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1 2 3   UER Forum > Archived UE Main > Climbing a big chimney. (Viewed 1295 times) -ROX-  Location: Croatia Gender: Male  |  Climbing a big chimney. < on 6/28/2006 11:28 PM >   Every day when I look at it, the highest structure in my town, I wonder how it must be up there. I just have a thing for high places. And when I see the ladders outside, with 4 ledges and the fifth being the top, it's like it's taunting me to climb it. So I ws thinking...why not. It's a plant where they heat the water for the city's central heating (don't know the english term for a plant like that). Here's a pic http://img.photobu...unreal/toplana.jpg It's the only pic of it I have, the main motive was actually the sun and the clouds. The facility is not big by itself, 2 big fuel tanks and 3 buildings about 2 stories high. I was thinking of going by night, because everyone would see me on the ladders in the daytime. Actually, even at night it'd easily be seen from many appartments that have the ladders in view, and I wouldn't be suprised if someone called the police thinking I'd try to kill myself. And I see that at the top ledge, there's a small ladder from which you can actually see into the chimney....hell that'd be the scariest part... Has anyone ever done something like this? Team Leader  This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information. Location: Uptown,downtown,all around. Gender: Male  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 1 on 6/29/2006 8:22 AM >   Yes I like to get up high, I did a smaller stack awhile back, do it up man. No guts no glory, you could be the only guy in town with a unique photographic perspective, and the wind in your face wow! Think of all the chicks you'd get! Just make sure its safe! Death Sentence- Live to die (good ole one) http://theaumc.com/forums DiVaMoNKeY  Location: Grundy County, IL Gender: Female I pushed with all my might; I pushed with all my love.  |  |  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 2 on 6/29/2006 1:20 PM >   holy crap that's a bold climb to the top. just be very careful...good luck I know more about blood than you prometheus  Location: New England Gender: Male UER, a big pissing contest.  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 3 on 6/29/2006 2:47 PM >   God that looks fun. Make sure to post the pictures when you get them. Leave only footprints, take only pictures... unless its like really cool. tag_cryptic  Location: colorado springs Gender: Male  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 4 on 6/29/2006 4:14 PM >   do it. hell, do it on a whim. it looks solid from the pic, but only a firsthand check will tell you what you need to know about the place. if it's not staffed at night, you should be golden. and how many times do you suppose someone naturally looks out their window at a tower like that? i've climbed water towers and an old cell tower before and only had trouble once. i climbed up the tower, chilled out for an hour to enjoy the view, and climbed down without anyone seeing me. but i was stupid and walked straight under a surveillance camera on my way out of the facility. gates automatically started to swing shut, so i took off. i glanced back and saw an old, decrepit security man hobble out after me, but i was already across town by the time he got to his truck. like i said, that was my 'worst' experience with climbing something in obvious view, and it was a breeze. just dont assume any cameras are shut off. -ROX-  Location: Croatia Gender: Male  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 5 on 6/29/2006 9:23 PM >   The ladder has protective railing around it, so I doubt fear will be a factor. The worst case scenario I was able to imagine is that there may be spiderwebs with spiders between the railing and the ladder itself...I doubt I could go against that, heh :/ Yea, I still don't know how safe the ladders actually are, but the chimney was repainted 2 years ago so I don't thnik they're rickety enough to collapse under my weight. And about being seen...well, I will most certainly be seen, no doubt in my mind. I'm in the direct view of a 200 meter long building, many streets and some skyscrapers. There's also a speedway and major crossroads very near. Sure, I'll be going at 1-2am, but even while not looking directly at it, when it's in the corner of your eye, you'd clearly see if someone was climbing, due to the white paint of the chimney. [last edit 6/29/2006 9:26 PM by -ROX- - edited 1 times] The_MorMor  Location: Sweden, Stockholm Gender: Male  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 6 on 6/30/2006 11:31 AM >   I also love high places.. ANd i defineatley think you should climb up! You could prehaps do it in like 3-4 in the night. Then it would be a lesser chance of someone seing you. DriverDan  Location: Austin, TX Gender: Male  |  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 