Pole Climbing:
- Thread starter rattus
- Start date
- Status
highkvoltage
Senior Member
Re: Pole Climbing:
ghelec. I have also progressed to achieving my contractors license. I plan on going 100% on my own in early spring.
ghelec. I have also progressed to achieving my contractors license. I plan on going 100% on my own in early spring.
Re: Pole Climbing:
I had the oppurtunity to climb with spurs one time. My tree worker buddy was helping me cut down two big Norfolk Pines in my little brothers front yard.
I showed up with sneakers and climbed with them. Ouch...
The Norfolk is a nasty barked tree and just getting the rope around the bark was a pain. Had some rasberried up forearms.
I have climbed I-beams many, many times.
I had the oppurtunity to climb with spurs one time. My tree worker buddy was helping me cut down two big Norfolk Pines in my little brothers front yard.
I showed up with sneakers and climbed with them. Ouch...
The Norfolk is a nasty barked tree and just getting the rope around the bark was a pain. Had some rasberried up forearms.
I have climbed I-beams many, many times.
Re: Pole Climbing:
Started my carreer in the electrical industry as an Oilfield Electrician where we were always climbing old cresole poles in W. Texas. Even though I bought and used my own gear... I finally "Burned" a pole.
Had cresole splinters in my chest and stomach area and inside both thighs. Two operations and 6 months of learning to walk again later
Started my carreer in the electrical industry as an Oilfield Electrician where we were always climbing old cresole poles in W. Texas. Even though I bought and used my own gear...
I finally "Burned" a pole. Had cresole splinters in my chest and stomach area and inside both thighs.
Two operations and 6 months of learning to walk again later 
hbiss
EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
- Location
- Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
- Occupation
- EC
Re: Pole Climbing:
They say it's like being thrown from a horse- unless you get right back up there you will never be able to do it again.
By the way I don't blame you!
-Hal
They say it's like being thrown from a horse- unless you get right back up there you will never be able to do it again.
By the way I don't blame you!
-Hal
defiant324
Member
Re: Pole Climbing:
I need a little help from all you pole climbing pros out there... I am a currently un employed female telecom tech who has only ever done remote testing. I'm trying to get into hands on install (the one job they can't offshore to India) The only job offers I seem to be getting are the ones that require pole climbing. I have no problem with that, except for the fact that I already lost one job opportunity because I couldn't get the hang of it quick enough & failed the course. I did discover that I'm not petrified of heights and was able to climb a ladder that was lashed to a strand with no fear. Anyway, the instructor was also the kind of guy that only liked you if you could just "do it" after only being shown once. He seemed to have a real problem with me from the onset and gave me a real hard time for the entire week. It was like being in boot camp where the drill sergeant tells you what a loser you are & how you can't do it. (that's what the instructor did)
I just finished an interview with another telecom carrier, and despite having submitted applications for a total of 4 different positions, the only one they want to consider me for is the one that requires pole climbing. I'd like the chance to try again, but have this tremendous fear of failure at this point. But I would really like to do it this time and actually pass & be certified. Does anybody have any suggestions on what I could do to get the basic feel? Is there anything I can do at home that might help get the feel of the knee angle and hand-foot coordination? I did make it up to six feet a couple of times in that class with the harness on so I did get up the pole a little bit. I have a feeling I'm going to get offered this job and I don't want to lose another good job opportunity just because I can't watch somebody perform a physical task and just reproduce what I saw someone else do on the first or second try. Any suggestions?
I need a little help from all you pole climbing pros out there... I am a currently un employed female telecom tech who has only ever done remote testing. I'm trying to get into hands on install (the one job they can't offshore to India) The only job offers I seem to be getting are the ones that require pole climbing. I have no problem with that, except for the fact that I already lost one job opportunity because I couldn't get the hang of it quick enough & failed the course. I did discover that I'm not petrified of heights and was able to climb a ladder that was lashed to a strand with no fear. Anyway, the instructor was also the kind of guy that only liked you if you could just "do it" after only being shown once. He seemed to have a real problem with me from the onset and gave me a real hard time for the entire week. It was like being in boot camp where the drill sergeant tells you what a loser you are & how you can't do it. (that's what the instructor did)
I just finished an interview with another telecom carrier, and despite having submitted applications for a total of 4 different positions, the only one they want to consider me for is the one that requires pole climbing. I'd like the chance to try again, but have this tremendous fear of failure at this point. But I would really like to do it this time and actually pass & be certified. Does anybody have any suggestions on what I could do to get the basic feel? Is there anything I can do at home that might help get the feel of the knee angle and hand-foot coordination? I did make it up to six feet a couple of times in that class with the harness on so I did get up the pole a little bit. I have a feeling I'm going to get offered this job and I don't want to lose another good job opportunity just because I can't watch somebody perform a physical task and just reproduce what I saw someone else do on the first or second try. Any suggestions?
