You’ve all seen those monstrously large radio towers that beam out your favourite radio or television program. It’s worth remembering that if something goes wrong, some poor sap has to climb to the top of that tower to fix it. And occasionally, that poor sap will wear a helmet-mounted camera and create a YouTube video of the experience of climbing up a 538m tower.
What’s amazing is that while the video is from the States, the climbers are actually allowed to climb without any safety harnesses attached. I can understand the reasoning – climbing to that kind of height and having to stop every few steps to attach a safety rope would be exhausting. But once you got to that final stretch – I know I’d feel a lot more comfortable knowing that should I slip, I’d only fall a few metres into a terrible wedgie, rather than 500m to my death.
Watch the clip full screen as well for the full effect.
[Thanks Josh!]
Greg
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 3:53 PMIt’s much better (albeit far more expensive) to simply launch a new satellite before the old one dies. Terrestrial distribution is all but dead!
Simon Potts
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 3:59 PMI had to pause it every 20 seconds to drop the waves of dizzyness…..INSANE!!!!
Bern
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 4:02 PMYikes!
Highest I’ve been outside a building is only about 60 metres, and that was hairy enough…
Corteks
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 4:05 PMEven just watching that video freaks me out. They must feel pretty ridiculously confident in their climbing skills o.0
DR
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 4:31 PMSurely you would base jump down after the work was done…
adam
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 4:39 PMi feel sick
Sam
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 4:47 PMAwww man, I was getting nervous just watching.
Those guys really must have nerves (and limbs) of steel.
Vel
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 5:43 PM*urk* That is some really high climbing… on some really tiny beams no less >.<
Now can I get my vertigo antidote please?
Jase
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 5:50 PMLol, this is probably why AT&T reception is so bad in the states – thousands of radio antennas and only a few nutters with the balls to climb up and fix’em.
Fred
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 6:03 PMSitting about 40cm off the ground and watching that video made my legs turn to jelly.
Chris
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 6:47 PMwow … just watching that gave me sweaty palms!
James Carson
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 7:37 PMHOLY SHITE!!!!
David Wyndham
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 11:31 PMAs a rock climber, that scares the crap out of me. I don’t think I know a single recreational climber who would dream of climbing like that without a decent safety line. Even half the spots he clipped into for safety aren’t that secure.
The fact that he has to stop so often tells you he is tired, but there is no showing of how they got down. Down climbing is always harder than climbing up.
mbryant
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 11:37 PMWasn’t this posted five days ago?
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/09/helmet-cam-footage-shows-what-its-like-to-repair-broadcast-tower/
Peter Smerdon
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 7:47 AMDon’t do this at home kiddies!
There’s been some comment on this one on US radio industry lists. Consensus is that the climber is wrong – safety restraints are required and should have been used at all times.
The person who posted the original was embarrased, and removed it from the original website – but it had gone viral.
Matt L
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 9:57 AMIf that was me, I’d have to climb back down to get the screwdriver I left behind.
Robbie Spencer
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 5:38 PMYou couldn’t possibly pay me enough to do that. Also, how on earth are they allowed to free climb?
Rod
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 9:10 AMIn this country , you have to be 100% attached – you’d get the sack for doing this. The tallest mast I’ve climbed is 150 metres – but these blokes catch an elevator to 1600 ft! That leaves about 50 metres to actually climb. Once you get over 6 metres, you are just as dead if you fall 500m , although I do know people who have over 6 and survived , including a couple who came down when a temporary structure came down with them. I’m also wondering how much this baby sways…
wayjak
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 8:53 AMI could not see video at work so I read comments first and thought lots of soft people out there. When I finally saw it I grabbed the desk a few times so not to fall off. Good video.
johnno vk3fmpb
Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 7:05 AMI felt crook watching this.
Michael Moore
Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 11:36 AMShame that the owner of the video, TheOnLineEngineer.org has removed it off YouTube
Grant
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 5:06 PMIt is still available to watch at http://www.liveleak.com/e/07b_1284580365