I don't like the term, but I agree. My story about having to get the
climber down who froze meant he had no business being on that tower,
As I was getting older (much older) and had several health issue, I
again reached the point where I felt confident to climb, but, I had a
capable friend on site..
By the time I reached 50 feet, I could tell I'd have a problem getting
down after working "up there". I looked down at him and said, it's
going to be too much, turned around and came back down.
One of the greatest danger to climbers who no longer climb regularly, or
never did, is getting too tired to climb down safely. Having climbed a
lot, although I hated to admit it, I was not too proud to admit it. I
was able to recognize that if I continued I could not complete the climb
safely.
73
Roger (K8RI)
On 6/21/2016 Tuesday 12:47 PM, Doug Renwick wrote:
I've said this many times but it doesn't penetrate thick skulls who insist
on climbing when they shouldn't be.
"If you are not ABLE (I stress the word able) to free climb, then you should
NOT climb at all."
What that says if you are not physically fit, mentally prepared, and
experienced, then you should not be climbing AT ALL. That applies to any
form of climbing ... rock, ladder, free, fall arrest, full body harness,
etc.
Every individual has to consider his/her risks that are involved in any
action. My level of risk is different than yours.
Doug
-----Original Message-----
Good stuff (see below) but I wonder if anyone of the "Free Climb"
fraternity is ever convinced to use safety gear short of a personal near
death experience since they know bad stuff ONLY happens to the other guy.
I remember when cars first started coming with seat belts and auto parts
stores were selling after market belts to retrofit to older cars. Before
it was a law with fines for disobeying many folks refused to buckle up.
There were all sorts of specious excuses such as wanting to be thrown
clear of the accident, not being trapped in a burning car with a buckle
malfunction or drowning under water unable to release the belt and on
and on and on all unsubstantiated by statistics.
There are multiple levels of learning ability which can be characterized
as follows:
1. pees on the hot wire and does it again later not having learned from
the first experience.
2. pees on the hot wire and subsequently avoids that act.
3. Sees what happens when someone else pees on the hot wire and avoids
that action/consequence without having to do it himself.
4. Reasons that peeing on the hot wire is likely a bad idea and avoids
doing it.
I try to be a #4 as much as possible and try very very hard to avoid
ever being a #1
Once upon a time when I didn't know any better while taking a sabbatical
I climbed towers with a linesman belt with two steel lanyards, provided
by my employer. Made it safe to use both hands for working on stuff
but... if you fell it could break your back. Now equipped with a good
fall arresting harness I try to not need it having three tilt over towers.
Patrick NJ5G
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73
Roger (K8RI)
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