[TowerTalk] Sad day - W9ZUC tower accident

[David Gilbert]

I don't know how many times or different ways I have to say this.

I climb with two lanyards that each have a gorilla hook on the end. The 
hooks I use are very light weight and have a positive safety latch that 
releases simply and quickly by merely squeezing the hook.  I can climb 
just as easily and 90% as quickly with the hooks as I can without them.  
I reach as high above my head as I can to engage a hook with one hand, 
and then drop that hand down a few inches to grab the nearest climbing 
peg (or tower brace) to make my next step.  The process is repeated with 
the other hand and hook, alternating back and forth, and I remain hooked 
in with at least one hook/lanyard at all times.

There is no way on earth that this is "slow, tedious, and just as 
dangerous" as climbing any other way, and it is no less safe than 
relying on the continuous cable system (although it may be less convenient).

Dave   AB7E



On 9/19/2014 2:53 AM, Jim Thomson wrote:
> Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 23:38:08 -0700
> From: David Gilbert <xdavid at cis-broadband.com>
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sad day - W9ZUC tower accident
>
>
> ##  Unless you have the safety restraint system installed,  IE: the .375 inch steel
> cable that goes  from top to bottom of tower, with the turnbuckle and spring  at the
> base to keep the safety cable taut....and the correct device to couple it to you belt
> harness, etc,   you have no way of climbing up the tower safely.  How else are you
> gonna  climb the tower ?   Some  will use  TWO lanyards and hook, and unhook
> em as they climb up the tower, but that is slow, tedious, and probably just as dangerous.
>
>