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: Pole Climbing:
It is not like a boot camp, it is a boot camp. They want you to let go of your fears and do exactly as you are told. The intent is to make it natural to freeze if someone shouts at you. Consider reaching for a live primary part and someone shouts at you. If you freeze, you live. If you turn around to ask why, you die.
I don't know how the telecom people do it but I would bet it is the same.
It is not like a boot camp, it is a boot camp. They want you to let go of your fears and do exactly as you are told. The intent is to make it natural to freeze if someone shouts at you. Consider reaching for a live primary part and someone shouts at you. If you freeze, you live. If you turn around to ask why, you die.
I don't know how the telecom people do it but I would bet it is the same.
Re: Pole Climbing:
Hi Defiant: I spent several years as a treeclimber, not a pole climber. Some is the same however. I taught a fewto climb and the primary learning experience, but not assuming that all the other details are unimportant, is how you make each step. It is a process of becoming comfortable on your spurs, on the pole, so that getting to the work is not work.
To some extent it is also building specific muscles. These are not big muscle groups but, stringy, long term stamina.
I do not know if you have any equipment. I will give you an exercise to try for a week without special gear. You can email me after a week and i will give you some more. I am assuming you can tie some basic knots; bowline, square, figure eight. If you do not, just figure out how to tie a knot that won't slip.
Here is the first exercise: find a tree, pole, post thatyou can access, stand at the base of, without being forced to move by traffic, embarassement, property rights. Even a tall deck post will do in the beginning.
Get a rope about ten feet or so, if you do not have a safety belt, and less if you have a safety belt. put on your boots and approach the tree or post or pole, put the rope around the pole and yourself and tie a non-slip knot so that there is about 16" of space between you and the pole. This is an adequate space for starting.
You want a rope that is at least 1/2" thick, up to 3/4 or so. If you get serious about doing this and you do not have a saddle, you will want to take a towel or something to wrap around the rope where you lean against it.
The rope is around the pole and you, so lean back into the rope with it where you would wear a safety belt, and move your feet up to the tree so that you are completely leaning on this rope.
You want the space between you and the pole to be wide enough that when you grab the rope at arms length, you are touching the tree with your hands. move your hands back just enough so that when you pull yourself up towards the tree, the strain is on your arm muscles, not your back and shoulder.
Get used to being in this position, pull yourself up to the tree and let yourself back down again, over and over, until you are not fatigued by it.
When you can do this without being fatigued, try flipping the rope up about 6". This will move you closer to the pole and be easier on your back. Then flip the rope back down to where it was. I do not know what and how you accomplished the flipping motion, but the secret to being able to climb comfortably is in the ease with which you accomplish this. If you have been practicing you should feel comfortable enough to pull yourself a little quicker so that there is a moment of slack. In that moment, flip the rope up.
To expand on this. With the previous practice, the motion of pulling yourself up should not seem hurried. It should be relaxed, unafraid, un-tense, sure. Get to where that moment of slack seems like all the time in the world. Up down, comfortable, no jerking motions.
When you get there email me.
paul
Hi Defiant: I spent several years as a treeclimber, not a pole climber. Some is the same however. I taught a fewto climb and the primary learning experience, but not assuming that all the other details are unimportant, is how you make each step. It is a process of becoming comfortable on your spurs, on the pole, so that getting to the work is not work.
To some extent it is also building specific muscles. These are not big muscle groups but, stringy, long term stamina.