7 on 6/30/2006 9:57 PM >   Posted by -ROX- but even while not looking directly at it, when it's in the corner of your eye, you'd clearly see if someone was climbing, due to the white paint of the chimney. Wear white clothing so you blend in. If you go at 2AM on a Monday morning everyone will be asleep. -ROX-  Location: Croatia Gender: Male  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 8 on 7/1/2006 12:28 AM >   Eheheh....man I'm still trembling....it was 30 minutes ago... I'm not generally afraid of hights....but today... Ok, it started as a friday night out, had a few drinks and got semi-drunk (no dizzyness or anything, just the "drunk confidence"), but later got sobber again. So, 3 hours after the peak of my semi-drunkness, with only some traces of courage left in my blood by the alcohol, I thought why not. I was just inpatient, so I went in, over the fence, to see what the beginning of the ladder looks like, as it's behind view from outside. The police station just 10 meters away from the fence (but the chimney ladder is on the far side of the chimney, out of their view), only one window lit by the light of a TV, and occasional voices inside. Cops on duty I guess. So I go at the foot of the ladder and find it to be 2 meters from the ground. No worries, I jumped, grabbed and climbed it. I just thought now that I have the opportunity I might as well take it. So I started climbing...in clothes in which a normal person would go in a club on saturday. And... My body surprised me. I barely made it to the first ledge. I was trembling like I didn't tremble a very long time. I was fucking afraid so much, damn bursts of adrenaline. I also didn't know that climbing a ladder could be so exhausting. I actually made myself sit up there for 15 minutes just to get a hold of myself in order to descent safely. It was the FIRST LEDGE!! There are 5 ledges including the top, and the 1st ledge is only about 1/6 or 1/7 to the top (see pics). The protective railing around the ladder did help, psyhologically atleast, but still, when I'd lean to it, it would bend pretty much, as it was thin, and that just made me even more uneasy. Did I mention this was my first UE experience since I heard the term "UE"? So I climbed down. Got only to the 1st ledge. But I WILL climb to the top. Monday is my day (night), same time, about 1:30am. I'll only have to take normal shoes, and a backpack with water and binoculars, as the climb may actually take up to half an hour from what I experienced, 'tis hard work. These are the pics I took, in chronological order. Taken with 2 megapixel cell phone, as I don't have a camera, and the pics are pretty worse than they could be because of my trembling. Man did my body own me today... And yes, I know that rushing it was stupid and dangerous, especially after a little drinking, although I was barely drunk while drinking, and 95% sobber at the time of the climb. View of the highway and major city crossroads The highway (if you can see the building at the left, my building is just behind it, not seen on the pic though...) The facility fuel tanks as seen from the ledge Sitting at the ledge ready to go down, not enough light to see to the bottom though Photo of the base of the chimney as I got down safely Another photo at the base of the chimney, very bad though The first ledge may not look that high when looking at the chimney from afar, but trust me, it's more than intimidating once you're up there. Upon looking at the buildings over the highway, it's the equivalent of between 3 and 4 stories. The highway looks close only because it is elevated. Next climb - Monday. This time prepared. I doubt I'll be able to go to the top next time, but I'll certainly reach the lower catwalk if nothing else. [last edit 7/1/2006 12:45 AM by -ROX- - edited 2 times] Pravus  Location: Chicago Area Gender: Male Now the two key words for tonight - "caution" and "flammable"...  |  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 9 on 7/1/2006 2:09 AM >   Actually I climb shit like that for my job now, we put the antennas up on cell towers and water tanks and the sort.. the climb up can be brutal and the climb down can be worse.. normally theres a cable or a pipe running up the center of the ladder that you are suppose to attach a cable grab ascender thing on in case you fall.. the other day I was working on a tower at about 250' (around 6-7 stories up) the view is amazing.. Trying to light a smoke up there is at the least problematic... One thing to be sure of is if there are antenna up there DON'T cross in front of them, the RF ones will give you a brutal headache at first then you'll start to get a bloody nose then eventually it'll mess you up bad.. Then the microwave dishes are even worse, they can kill you easily if yer screwing around by them.. I'd say if there are antennas up on it don't go up, it's a fairly large risk, if theres not go for it, the