This guy can climb

[reppy007]

I dont know why this even entered my mind,but do you guys remember when we were young apprentices,maybe even a helper.There were always around three guys that would show off their climbing skills.Running up the poles and and doing that whatcha ma call it while coming down.My way was different,i would be up on a pole and compleatly turn around in my belt and re-gaff into the pole,that took some practice around 3 feet above the ground,before growing balls large enough to do it at 40 feet.But thinking of the climbers,i wonder how their knees are feeling today,did it have an affect on them in later years,id bet so.Funny how an apprentice can buy those long lineboots,and in an instant become superlineman.Now hes ready to save the world,by the way,i do appreciate him doing it.Maybe theres some guys here that enjoyed hotdogging on the poles when they were young,id love to hear from you concerning the knees.

[bones]

Yes, I used to be a real speedster back in the day. I suppose being an apprentice, my measure of a lineman was how fast he could climb. It was the only thing I had to go on since I didn't know jack about the actual work being done.

Getting older and wiser, and watching my share of gaff-outs, it's just not worth it. Watched a lineman rip into a pole, gaff out all of 8ft up and stiff leg it into the ground. Now his knee is screwed up for life. Seen numerous other falls, some spectacular free falls from 20-25ft with no permanent injuries besides pride. If you think about it, if your going to spend an hour+ on a pole, what sense does it make to get to the top a few seconds faster?

I'm not a man to tell another how to climb. They can climb however they want. I let the young'ns fly up if they so choose. Give them a few years and the realization eventually sets in they have nothing to prove. The proof's in the safety and efficiency of actual work, not in the climb.

Line work, although a large part, is not my life. I live for my Rocky Mountain hunts, hiking, fishing, sailing, and simple things like cutting fire wood. I've had some close calls and am wise for it. If something is too heavy to lift, I ask for help. No doubt I could He-Man it, but I don't.

When I was an apprentice and repeatedly heard the older men nag me about protecting my back, I admit it went in one ear and out the other. I never had a problem with my back so I could never really imagine or connect to what they were saying. Took constant back pain for a year before overcoming it, for it to finally set in. I figure I made it this far with no lasting aches and pains, I fully intend to retire with none also.

Line work will destroy your body if you let it. And you want to know what? Knowing retired linemen, taking that final walk from the job on that last day, your name becomes all but a whisper on the wind afterwards. To some I'm a God, and to others, they're amazed I haven't killed myself by now. Either way, I'll soon be forgotten but I'll still have my health for another 30 yrs I hope.

[Lineman North Florida]

Yes, I used to be a real speedster back in the day. I suppose being an apprentice, my measure of a lineman was how fast he could climb. It was the only thing I had to go on since I didn't know jack about the actual work being done.

Getting older and wiser, and watching my share of gaff-outs, it's just not worth it. Watched a lineman rip into a pole, gaff out all of 8ft up and stiff leg it into the ground. Now his knee is screwed up for life. Seen numerous other falls, some spectacular free falls from 20-25ft with no permanent injuries besides pride. If you think about it, if your going to spend an hour+ on a pole, what sense does it make to get to the top a few seconds faster?

I'm not a man to tell another how to climb. They can climb however they want. I let the young'ns fly up if they so choose. Give them a few years and the realization eventually sets in they have nothing to prove. The proof's in the safety and efficiency of actual work, not in the climb.

Line work, although a large part, is not my life. I live for my Rocky Mountain hunts, hiking, fishing, sailing, and simple things like cutting fire wood. I've had some close calls and am wise for it. If something is too heavy to lift, I ask for help. No doubt I could He-Man it, but I don't.

When I was an apprentice and repeatedly heard the older men nag me about protecting my back, I admit it went in one ear and out the other. I never had a problem with my back so I could never really imagine or connect to what they were saying. Took constant back pain for a year before overcoming it, for it to finally set in. I figure I made it this far with no lasting aches and pains, I fully intend to retire with none also.

Line work will destroy your body if you let it. And you want to know what? Knowing retired linemen, taking that final walk from the job on that last day, your name becomes all but a whisper on the wind afterwards. To some I'm a God, and to others, they're amazed I haven't killed myself by now. Either way, I'll soon be forgotten but I'll still have my health for another 30 yrs I hope.That's some good solid advice, especially that part about taking care of your back, ask me how I know.

