up there.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing it doesn’t show, is the exhaustion of climbing like that.
ReplyDeleteThen you got to work at the top.
And hope like hell you brought the right tools!
Uhmmm, that would be a hard no.
ReplyDeleteNot only no, but hell no.
ReplyDeleteMidwest Chick
Meh, nothing to it
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere these guys get paid up to $20k to change a single bulb. Still not enough.
ReplyDeleteBack in the 90’s I did some cell towers. Had a professional climber on my crew. He changed the aircraft warning lights on a 600 foot PBS tower.
DeleteGoing wage then was…$16.00 hour.
I once had a gig as a master controller at station KLDT tv55 in Lewisville Tx., and got to know some of these tower-jacks.I will say from experience that they are all crazy type fearless. each n every one of them.
ReplyDelete362 feet is the highest I have worked. After 10 feet or so the odds are not in your favor.
ReplyDeleteCouple hundred feet, no problem.
ReplyDeleteCouple of THOUSAND feet......ummmm......no. Just. No.
I hope he gets well paid for his endeavors.
President Elect B Woodman
Not no, not fuck no, but DOUBLE FUCK NO.
ReplyDeleteReplaced the lights on a 450 foot tower, that was a cast iron witch. I was dead tired by the time I managed to get up there. Sometimes it really sucks being the newbie.
ReplyDeleteMy stomach is in my throat just watching!!!!
ReplyDelete15:20 "Oh shit"
ReplyDeleteYeah MAN.
ReplyDeleteEven if ya like heights as I do…
Thats…A RUSH!
Once you're above the
ReplyDeleteIf you fall from here, you're dead, it's goofy to get more scared going higher
Shit! Where's the 10mm?
ReplyDeleteThey don't get paid all that much.
ReplyDeleteIf you can't climb for $20/hr, you can't climb for $2000/hr.
You can either do it or you can't. No amount of money will take away your fear.
It took me a long time working at heights to be comfortable with it. Probably a solid month. I got to climb the candelabra in Baltimore. Clear winter day. The view was awesome.
The part where he climbs the slick-stick is something I could never get used to.
when you get to the round stick with the railroad peg steps you can not help noticing that there is nothing to stop the carabiner from sliding off the end
ReplyDeleteat which point the pegs all seem to droop
The last time we owned a television set was sometime last century.
ReplyDeleteWe have zero-zero-zero interest in televisionprogramming.
Shoot, I brought the wrong bulb!
ReplyDeleteHope they tested the replacement bulb before heading all the way up there.
ReplyDeleteHad to do some work at the end of a boom on a cargo container crane hanging over the Jersey harbor - 300 or so feet off of the water. I never looked down if I could help it. Had to change my tighty-whiteys afterwards. I couldn't spit for about two hours after getting down, and I was up there for 8 hours...
ReplyDeleteBut the view of NJ/NY was just awesome!!
I climbed towers way back when, it's exhausting and harrowing. At least the wind was tame for this guy.
ReplyDeleteHe should have a one way feed pulley on his harness that attaches to the cable running in the middle of the ladder. We didn't have those when I started but did have the double carabiner lanyard.