sight is insanely bad ass.. Live to Serve, Serve to Live.. -ROX-  Location: Croatia Gender: Male  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 10 on 7/1/2006 7:48 AM >   Whoa! I didn't know antennas can do that :/ But there are none up there. The_MorMor  Location: Sweden, Stockholm Gender: Male  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 11 on 7/1/2006 11:51 AM >   Awsome! Really cool that you at least gave it a shot! I know how creepy it can be to climb shit. A couple of weeks ago me and my dad was going to rig the mast to our boat, there is this crane there.. Its only like 15 meters tall but it leans out over the water. But i thaught like "Climbing that will be easy" but oh man i got like 10 meters and i got really scared. But then i as i got to the top it was definetly worth it. The view was seriously kickass. Im looking forward to hearing about how it was on the top Pravus  Location: Chicago Area Gender: Male Now the two key words for tonight - "caution" and "flammable"...  |  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 12 on 7/1/2006 3:12 PM >   Posted by -ROX- Whoa! I didn't know antennas can do that :/ But there are none up there. Well it's good theres nothing up there, it's free game.. but if you decide to climb more towers for the fun of it just remember they are forced to turn those off for a reason when they send crews up in'em.. theres guys on my crew that have worked in towers that are on all the time, but theres also people fried from them too.. it's a toss up, just because it's on doesn't mean your going to get fried, it's just something I'd rather not risk.. not to mention I haven't decided if I eventually want kids down the line or not.. if you have a climbing harness one thing that we do when we want to take a break and stop on the way up or down is since we have the full body harnesses with the lil seat thing we just clip to the ladder rung and chill for a lil bit.. it'll take longer to get up to the top, but it's kinda nice at times to get off your arms every once and a while on the way up or down.. but then again all the ones we've done so far didn't have that cage thing around the ladder.. Live to Serve, Serve to Live.. -ROX-  Location: Croatia Gender: Male  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 13 on 7/1/2006 5:18 PM >   MorMor - yes, while looking at the chimney from the street, the 1st ledge seems pathetically non-high, but upon climbing it, looking down, I really did realise that climbing every ladder at that chimney is a dance with death, one slip and I might end up dead or disabled for the rest of my life...As I said, it came as a big surprise for me how my subcounsciousness started panicking, when I expected little trouble with fear itself and more trouble with tiredness and being seen. The good thing is, today 2 of my friends got interested in climbing with me, and being in a groop is a big morale factor, although I wouldn't be surprised if they too got scared for the first time as I did. Pravus - no climbing harness, I'm an amateur, but there are 5 ledges per every 15 meters or so, so although it's exhausting, atleast I have many opportunities to rest. [last edit 7/1/2006 5:19 PM by -ROX- - edited 1 times] blackhawk  This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information. Location: Mission Control UER newbie  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 14 on 7/2/2006 12:24 AM >   Never climb while drinking. I really mean that. Not joking, one screw-up and your ka-put. That bad boy is cool as hell, and I can't blame you, and wouldn't try to stop you. You do stick out like a sore thumb when on the ladder; climb fast, and nest on the platforms, back against the stack in the direction least visible from populated areas to rest before you go for the next level. Read this thread, and use the technics described there. Your english is actually quit good. Enjoy! http://www.uer.ca/...d=32444&currpage=1 Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. -ROX-  Location: Croatia Gender: Male  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 15 on 7/2/2006 12:43 PM >   Great info on that thread, thanks. You say, climb by holding the side of the ladders, but as you can see from my pics above, it's really uncomfortable to do that on this ladder, as the sides are pretty thin and hard to grip. What do you think? [last edit 7/2/2006 12:45 PM by -ROX- - edited 1 times] blackhawk  This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information. Location: Mission Control UER newbie  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 16 on 7/2/2006 5:05 PM >   Posted by -ROX- Great info on that thread, thanks. You say, climb by holding the side of the ladders, but as you can see from my pics above, it's really uncomfortable to do that on this ladder, as the sides are pretty thin and hard to grip. What do you think? Since it's caged use which ever method is