I'd die to get my family that kind of money, but my severe fear of heights wouldn't allow me to do that.
Alternate website with the video. http://www.artifacting.com/blog/2010/09/15/climbing-a-1768-foot-transmission-tower/
wow....and FREE CLIMBING!!!!! unbelievable....wonder if anyone ever died/got hurt from doing this. imagine if it started raining..... i could only imagine how windy up there....
If you are a trained climber and are not scared of heights this isn't that hard to climb. The only tricky part is getting onto the very top, and a few transitions the climbers had to go through. The other thing is weather.
Like I said, I would rather be in a gun battle. My fear of heights is so much that I know I couldn't make it. 100%
Another issue to consider is the tool bag that is hanging. I could easily imagine a scenario where the bag snags against one of those pegs. If there's a stiff wind and you don't have a good grip, you could easily slip.
I have climbed 14,000 ft. mountains and I bungee jumped off a 12 story tower. I still wish I had not done that, it was terrifying. I liked the mountain climbing, but on occasion that was terrifying too. I survived an ice storm which hit while I was on the peak, not a fun memory.
My wife's cousin climbs towers at a refinery in Baytown. Doesn't pay a lot. It's a pretty low skillset, when you think about it.
"Alright Bob, we made it to the top. Hand me the new bulb..." "Bulb? I thought you got it out of the truck!" " ... " Seriously, check out some videos of Alain Robert. That guy freescales the side of skyscrapers all over the world. He's done the Sears Tower, Taipei 101, Empire State Building, etc. From what I recall, he uses no safety harness and climbs using his bare hands on most of these attempts. Unreal. <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uXSgaCHtc0o?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uXSgaCHtc0o?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
I wonder if there was a stairway part of the way up. The physical endurance needed to climb up and then down 1768 foot ladder is impressive.
I watched this last yesterday before they took down the link. I don't think I'd have a problem with it except for the "transition" areas between different ladders where the dude was twisting into a new position...with 30 lbs on a rope beneath him. That would be....difficult.
If you're not afraid of heights, that tower climb would be easy stuff. I used to get paid $500 per climb just to change all the light bulbs on microwave towers. Once I perch myself on top, I'd have a smoke with God, check out the terrain and then to work. Personally, I just like to be high!!!! :grin:
