[TowerTalk] Too Old To Climb Towers

[Chuck Smallhouse]

There are varying excuses for not wanting to climb towers any longer, 
too old is one !  At 83 and a ham for over 67 years, I prefer (not 
desire) to only have to climb no more than 30-40 feet on something 
similar to Rohn 45 or 55.

So some months ago, when confronted with climbing a retracted crank 
up tower, with diagonal bracing, I purchased an aluminum 24' 
extension ladder from Walmart, on sale for about $144.   Prior to 
using it, I installed "ears or wings" on the top of each of its 
vertical members to prevent it, when leaning up against my tower, 
from inadvertently sliding off.  With the ladder's base about 3 to 5 
feet away from the tower's base, it provides a comfortable climbing 
angle.  I further anchored and stabilized it to the tower, with three 
strategically placed, rachet "tie down" straps around both the tower 
and the ladder, along it's length.

This is a cheap mental and physical insurance policy for climbing 
retracted crank up towers, if you can't also "lay them down".  Bear 
in mind that the advertised length of these ladders does not reflect 
the necessary overlap distance of their sections.  Also there's 
nothing wrong with storing them in place !

Chuck,  W7CS