[TowerTalk] Sad day - W9ZUC tower accident

[Doug Renwick]

Are you talking from experience or just speculating?  When climbing,
remember I said climbing, my 'free' hand is in close proximity to the tower
and if anything should happen to my other hand or feet, I can INSTANTLY grab
the tower with my free hand.  When moving a Gorilla hook your mental focus
has changed and you only have one hand on the tower.  

Also remember I said 'if you can't free climb, you shouldn't be climbing'.
However you climb, free or assisted, you need to be in physical shape,
rested, and mentally focused.  

Ask 'how many hams have fallen while climbing and have their fall aborted
with a Gorilla hook and fall arrest harness'?
Doug


-----Original Message-----

Yes, you have indeed said that several times here before, and it was 
just as ignorant a comment then as it is now.  Every time you unhook or 
hook to the tower you only have one hand on the tower ... just exactly 
as you only have one hand on the tower when you reach up while climbing 
... the difference being whether or not you are hooked in while that 
second hand isn't on the tower.  How you can possibly believe that one 
hand on the tower is safer than one hand on the tower PLUS one hook on 
the tower, or that a free hand not on the tower is more reliable than a 
hook already on the tower, is totally beyond me.

Dave   AB7E



On 9/17/2014 8:42 PM, Doug Renwick wrote:
> I have said this many times before.  If you can't 'free climb' then you
> SHOULD NOT be climbing at all.  The use of a gorilla hook has it's place -
> for resting or at the work station.  But IMO it should not be used to
assist
> the climb!  Every time you have to hook and unhook the gorilla hook it
means
> you only have one hand left on the tower.  That to me is unsafe.  With
free
> climbing, both hands are available to grab the tower.  If you can't free
> climb - don't climb.
> Doug
>



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