Danner rain forest are the best. I'm trying a pair of the new Lowa boots just for the sake of trying something new. I think the key to warm feet is swapping out wet boots for dry boots, keep a couple...

I have worked for companies that didn't care if you free climbed or belt climbed and I worked for a utility that required without exception that you belt climbed. In that past 31 years of climbing I...

Hey Mack...
In the past 30 years I have seen fuse barrels do just about everything but what they are supposed to do. I wear a scar on my right bicep from a fuse barrel that let go while I was on the...

There are many great schools out there that teach the fundamentals of basic linework and prepare you for an apprenticeship with a construction outfit or utility. Get all the pretraining you can to...

Changing crews is a pain in the ass. As a foreman for a large utility, I had to change at least one guy out every six months. Sometimes that worked out well and most times it didn't work at all. The...

Maybe this will help...
I came up through a Union Utility in a three year apprenticeship and spent another 12 years as a journeyman there, then went on to another utility for 12 years and then with...

I think there is a bit more to the story. We have a guy on our crews that is 67 and doesn't climb either, but that was the arrangement when he got on.

Work in the rain??? Here in Oregon... rain...

I just turned 56 in May. I'm very proud to say that I insist to climb everyday. I've been in the trade for 31 years now and love to climb! I have been a foreman for at least one third of those years...

Take the opportunity given to you. Make the most of it... learn it, understand it, teach it!
I've been in this trade 31 years now and have worked for contractors and 3 utilities and held a union...

What stage are you in with your 'apprenticeship'? If you are NOT a hot apprentice you should NOT be doing any kind of hot work!!! Heating up a tap with a hot line clamp IS hot work for the reasons...

Where was the forman? Where was the "training" journeyman? Where is the safety watch? Where is the cover? Where are the safety rules?
Where are the brains? Come on guys!!!! Wake the hell up! Our...

Hey Pa... I've read a lot of your posts, great comments!

I've been a journeyman for the past 30 years and been in union shops for 15 of those years, and 15 in non union shops. I've kept my dues up...

Your best assett is yourself. You have to go in confident and sell your past experiences that can be related to this trade. If possible get on the books as a groundman and go on the crews and learn...

Here is what my company has done with interested high school kids that has interests in linework.
We invite them for three days at our company.
The first day is in the office to oversee...

My prayers to the family....

Now for the ass chewing.... I too have read too many accidents and deaths on this site. Something has to change! I have 30 years in this trade with 10 of them as a...

We too have lost our ground mats in our subs due to thefts. We watch our butts constantly! Think of these two idiots as God culling the herd!

You have one of the best linemen rodeos going right there in Montana. It runs usually in the second or third week in July at Deer Park Fair Grounds. Contact the utility in Helena for help.

Give them a call, They wouod love to give you the details and class schedules. I would also encourage you to tour their facilities during their Apprentice training classes to get a good idea of what...

You can and should enter into one of many schools around the country that gives you the skills to become an apprentice lineman. You need to man-up and dedicate yourself to this and only this if you...

Yes, but a bit shorter training time. Worth checking into for the guys wanting to start. I personally know a very excellent instructor there.

Here is a web site that can clear up all your questions. http://nwlinejatc.com

They have started a new pre-apprentice course called VOLTA and can supply you with the enrollment information.
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Remember the old days when there was a tap fuse that fed a dozen or so cp trandformers all banked together on open wire secondaries? Wasn't that fun to troubleshoot?

I can't even spell today! We did get treated very well up there, I have no complaints at all. "Lask" of sleep? Lack of memory!

Yep, you're right 77, I was off by one week. I guess the lask of sleep is still with me!

There is no test to become a groundman that I know of. The NJATC sample questions that you were looking at are to give you an idea of what you need to have for skills to be able to get through the...