[quote]bking wrote:
Look through this thread… you’re a minority if you would think this is fun. This has nothing to do with having balls by the way and it has everything to do with being innovative to make the job easier. Wouldn’t you rather your job be made easier and safer and still be able to be paid the large sum of money you described? [/quote]
Call me crazy but I would rather have my job stay exciting and fun (read: scary as crap). I’m scared to death of heights and still go skydiving/bungee jumping/ cliff jumping/ anything having to do with heights because my fear absolutely paralyzes my mind and body. Overcoming that fear is what makes it so cool.
I can most certainly walk my butt down a hill and still get to my destination but the thrill of the adrenaline and the thought of toeing the line between deadly and safe by riding a ripstick down said hill is what keeps me going.
Cliffnotes: I love being a little bit ‘out of control’ and completely understand the pull of having a job like that.
Yea that makes sense now when I think about it. For some they want to get their thrill through their job while others like me want to get my thrill through weight lifting, sports, etc. My dad always told me to “work to live instead of live to work.” I guess for some you can “live” through your work.
Good post.
[quote]bking wrote:
Look through this thread… you’re a minority if you would think this is fun. This has nothing to do with having balls by the way and it has everything to do with being innovative to make the job easier. Wouldn’t you rather your job be made easier and safer and still be able to be paid the large sum of money you described? [/quote]
Call me crazy but I would rather have my job stay exciting and fun (read: scary as crap). I’m scared to death of heights and still go skydiving/bungee jumping/ cliff jumping/ anything having to do with heights because my fear absolutely paralyzes my mind and body. Overcoming that fear is what makes it so cool.
I can most certainly walk my butt down a hill and still get to my destination but the thrill of the adrenaline and the thought of toeing the line between deadly and safe by riding a ripstick down said hill is what keeps me going.
Cliffnotes: I love being a little bit ‘out of control’ and completely understand the pull of having a job like that.[/quote]
[quote]bking wrote:
He rode the elevator the majority of the way up. I mean he has to climb a while but it isn’t as much as you guys think.[/quote]
So what? He’d doing all the climbing AFTER he takes the elevator. It’s not like he’s climbing a few hundred feet up and then taking the elevator the rest of the way.[/quote]
Most towers don’t have an elevator, I have been on several over 1000’ that I had to climb the entire way… I’m sure this guy works his ass off every day.[/quote]
how do you even get into that line of work?[/quote]
I my case it was family, my dad was a climber as well. We have both since moved on from climbing but we sill work in telecommunications, just at a project manager level.
Edit: plus I’m way to fucking big to be climbing towers anymore. I was a ripped 190 at 6’4" back in the day. You have to be lean and mean to be in that line of work.
[quote]bking wrote:
Look through this thread… you’re a minority if you would think this is fun. This has nothing to do with having balls by the way and it has everything to do with being innovative to make the job easier. Wouldn’t you rather your job be made easier and safer and still be able to be paid the large sum of money you described? [/quote]
Call me crazy but I would rather have my job stay exciting and fun (read: scary as crap). I’m scared to death of heights and still go skydiving/bungee jumping/ cliff jumping/ anything having to do with heights because my fear absolutely paralyzes my mind and body. Overcoming that fear is what makes it so cool.
I can most certainly walk my butt down a hill and still get to my destination but the thrill of the adrenaline and the thought of toeing the line between deadly and safe by riding a ripstick down said hill is what keeps me going.
Cliffnotes: I love being a little bit ‘out of control’ and completely understand the pull of having a job like that.[/quote]
Plus, you have a bitchin mullet.
[/quote]
HA! Its not quite to Jared Allen proportions yet but it is a work in progress. I am going to officially unveil it at the Bama game. Hopefully get on national television again?
[quote]bking wrote:
He rode the elevator the majority of the way up. I mean he has to climb a while but it isn’t as much as you guys think.[/quote]
So what? He’d doing all the climbing AFTER he takes the elevator. It’s not like he’s climbing a few hundred feet up and then taking the elevator the rest of the way.[/quote]
Most towers don’t have an elevator, I have been on several over 1000’ that I had to climb the entire way… I’m sure this guy works his ass off every day.[/quote]
how do you even get into that line of work?[/quote]
I my case it was family, my dad was a climber as well. We have both since moved on from climbing but we sill work in telecommunications, just at a project manager level.
Edit: plus I’m way to fucking big to be climbing towers anymore. I was a ripped 190 at 6’4" back in the day. You have to be lean and mean to be in that line of work.
[/quote]
pays good I guess?
Also I would like to join in the ‘fuck that’ chorus.
