Basejumper.com - archive

Whenever I climb the 500fter near my place I always brick it at the thought of falling while climbing up the antenna. Does anybody know of any instances where this has happened? I couldn't see it ending well...

Some dude climbed an antenna in Cincinnati and fell. Apparently pieces were picked up (it was a big antenna and ripped him apart.) I remember getting the phone call asking if any of us where jumping, we weren't. Was just some random dude climbing an antenna.

This dude made it up.. and down.
https://www.youtube.com/...0&has_verified=1

I dont think he was part of the AZ crew.

oops.

If it is a concern, get a fall arrest device. They're available under 100 bucks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/...e=ADME:B:WNA:US:1653

I bought a lot of 8 for $250 a couple years ago.

Just curious, has anyone out their fabricated their own from, like, hardware store parts or something?

(Not that they're too expensive, it just sounds like a fun project)

I actually know a guy who fabricated one with a motor that would pull the climber up the cable.

It's certainly doable. I made a slackline grip a few years ago, but I wouldn't want to trust my life to it. It works on a similar principle.



Also, here's a cable grab for 60 bucks:
http://www.ebay.com/...;hash=item2c7ed84849

Tom- I heard rumors of that... why take half the fun out of the jump though Was it not a bit bulky to jump down with?

xnewmanx- The one on the left, I can visualize how that works. But the other two, can you describe the concept a bit? I can't quite see how those work.

Those other things are just slackline weblocks. Just a friction device.

Does this image show?

I've been toying with this idea. I'm curious to know more. Would help out a lot in my area.

I'll show you on Saturday, if you want.

do you use one or two? and static sling or dynamic sling attached to what part of the harness?

I personally feel comfortable "soloing" towers, its a jug haul :) but Im interested in the rigging you do

How does that thing get back to the ground?

A more light-weight solution can be found in the triple sliding hitch knot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7fXrUEGfCw

It's roughly the size of a large fanny pack. The jumper just carries it back down.

Sliding a knot along a steel cable that may have burrs sticking out of it might lead to some unforeseen complications.

Honestly, if there is a cable safety in place, it seems silly to try to reinvent the wheel instead of just using the existing system.

How often fo you guys find safety cables? I have been on a dozen or so towers and only the real low ones had safety cables running up. I guess u could use the elevator cable if the diameter worked with your safety grab???

I really cant imagine being so sketched out that u need a belay but I guess onsighting 5.12a/b helps lol

Not like you are NOT going to wreck yourself falling on your safety grab bashing into steel :)

The cable grab locks up immediately. There is no fall at all.

What percentage of towers that you've been on could be rigged so you wouldn't be falling when you have a safety grab attached to a safety cable? Majority of towers I've seen don't even have safety cables

While working on towers, I was trained to "free solo" (ie climb without a belay/anchor) tower ladders since thats the only option. Monopoles typically always have safety cables (and honestly are a shit-ton spookier to work on than the towers we are interested in for our purposes).

I've seen 3 in the last week that have no safety cable. Only option would be rigging a safety grab behind you on an extended sling on the elevator cable (and again this would result in a swinging fall if you were imbecile enough to fall off a ladder). Each of them were large with catwalks every 100-200 feet with freefall of total height of the high point (ie you'd fall down to the base).

Interested to learn from your experience though, I'm sure you've been on a TON more towers than I probably ever will be hehe

In the USA, safety cables are only required on outside climbs, which means inside climbs rarely have them.

I can't see a way to rig the cable grab to an elevator cable. The cables are different sizes, and (more importantly) the way the safety system works it must be rigged close to your chest. When it's on there properly, though, it's really seamless--it gives complete freedom to climb up or down yet locks up instantly if you hang on it.

Cool thanks. so inside climbs you just have to make sure not to fall gotcha!

On most inside climbs you can just step back to the structure and rest.

i routinely bring a carribeaner and route it through my chest strap. i dont trust it putting my full body weight on it, but every 50 feet or so it helps to be able to lean back off the ladder a bit and give your arms a rest. ive considered putting my climbing harness on after my rig so that if i ever needed i could support my full weight. the chest strap thing works good for me though.

bring a short sling and large biner attached to a hip ring or solid (rated) riggers belt https://www.google.com/...1384.htm%3B450%3B450

Climb straightarmed, hands vertical on the outside of the ladder, grab, step step, grab stepp step, grad step step, with solid slow deep breaths.

stop more frequently than you think you should, every 25-60 ft. clip in as necessarrry and rest.

easy peasy..

honestly, its a ladder, with plenty of rest stops, if its not an outside peg climb i wouldnt worry about it too much, the cable ascenders are large, heave, bulky and LOUD going up, not to mention having to pass the rubber stops every 50 ft or so

htfu. put your rig on befor you climb.

cheers

What kind are you using?

Mine are basically silent.

I've climbed it almost 20 times, so I've gotten used to it. I was just curious as to weather or not anyone has fallen during a climb up for a jump. As for all the safety gear, there is no rail to connect to, so it's a bandit climb all the way to the top!