I do not know if you have any equipment. I will give you an exercise to try for a week without special gear. You can email me after a week and i will give you some more. I am assuming you can tie some basic knots; bowline, square, figure eight. If you do not, just figure out how to tie a knot that won't slip.
Here is the first exercise: find a tree, pole, post thatyou can access, stand at the base of, without being forced to move by traffic, embarassement, property rights. Even a tall deck post will do in the beginning.
Get a rope about ten feet or so, if you do not have a safety belt, and less if you have a safety belt. put on your boots and approach the tree or post or pole, put the rope around the pole and yourself and tie a non-slip knot so that there is about 16" of space between you and the pole. This is an adequate space for starting.
You want a rope that is at least 1/2" thick, up to 3/4 or so. If you get serious about doing this and you do not have a saddle, you will want to take a towel or something to wrap around the rope where you lean against it.
The rope is around the pole and you, so lean back into the rope with it where you would wear a safety belt, and move your feet up to the tree so that you are completely leaning on this rope.
You want the space between you and the pole to be wide enough that when you grab the rope at arms length, you are touching the tree with your hands. move your hands back just enough so that when you pull yourself up towards the tree, the strain is on your arm muscles, not your back and shoulder.
Get used to being in this position, pull yourself up to the tree and let yourself back down again, over and over, until you are not fatigued by it.
When you can do this without being fatigued, try flipping the rope up about 6". This will move you closer to the pole and be easier on your back. Then flip the rope back down to where it was. I do not know what and how you accomplished the flipping motion, but the secret to being able to climb comfortably is in the ease with which you accomplish this. If you have been practicing you should feel comfortable enough to pull yourself a little quicker so that there is a moment of slack. In that moment, flip the rope up.
To expand on this. With the previous practice, the motion of pulling yourself up should not seem hurried. It should be relaxed, unafraid, un-tense, sure. Get to where that moment of slack seems like all the time in the world. Up down, comfortable, no jerking motions.
When you get there email me.
paul
Re: Pole Climbing:
Took my basic training at Camp Gordon, GA where they had a "pole orchard". At least one guy, who was destined to be a lineman, swore that he "weren't goin' to climb no pole!" Don't know if he made it or if they shipped him off to the Infantry. It is pretty dangerous to be up a pole in a combat zone where you are an easy target. I had rather be in a fox hole.
Took my basic training at Camp Gordon, GA where they had a "pole orchard". At least one guy, who was destined to be a lineman, swore that he "weren't goin' to climb no pole!" Don't know if he made it or if they shipped him off to the Infantry. It is pretty dangerous to be up a pole in a combat zone where you are an easy target. I had rather be in a fox hole.
defiant324
Member
Re: Pole Climbing:
Hi guys,
I haven't had the chance to log on again until now. Paul, I'll check out my yard to see if any of the trees would work for the excercise you gave. If any of the trees will work, I can give it a try. I guess I can at least feel comfortable in the knowledge that I found out I'm not afraid of heights (I thought I would be before I tried). I know that gaffing requires getting the feel of it; it's too bad I'm one of those people that takes longer than a couple of days to get that feel. Thank you everyone for your input.
FYI - the job with the other carrier didn't work out. A former Verizon tech with 12years experience got the job.
Hi guys,
I haven't had the chance to log on again until now. Paul, I'll check out my yard to see if any of the trees would work for the excercise you gave. If any of the trees will work, I can give it a try. I guess I can at least feel comfortable in the knowledge that I found out I'm not afraid of heights (I thought I would be before I tried). I know that gaffing requires getting the feel of it; it's too bad I'm one of those people that takes longer than a couple of days to get that feel. Thank you everyone for your input.
