[Towertalk] Climbing Masts

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/26/02 12:20:54 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
kelly@thejohnsons.ws writes:

> I've seen several towers with climbable masts on top.  The masts had foot
>  pegs of some kind on them.  How is this done?  Where do you get the pegs or
>  masts with pegs already installed?

    I carry 5-6 foot-long steps in my equipment trailer for this very 
purpose. They're just pieces of angle steel or aluminum drilled for 2" and 3" 
U-bolts and saddles. 

    Just install them about a foot apart and head on up!

    W9IIX (<A HREF="http://www.w9iix.com/">http://www.w9iix.com/</A>) sells 
them but they're easy enough to fabricate. 

    This is one of those high "pucker factor" tower maneuvers so be warned. I 
suggest that about 10% of hams can actually work at altitude and only 10% of 
those can climb masts so this is a pretty specialized technique. 

Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for commercial and amateur