[glover]

when i started out in this business we didn't have bucket trucks, climbing was the method to get to the area where the work was. I think that is still serves that purpose, what good does it do to get up the pole in 3 seconds? take your time, save your back, legs,arms, feet, etc, your going to need them for the next 30 years of so. but for those that have got to get up that stick faster than the next guy, go for it...one day you'll learn that in the long haul it don't matter, you aren't going to get the lights on any faster by climbing like a race car driver. but hey, do what you gotta do...

[reppy007]

Both of your answers are way better than i thought we'd get.Kind of late for some of us but it will help some younger guys in the future.Personally my knees are ok,and my back is ok.At 51 I can still climb,and climb well.But I wont be in a rush for anyone,have no reason to.There was a time that I hurt my back,trying to pull some slack out of urd primary.I was trying to avoid splicing,and Ill tell anyone that back-pain is horrible.Glad that you both were honest about what you did and how you feel now,thats what makes a site like this great,people sharing experiences like what you have stated,Thanks.

[neil macgregor]

was never a show off when climbing coz i fell a couple of times but my knees are fecked big time
have been for a few tears now

[Joshi82]

haha.. true! I can still show a trick or two :P

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmmmmm I kud come down way faster that I went up but not always by design.

[joe b]

Great topic guys I know I don't have alot of post but I can chime in on this one

Yesterday was my formans last day on the job and I am here to tell you that if you don't have Problems your gonna have pains from Here to there. He is having both knees replaced his first
Surgery will be in 2 weeks and the other one roughly 6 to 8
Months..

This man has by far taught me alot in the trade I have a lot of respect for him
He was a foreman not everybody agreed with all the time but was one you could follow and
Always depend on... He did not want to go out on disability but that was really his only choice....

I'm 30 years old and still feel good but I have listened to people coming up through the trade
And I do go by These older guys and I do still relay the same mess to younger ones!!!!!!

Merry Christmas to you all!!!!!

Work smart!!!

[reppy007]

Great topic guys I know I don't have alot of post but I can chime in on this one

Yesterday was my formans last day on the job and I am here to tell you that if you don't have Problems your gonna have pains from Here to there. He is having both knees replaced his first
Surgery will be in 2 weeks and the other one roughly 6 to 8
Months..

This man has by far taught me alot in the trade I have a lot of respect for him
He was a foreman not everybody agreed with all the time but was one you could follow and
Always depend on... He did not want to go out on disability but that was really his only choice....

I'm 30 years old and still feel good but I have listened to people coming up through the trade
And I do go by These older guys and I do still relay the same mess to younger ones!!!!!!

Merry Christmas to you all!!!!!

Work smart!!!

thanks joe b,we all know what your saying,you sound like a good hand,listening to the older guys.And thanks for relaying to the younger ones. Im way to old to feel this dam young.

[rob8210]

Well we don't climb around here that much anymore, but I tell anyone who will listen the same thing. The best fellas to watch and learn from are the oldest fellas on the crew. Of course the kids will ask why. I'll tell them that most likely the oldest fellas will have sore knees , sore backs and arthritis, so they will be going at their job in such a way that it will not bring out the aches and pains so much. As for heavy lifting, I worked on a job where the foreman wanted us to load a reel of triplex on the back of an rbd by hand. This fella from Newfoundland looked at the foreman and said " If God wanted me to use my back He never would have invented that crane , would He." Then we used the rbd. Why work hard when you can work smart!!!

[Liledgy]

I'm in my early 50's. I used to laugh at the older guys who would grab a ladder just to get past all the cable and phone drops, j hooks and other garbage. When I took t-man I started using the ladder more, now I wouldnt think of not using it. If it allows me to keep working longer, I'm all for it. We're all only one fall away from not being able to retire.

[climbsomemore]

I have given one knee and a couple of chronic compressed discs to this business. Plus a shoulder that doesnt work right anymore.

Somedays... stuff just happens. A good jerk...stumble in a gopher hole... getting talked into to trying something that really justified power equipment. I never had a "big" injury... but 30 years adds up.

The kids coming up are not smart enough to pay attention to us old guys (well not all... but enough I'm seeing a trend). Rip, bust or tear....we aint got time to rig, come over and help or just plain old look a minute and make a plan...

That ladder trick... learned that years ago working nights... we had too many trouble jobs with fences, sheds, and all that com stuff trailing down a pole that was the easiest way to get up there.

When I went back on days... I found a extention ladder for that truck too!:)