fastest. Choose a good pair of structural steel workers/painter's gloves for this one purpose. Goat skin are nice too; cow leather is too stiff. Make sure you have a good feel for the steel with the gloves you choose, and break them in first before you do your ladder sprints. Remember, a blister you can live with, a slip you can't! The reason I didn't mention this before in the other thread is novice climbers are probably going to be less prone to a hand slip if they can feel what their climbing. If you climb for a living, or in your case fast and high, a good pair of gloves is necessary. If you got a pair of good work boots, with rigid soles, and a tread design that doesn't slip on the round rungs, wear them to climb. Pull-ups (hands facing you) and squats, both done using strict form/technic, sprinting (an excellent exercise) training will enhance your climbing skills, and speed. Ladder climbing is an excellent exercise too as I'm sure you know by now. If you get the the spot where you wish to shoot your pics shortly before sunrise you can shoot at sunrise with light. Then make a beeline down the ladder at full speed. Do not "ladder slide"!!! Don't climb if raining. For sharper pics try resting your camera directly on the steel to steady it. Be sharp, and go kick out some jams! Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. MindHacker  Location: Suburbs of DC Gender: Male If you spot a terrorist arrow, pin it to the wall with your shoulder.  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 17 on 7/3/2006 9:43 PM >   Oooo! Go for it. One of the things I was gonna link to already was (thank you blackhawk). Also, I climbed the tower here: http://www.uer.ca/...l.asp?picid=175639, and I can state for a fact that either people driving by (in broad daylight, wearing clashing clothes (blues and lights on a brown tower)) either don't notice you, (my guess, as they don't expect to see anyone and thus don't look.) OR, the cops, all 5(+?) of them cared more about the accident than the two of us going up the tower. Also, the people living near by didn't notice, despite being in thier yards at the time. More here: http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=29466 That said, go for it. Consider buying a harness (ebay?), but as you have the cage I wouldn't worry it. I've climbed 80' or more w/o protection, and it's quite a rush.... But I wouldn't do it again. Less it was my one chance...... Also, keep us posted and Dont drink next time. Forreal. Not even to get your courage. Better techniques.... In the words of glass: Rise-to-the-Challenge Factor ("I'm a man. A man will jump that fence. I will jump that #%%$&@@!* fence!! HOORAA!") or just wait, if you're like me it will get to you. Keep us posted, and best of luck. "That's just my opinion. I would, however, advocate for explosive breaching, since speed and looking cool are both concerns in my job."-Wilkinshire -ROX-  Location: Croatia Gender: Male  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 18 on 7/4/2006 12:43 AM >   Aargh!! I plan everything ahead, clothes, backpack, soft drinks for the climb, the night when everyone will be sleeping and wehn I won't have to get up early the next morning. Then it was rainy half the day, but fortunately it stopped and it was dry by nightfall. 1:10am. Even the cop station didn't have the usual window lit. I go in, behind the chimney at the foot of the ladder and then notice that a few random big metal doors on the otheer buildings are opened. The inside of one building lit by a faint light. I sneak in, see a hallway with some workshop half way to the end, light comming out of it. And then I hear a rough, old cough. Bah! That was over an hour and a half ago...I still don't know if I should go out now and see if the person of annoyence left... And again, upon looking at teh chimney (and climbing the nearby skyscraper to have a better look at the courtyard to see if anyone else was there), I raised the question again - do I have the guts? If it was a set of stairs I'd be on the top already. But the ladder makes all the difference. As do the platforms through which I can see 15-30-60 meters below me. blackhawk  This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information. Location: Mission Control UER newbie  |  |  Re: Climbing a big chimney. <Reply # 19 on 7/4/2006 1:04 AM >   Not to worry. If you fall more than 20 meters your dead anyway, so no worries after 20 meters or so! Concentrate on what your doing, not what the ground is doing. Sea level or 30 meters up, it's still the same day. Most people die falling 2 meters, or less. Never try to do anything; do it! Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. UER Forum > Archived UE Main > Climbing a big chimney. (Viewed 1295 times) 1 2 3   All content and images copyright © 2002-2024 UER.CA and respective creators. Graphical Design by Crossfire. 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