[quote]bking wrote:
He rode the elevator the majority of the way up. I mean he has to climb a while but it isn’t as much as you guys think.[/quote]
So what? He’d doing all the climbing AFTER he takes the elevator. It’s not like he’s climbing a few hundred feet up and then taking the elevator the rest of the way.[/quote]
Most towers don’t have an elevator, I have been on several over 1000’ that I had to climb the entire way… I’m sure this guy works his ass off every day.[/quote]
how do you even get into that line of work?[/quote]
I my case it was family, my dad was a climber as well. We have both since moved on from climbing but we sill work in telecommunications, just at a project manager level.
Edit: plus I’m way to fucking big to be climbing towers anymore. I was a ripped 190 at 6’4" back in the day. You have to be lean and mean to be in that line of work.
[/quote]
pays good I guess?
Also I would like to join in the ‘fuck that’ chorus.[/quote]
Not as much as you would think, I started as a green horn at 15 per hour. I worked my way up to 23 as a foreman. But depending on who you work for there is hazard pay for going above a certain footage / night work. We always worked on the road so you can add per diem ext…
First of all, holy shit. Second, it’s holy shit to those of us that are intimidated by the height and perceived risk. The guys doing it, I’m sure they are not terrified. It’s funny how we perceive “danger” and the calls for an alternate means to do the job. I’m betting that the “risk” is not that high, and that there have not been alot of accidents. There are documented risky occupations, and I have not heard this among them. So why eliminate a job b/c we say “holy shit” and they don’t bat an eye? Unless guys are dropping like flies, it is not a risky occupation.
It’s far riskier to operate machinery in factory settings, and even operate the meat slicer at a deli, among other things. There is nothing inherently “risky” about the job, other than falling will cost you your life. Barring losing consciousness, I don’t think falling is a real risk for someone that does not fear the height. Think of it this way…all things being equal (adjusted for fear), them climbing at 1600 feet is no different than your climbing your 10 foot ladder. The difference is your perception. You don’t fear the 10 feet, and they don’t fear the 1600. Barring carelessness and stupidity, you are not likely to fall from your 10 foot ladder. Given the stakes involved (life), they are unlikely to fall from their perch either.
As to OP, for me personally, no, there is no amount of compensation that would make me consider going up that tower. I could use the 10 foot ladder analogy until my greedy little mind is buying Ferraris and mansions, but I’m not sure I could go forward with it. Who knows. Sit a million on top, and I might just go the fuck up there.
I take it back on the risk comment earlier. Between one and four die each month. That seems high and I’d like to see the statistical data from OSHA. Anyone care to do the research? Seems interesting.
Feeling safe is a strange thing. I climbed/cut trees for 8 years and never once felt safe. I felt secure with my equipment and confident in my skills, so not really scared, but also never safe until I untied and had both feet on the ground.
Feeling safe is probably the worst thing anybody can do when working in a high risk environment.
I’ve been on ladders over 100 feet up with no safety line. I think the biggest thing would be the tower swaying in the breeze, but after you got used to that it would probably just be another job.
I think I’d like it a lot more than sitting in my cubicle all day.
[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
I’ve been on ladders over 100 feet up with no safety line. I think the biggest thing would be the tower swaying in the breeze, but after you got used to that it would probably just be another job.
I think I’d like it a lot more than sitting in my cubicle all day.[/quote]
I was thinking and wondering about the swaying thing too. I know tall buildings are constructed to have some structural sway to them but was wondering if it was necessary for an antenna tower. If that narrow structure is swaying…fuuuuuuccck that man.
[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
I’ve been on ladders over 100 feet up with no safety line. I think the biggest thing would be the tower swaying in the breeze, but after you got used to that it would probably just be another job.
I think I’d like it a lot more than sitting in my cubicle all day.[/quote]
I was thinking and wondering about the swaying thing too. I know tall buildings are constructed to have some structural sway to them but was wondering if it was necessary for an antenna tower. If that narrow structure is swaying…fuuuuuuccck that man.[/quote]
It makes sense why it would sway but I think it makes sense why it would not. It can’t be completely rigid because it would snap pretty doggone quick but it is also anchored down with steel cable at some point on the tower to keep the sway in check, right?
[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
I’ve been on ladders over 100 feet up with no safety line. I think the biggest thing would be the tower swaying in the breeze, but after you got used to that it would probably just be another job.
I think I’d like it a lot more than sitting in my cubicle all day.[/quote]
I was thinking and wondering about the swaying thing too. I know tall buildings are constructed to have some structural sway to them but was wondering if it was necessary for an antenna tower. If that narrow structure is swaying…fuuuuuuccck that man.[/quote]
It makes sense why it would sway but I think it makes sense why it would not. It can’t be completely rigid because it would snap pretty doggone quick but it is also anchored down with steel cable at some point on the tower to keep the sway in check, right? [/quote]
Completely unsure. I know tall buildings require give for structural integrity but they are heavy structures of concrete and steel. I tower is far lighter and may not require it. I just dunno…I just know fuuuuuuuccccckkk climbing that sonbitch if it’s swaying LOL
LOL