As recently as a month ago I had the opportunity to climb a mast, and after
the first step, I puckered. I have watched Steve in action and I respect
his work. This has given me encouragement to try again the next time the
opportunity arises. Maybe if I just stuck a 24' mast in a concrete base (at
ground level instead of on a tower) and climbed it I would gain the
confidence. Anyone near Phoenix have a 2" diameter steel flag pole that I
could practice on?
I also puckered out at 80 feet on a 100 foot Pyrod tower, until I watched a
professional crew (2 men) climb to the top of it.
Thanks for the encouragement Steve.
de Paul, W8AEF
----- Original Message -----
<SNIP>
>
> Well, you said it - "I keep thinking". Climbing is about 90% mental so
> you're psyching yourself out. It's a matter of relaxing your mind and quit
> listening to your conscious self.
>
> Masts (even pipe ones) are danged strong - you'd have to hook a big
rope
> from them to your car and have it drive away before you'd even start to
bend
> one. A 240' person on the mast isn't anywhere close to that sort of
stress.
>
> Imagine the mast laying horizontally about 6-feet off the ground. What
> would happen if you grabbed the end of it and hung from it? Would it bend
a
> little? Sure. Would it collapse? No way.
>
> Next time you're climbing and your mind starts to play with you, just
> picture your car hooked up to the mast and not being able to bend it over.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve K7LXC
> TOWER TECH
> _____
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