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When it comes to climbing over the rails of a bridge does anyone use a tether to secure themselves to the rail - assuming they are with friends - until they are ready to jump? Why and why not?

I've never seen it. Most jumpers just rely on (a) not falling, and (b) being able to pitch fast enough to save themselves if they slip and fall over.

Like Tom says, at the Bridge, or any site really, don't climb out until you're 100% ready to jump.

On the other hand some years ago I was climbing a tower and behind another jumper who started feeling faint. I wrapped myself around the other jumper and the ladder to keep her from falling. But if she had totally blacked out I doubt I could have held her for too long. I tried to get her to wrap her chest strap around the ladder but she was too scared to move.

This gave me an idea and I designed the below gadget that very week. I was thinking you could use this to secure your position in an emergency. I was thinking of the girl on the tower, but it could also be used after an object strike and hang up on a tower or building to secure yourself until rescue came or you worked it out.





(Click on the photos for larger)

The small carabineerer is secured to the pouch with tubular nylon and the pouch is around your chest strap with Type-7. I added the hook knife to the bottom and it makes a nice two for one package. I called it a Rapid Grip. There are a lot of situations where this could come in handy when you are wearing a rig. If built right it's pretty strong and I'm sure even a helicopter could lift you out of tight spot with it.

Feel free to steal this idea and have a rigger fab one up for you.

But if you ever use it you own me a beer and a story . . .

NickD
BASE 194

How about in the case of a 'rollover'. If one were to slip and fall then one could conceivably fall into the canopy below. Just a thought.

That Rapid Grip is convenient in that it's ready to go.

I carry a 30cm sewn runner and a carribeaner with me on cranes and A's. Larkshead the runner to the MLW below the chest strap if I feel I need to clip on to something.

I've only ever used it on outside shuffles to the tip of a crane boom...where falling meant game over.

Or what about being 100 ft off a building climbing out on a crane?

If you are that scared of falling you shouldnt be on the object. I have been in that same situation climbing out on a crane. it is one of my most memorable jumps. plus once you get out there just put one hand in front of the other and you kinda zone out till you reach the exit.

>>If you are that scared of falling you shouldnt be on the object.<<

Gee, I've scared myself climbing out from under the Perrine Bridge. And I'm always scared climbing around on cranes and buildings in the middle of the night. What's your secret?

NickD
BASE 194

I think the key words in that phrase was "that Scared". theirs no way in hell i could ever say i wasnt scared but i am confident enough that i can keep my composure and not fall until intend to.

>>"that Scared".<<

I see. I gulped that one down too fast . . .

NickD
BASE 194

Nick, that is a cool gadget.

I have a 2" piece of webbing (about 40" in diameter, rated to 24 kN) with two larksheaded carabiners that I always wear wrapped around my waist (to keep it out of the way), with both biners clipped into the belay loop, when doing outdoor climbs; I use it for hooking into a bolt when summiting a lead route, while assembling a toprope clip setup and other situations where I may take a tumble. I could see a similar setup, with a shorter sling, used with your cheststrap pouch -- the excess loop could be stored inside the pouch until needed. A pouch would be too small to contain 40" of safety line however, unless it was very narrow line..

His red mop.

Guess the cranes you've been on weren't covered in grease...I haven't been that lucky.

Nope, gloves and a hair net to keep my mop clean are a must

define red headed step child.....