Sorry, but in my opinion, if you're doing a lot of free-climbing you SHOULD
NOT be climbing at all.
If at all possible, I believe one should always have at least one attachment
to the tower.
When climbing my Rohn 25 and 45, I always have a lanyard around the tower,
except when passing a guy point and then I have my full body harness and
fall arrest gear connected to the tower above the guy point until I can
climb above the guy point and reattach my lanyard. For towers that don't
allow this, use two gorilla hooks, connecting them alternately as you climb
or descend, so one is always connected.
Since many of us are getting up in age, we must consider the fact that
free-climbing can be lethal if one suffers a stroke or heart-attack on the
tower. And even younger people may occasionally slip and suffer a lethal
fall. I occasionally have to free-climb for brief periods, but then I
constantly say to myself "You are free-climbing, you are free climbing..."
over and over again during the free climb to remind myself that the only
thing holding me to the tower is one hand while I move the second hand to a
new grab point.
I also always have my cell phone ready to call 911 if I get in distress on
the tower.
Climb as you like, but that's my advice.
73, Bob - W3YY
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Doug
Renwick
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 11:42 PM
To: 'Joe K2UF'; 'Ken Beals'; towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sad day - W9ZUC tower accident
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
I wasn't born in Saskatchewan, but I got here as soon as I could.
-----Original Message-----
I use two lanyards when climbing (at 76 w/bad knees I climb very little
these days). I keep one lanyard attached when I get to a guy level I attach
the second lanyard above the guys before unhooking the lower one and
continue up --- very slowly these days.
Condolences to the friends and family of W9ZUC
Joe K2UF
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