FYI - the job with the other carrier didn't work out. A former Verizon tech with 12years experience got the job.
polejunkie
Member
Re: Pole Climbing:
Hello Everyone... Just came across this thread on while surfing and found alot of good info in it. I'm not a lineman, but I've been climbing poles on and off since I was about 14. I used to watch the linemen climb the pole in my backyard as a kid and I just had to try it. I found a set of Buckingham gaffs at a garage sale for $10 and bought new straps for them. I stopped climbing for a few years but just recently started again. The first time I ever did it, I fell off at about 3 feet. Now, I can go as far up as I want without a belt or strap. I learned without these, but I've started using them lately. I'm looking into getting a set of tree climbers (longer spikes) because there aren't many poles around here to safely climb. All the poles I've seen are rigged at about 20 feet, and I'm not climbing around live wires. There is, however, an abundance of very tall palm and pine trees that I can climb, but not until I get the new spikes. I get a lot of looks sometimes from people who see me on a pole, as most of the companies around here use buckets or ladders anymore. It's fun though...but kind of a weird hobby I guess. (especially at 6'5", 300lbs)
Hello Everyone... Just came across this thread on while surfing and found alot of good info in it. I'm not a lineman, but I've been climbing poles on and off since I was about 14. I used to watch the linemen climb the pole in my backyard as a kid and I just had to try it. I found a set of Buckingham gaffs at a garage sale for $10 and bought new straps for them. I stopped climbing for a few years but just recently started again. The first time I ever did it, I fell off at about 3 feet. Now, I can go as far up as I want without a belt or strap. I learned without these, but I've started using them lately. I'm looking into getting a set of tree climbers (longer spikes) because there aren't many poles around here to safely climb. All the poles I've seen are rigged at about 20 feet, and I'm not climbing around live wires. There is, however, an abundance of very tall palm and pine trees that I can climb, but not until I get the new spikes. I get a lot of looks sometimes from people who see me on a pole, as most of the companies around here use buckets or ladders anymore. It's fun though...but kind of a weird hobby I guess. (especially at 6'5", 300lbs)
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: Pole Climbing:
I hope you realize how dangerous it is to climb without a safety belt and how dangerous it is to be around live wires of undetermined voltage. Additionally you should be aware that you are trespassing on private property as soon as you start to climb a power pole.
I hope you realize how dangerous it is to climb without a safety belt and how dangerous it is to be around live wires of undetermined voltage. Additionally you should be aware that you are trespassing on private property as soon as you start to climb a power pole.
polejunkie
Member
Re: Pole Climbing:
Yes, I do believe I already said that I don't climb around wires.
Even the best fail sometimes.
Yes, I do believe I already said that I don't climb around wires.
I'm not a moron, and I know what I'm capable of. You're right. It is dangerous. So is driving a car. But I'm not going to do something I don't believe I can safely handle.
Even the best fail sometimes.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: Pole Climbing:
Don't forget the second part of my post.
Don't forget the second part of my post.
That part could land you in jail, the first part could kill you if you don't stay away from the lines.
Re: Pole Climbing:
I thought this thread was dead!
If this were my hobby, I would set a pole in my back yard and surround it with those thick cushions that the pole vaulters use. I would also invest in some leather pants.
Some of you old vets out there might remember the "Pole Orchard" at Camp Gordon, GA.
As for climbing palm trees, they used trained monkeys somewhere to pick the coconuts. They are a lot quicker than 300 pound humans, and they don't damage the trees either.
Some people get frostbite or worse climbing mountains, some crawl into holes in the ground, some jump out of airplanes; if pole climbing turns you on, that is OK with me.
I thought this thread was dead!
If this were my hobby, I would set a pole in my back yard and surround it with those thick cushions that the pole vaulters use. I would also invest in some leather pants.
Some of you old vets out there might remember the "Pole Orchard" at Camp Gordon, GA.
As for climbing palm trees, they used trained monkeys somewhere to pick the coconuts. They are a lot quicker than 300 pound humans, and they don't damage the trees either.
Some people get frostbite or worse climbing mountains, some crawl into holes in the ground, some jump out of airplanes; if pole climbing turns you on, that is OK with me.
jwelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- North Carolina
Re: Pole Climbing:
Rocks and trees are pretty to see;
But pole skinning is the life for me
I heard these words sung to the tune of Green Acres by a burly looking dude that was a scare from belt line to chin. As he downed another mug I noticed that he stood on the out side of his heels and was always leaning back.
Bless his little heart.
Rocks and trees are pretty to see;
But pole skinning is the life for me
I heard these words sung to the tune of Green Acres by a burly looking dude that was a scare from belt line to chin. As he downed another mug I noticed that he stood on the out side of his heels and was always leaning back.
Bless his little heart.
- Status