The scariest thing ever!

[Omar B]

Ok, so I've got this pretty serious fear of hights (one of the reasons I want to learn how to fly a plane) so by chance I came upon this video. It's of an antenna working who has strapped a camera to his helmet as he climbs one of those really high antennas that you always see and wonder what kind of nut-job works up there.

I'm about 15 minutes into watching a video that's abotu 7 minutes long. I'm sitting here in my chair with my legs turned to jelly. It's really scary to watch even from the safe vantage point of home, but also very beautiful in a way.

http://io9.com/5639113/the-scariest-video-you-have-ever-watched-in-the-name-of-science

 

[Big Don]

My friend cured my fear of heights when I was 16. His dad had a crane, he had a 12 pack of beer, I wanted beer but was afraid of heights. He climbed to the top of the crane, I started up, using the cables as handrails. He started shaking the cables, I let go, and by the time I got to the top, I wasn't afraid of heights anymore.
Kind of a D___ move, but, it worked for me

 

[MA-Caver]

Ok, I am... impressed. Those guys have bigger cojones than I ever will. I'd probably still do it because I'm not too skeerd of heights and have climbed some pretty neat stuff, but oh lordy lordy I doubt that I would disconnect my safety from the tower.
SHEESH!

Wonder if those guys wives have seen that video and get an appreciation for what their men do to bring home the bacon.

Biggest thing I'd be worried about is not the bag but the wind.

No quick way down? What about base-jumping? I mean yeah you got the extra weight of the chute but what a comfort it'd be knowing it's there if you ever lose your grip?

Betcha that tool bag has got TWO of everything in it, it'd suck to drop a wrench wouldn't it?

 

[teekin]

If your not scared of hights it's just cool. It just looks like a NeatO thing to do. But I think they need to have sort of teather system for their tools. If you drop a 9mm socket or a 13mm torx bolt it's a long climb down. :wah:

lori

 

[Bruno@MT]

That is pants-peeing scary. As if climbing up inside the cage isn't bad enough, going to the outside and free climbing that pole.... hanging by 1 hand...
I have to admit, even looking at the vid is making me uncomfortable and making my bladder tingle.

This is insane.

 

[seasoned]

I clicked the link but it said video no longer available.

 

[Bruno@MT]

I just checked and it is still there.

 

[CoryKS]

Wonder if those guys wives have seen that video and get an appreciation for what their men do to bring home the bacon.

:rofl:

 

[Jenna]

Things I am thinking while watching mesmerised..
1. Screw the tethers, a parachute should be requisite safety equipment!
2. Those guys are seriously fit to be hauling themselves that height up there [and presumably back down again!]

Wow. Thank you for posting!

 

[Omar B]

You notice every time you think he's at the top he is not! There's just some skinnier thing for him to shimmy up. Then he stands on top of the damn thing! Gave me nightmares last night.

 

[Jenna]

I would wonder with that perspective do they ever develop odd thought patterns. Do they become philosophical like astronauts. Or do they ever become hazed and feel like letting go their grip. I love the extreme of this .

 

[MA-Caver]

I would wonder with that perspective do they ever develop odd thought patterns. Do they become philosophical like astronauts.

My vertical caving (going down -- and back up) deep pits) has made me somewhat philosophical... I would imagine that these guys are no different... but then would any high-rise construction worker/crane operator be just as? Be interesting to chat with those guys eh?

Hey Omar... read Jenna's signature. :uhyeah:

 

[Omar B]

OMG caving! That I could not handle at all either. dark, tight little spaces you have to wiggle through, freaks me out. I had a hard time even watching The Decent. Or even worse, the climax of the movie Touristas! Holy crap that freaked me out!

 

[Big Don]

OMG caving! That I could not handle at all either. dark, tight little spaces you have to wiggle through, freaks me out. I had a hard time even watching The Decent. Or even worse, the climax of the movie Touristas! Holy crap that freaked me out!

You weren't a fan of Zork then, were you?

"You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike."

"It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue."

 

[Omar B]

Don't even know what Zork is.

 

[Big Don]

Don't even know what Zork is.

OMG I am old
Zork was a computer game, TEXT only. At certain points, you were in the aforementioned maze of twisty little passages, and, when in the dark, in danger of being eaten by a grue.

 

[Omar B]

Oh yeah, text on a screen, scary as all hell. You get scared playing Peekaboo too?

 

[Carol]

That engineer is very fortunate that he can take the elevator to 1600 feet on a 1780 foot structure...although tower elevators are a creepy thing in and of themselves. Radio waves interfere with elevator operation...I'll just keep it at that.

This tower in the google map below was one of mine. The tower base is(as usual) in swampland, so the odd looking red area leading to the tower is a metal catwalk. The barbed wire fence surrounding the tower is to keep local idjits from wandering around and electrocuting themselves.

Here is a closeup of the white section in the center of the tower:

That triangular ledge is the top of the elevator, IIRC around 650 feet HAAT (height above average terrain). The top of the tower is 1082 feet HAAT, with the tip of the antenna at 1252 feet HAAT. All of the wires going to and from the tower are steel guy wires that support the structure. Basically the elevator takes you halfway there, then its a tethered climb to the top of the structure.

Generally speaking the broadcasters either shut down or run at greatly reduced power with an electrician on the tower...but that doesn't reduce the fact that the electrician is still exposed to a dangerous amount of electricity when on the tower.

As a bit of perspective, the alternating orange and white bands of paint on the tower are about 100 feet long.

Its....not for the faint of heart.

 

[Flea]

You notice every time you think he's at the top he is not! There's just some skinnier thing for him to shimmy up.

That's what got me. It's like that classic nightmare where you're running down a hallway and it keeps stretching out in front of you. :uhohh: I still have a knot in my stomach several minutes later after watching this.

I was never afraid of heights until I visited the CN Tower in Toronto. I went out on the observation deck and some of my friends were holding on to the railing, blown sideways by the wind. They loved it, but something wrinkled in my psyche that never quite let go. I usually don't mind being at a great height, but getting up there and back down is a challenge. I hate glass elevators. If I can't see the ascent and descent I'm fine.

The latest Trapped Miner Drama has me re-evaluating some things. There's a lot of discussion about the sacrifices our military and public safety providers make so we can take freedom and safety for granted. But not so much about electricity and other utilities. I'm sure the guys in this video got juicy paychecks for their efforts, but what about the trapped miners of the world? What about the BP workers killed when the offshore rig exploded a few months back? They may not have to contend with violent people but their work is utterly critical to our quality of life. Next time we pull up to a red light (or go online!) let's say a word of thanks for their sacrifices. And be sure to turn off the lights in empty rooms. You never know but what someone's life may depend on it.

 

[Xue Sheng]

The camera movement is a bit freaky and it is really cool. But to be honest I could climb that, if I were still in the same shape as I was back in my mountain climbing days. However these days if I climbed it I am not so sure I could climb down.