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I climbed an A last night registered at 330' but counting rungs, the height was closer to 240'. (225 steps on a 12" rung after climbing the first 15' or so on the structure itself) Multiple references have the tower registered at 330. I've encountered slight differences between registered heights and actual heights, but nothing this significant. Anyone have any ideas as to how / why this occurs? maybe the structure was originally permitted for 330' but value-engineering during construction caused them to shorten, and since they weren't going taller, they did not update the registration height?

 

I guess that would be a possibility here, although all the images of the tower show it exactly as it exists now, and i can;t find anything that lists it at a height other than 330... only other thing i can think if is that i was WAY off on my count, but i doubt i miseed 100 steps, and based on the time it took me to climb and the 2-3 second downwind canopy ride, I'm pretty sure it was dirty low. I'll have to jump it again, or try to shoot with laser to check.

Do you use ranger beads or something, or do you just count in your head?

I had never heard of Ranger Beads, although
from the context could guess what they are,
cross between an abacus & Buddhist beads:

Ranger Beads

FYI - I have had no problems counting the
number of steps climbing my freestanders
simply using my helmet stand.

I count in my head, and usually climb in 50, 75, or 100 step bursts, depending on where platforms are, with short breaks between, makes counting easier. just know how many times you climbed 50', etc. Only time I recall losing count was when epibase and I encountered 100 or so buzzards on a freestander and had to stop and wait for them to fly off.

are you certain that it's a 12" step?

they do make them 12", but more common are 15" and that would put your tower right on par.

i recommend a laser range finder.

also, if it's a 3 legger, you can probably just look at it from a few feet away (during the day) and count the flanges that make up the sections. typically in 20ft increments, and get a good ballpark in a matter of seconds.

I was online and a tower company listed an A near me as 202ft... on the leg there was a plaque that listed it as 240ft

Yet to jump it. S/L will be on the cards first then i'll see which one i believe when i have my canopy ride.

definitely 12" rung spacing, i keep a length of measuring tape in my saddle bags for this specific reason, and, the quick way, is measuring with your arm. I know that elbow to just above my wrist is 12", and elbow to mid-finger is 15".

right on. just figured i'd check.

they are occasionally listed wrong, especially if they have not been surveyed for some time, or by some unruly crack head tower-dogs that can't read a tape drop or work a laser.

also, i would never trust the placard on the leg either. it's just as likely wrong as it is correct.