Are you scared of heights?

[builder]

Took a trip into the hills to climb a forestry fire tower recently. I'd climbed it a few times when I was younger, and thought my lad would be impressed. It's at Jimna, and is supposedly the highest timber lookout tower in the southern hemisphere. The view is awesome.

 

Nobody else there when we got there, so we set off up the open timber steps. Luke was asking me to slow down, but I just wanted to keep moving, because the soles of my feet were tingling, and to be honest, I wasn't feeling particularly safe.

 

I stopped on the fourth landing, to catch my breath, and I could see that Luke was absolutely shitting himself with fear; hanging on to the rail like he was not going anywhere for a while.

 

I asked him if he wanted to keep going, and he shook his head. Back in the carpark, we were having a soda, and I joked that we could tell everyone we did make it to the top.

 

An older couple pulled into the carpark, and after some chit-chat, the woman casually strolled up the steps, stopping occasionally to take in the view. She wasn't even hanging on. This is the lady strolling up the tower.

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/5b8c9196fdcd6175c85d9a6e060c9c83.jpg

 

I said to Luke that we would never live it down if we didn't go up after seeing that woman stroll up there like it was nothing.

 

We steeled ourselves for the climb, and I led the charge, not stopping once.

 

Luke was right behind me all the way, pleading with me to slow down, but I couldn't stop, or I would have lost my nerve. When we hit the top, there is a small glassed room with a walk-way around, and Luke got inside, and seemed to be fine. Back outside, he was grasping his way around the deck like a limpet on a rock. Check out his "casual" grip on the railing in this pic.

I swear he left a thumb print in the paint.

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/8b0e95799840f70f27fbb469c6277d15.jpg

 

We camped out overnite nearby, burnt some beef, and on the way back home, we passed the tower again. Luke asked me if he could climb it one more time. I asked him why, and he mentioned something I'd said to him years before, about not letting fear conquer and control you. Face your fear, and overcome it. I had a chronic fear of heights as a kid, and used to climb anything to try and get over it. I ended up working as a rigger/dogman, just to prove to myself I was over it.

 

He headed up that tower alone, and even hung over the railing for this pic.

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/a2467e9e64f464dc2ab5c5675ff959b9.jpg

 

I was very proud of him. All the way down, he didn't hang onto the railing at all.

 

 

So, how do you like heights?. Share some of your tales of high places.

[angie]

I don't mind heights so much as the sensation of falling. I love to fly in airplanes. But that seems more surreal than anything. I actually still have nightmares occasionally about falling. Shudders . I get nauseous watching roller coasters on TV. Like when they have the camera in the seats and you watch it drop down. My stomach drops to my ankles and I cringe.

[ToriAllen]

I

[manicmonday]

I have found I my fears haven't gotten worse over the years, but my risk taking ability has changed since the baby. I've been rock climbing, jumped off a cliff in Haiwii into the ocean. But I hate roller coasters and refuse to go on one. Hand gliding? Sure. Orient Express? Not so much.

[skategreen]

Hey Buildy, Love that tower. I'da been up there like a shot rocket. (lovely boyo)

 

Love heights, love climbing.

 

Back in Vancouver I had the BEST climbing tree ever, right in my yard! A big old Douglas Fir. Right before I moved I hadda go up for one last look. sigh

 

On Sunday I was at the MIL's, up in the rafters, legs wrapped around rafters, getting my saved moving boxes. (We're moving into the Glorious New House SOON!)

 

In LA ...who strung the lights along the rooftops? Yep.

 

Back when we were renovating the new church, who did the high work? Who'd the fraidy cats call for the freakin hours of mudding and taping on the highhhh ceilings and above the damn mable stairs? yep. Still have a rather deep scar on the back of my head to illustrate the story.

 

As a kid we used to climb the power poles. (don't tell Mum) ... I got hollered out of trees and threatened with a 'lickin' more times than I could count.

 

We caught utter Hell when we discovered that a rope around around the chimney really helped getting up to the roof of our 2 storey house. Lovely perch. Sigh. Beating threats again, kept me down.

 

Been up in Balloons, small planes and an ultra-lite.

 

Love heights. Love the view. Love the wind.

 

Wish I'z a bird.

[atlantic]

I love planes, love the mountains, I just don't like the tall building thing or bridges.

[builder]

I love the adrenalin rush of being in a place that is dangerously high.

 

I love the tingling sensation in the soles of my feet when edging out towards the edge of a precipice.

 

I don't like the feeling I get that tells me to jump. Maybe I can really fly? Maybe not.

 

As for flying in planes, it's much different to actually climbing to a high place.

 

The sensation is much different.

[Komrade Vostok Hazard]

About a month ago, me and this chick I hang out with climbed a fire-ladder to the roof of an (approximately) eight-storey high warehouse and and had a couple of brews and spliffers. Good times.

[skategreen]

.

 

I don't like the feeling I get that tells me to jump. Maybe I can really fly? Maybe not.

 

I'd be very very interested in hearing just how many have that little shit living in their heads.

 

I know him well too. He pipes up with his hidden evil purpose suggestions - just waiting for the rube who'll listen.

 

"jump! go on - jump! it'll be fun!" "jump! jump!" he whispers.

 

We shake our heads and say, "why the fuck do I have a crazy person living in my head?"

 

He used to bug the shit outta me when I'd be standing at the edge of the dock (used to be down at the dock all the time) He bugged little sis in the same way.

 

Edge of docks, boats, cliffs, high buildings, along railings I probably shouldn't be walking, - you name it. If it's a place where I'm happy to be but could die - that little shit will pipe up with his bastard suggestions.

 

Interesting. He has Aussie cousins screwing with folks down there.

 

Very interesting.

[Lethalfind]

I'm only affraid on ladders, I guess I feel I might fall. Anything else and I'm fine. That tower looks like a great place to see a long way.

[builder]

I'd be very very interested in hearing just how many have that little shit living in their heads.

 

I know him well too. He pipes up with his hidden evil purpose suggestions - just waiting for the rube who'll listen.

 

"jump! go on - jump! it'll be fun!" "jump! jump!" he whispers.

 

We shake our heads and say, "why the fuck do I have a crazy person living in my head?"

 

He used to bug the shit outta me when I'd be standing at the edge of the dock (used to be down at the dock all the time) He bugged little sis in the same way.

 

Edge of docks, boats, cliffs, high buildings, along railings I probably shouldn't be walking, - you name it. If it's a place where I'm happy to be but could die - that little shit will pipe up with his bastard suggestions.

 

Interesting. He has Aussie cousins screwing with folks down there.

 

Very interesting.

 

He does indeed. I used to wonder if I'd suicided in a past life, and became addicted to the rush of adrenalin.

 

I've free-dived from 82 feet into clear water. That is a rush.

 

But that gremlin in my head thinks I can fly too.

[skategreen]

.

 

I've free-dived from 82 feet into clear water. That is a rush.

 

 

NICE!

 

I tubed the gorge.

 

Oh, if only those 4 little words could convey their meaning to you.

 

I tubed God's Washing Machine.

 

1. hike the cliff pathway to the Mouth of the Adam's River Defile

(the first time you hike this you stop midway, stare down in horror at what you're contemplating, the second time you pause for a gulp and a prayer. After that, it's sheer scintillating anticipation)

 

2. firmly clutch your large inner tube and wade out till just before the point of no return. You'll know this point by the force of the river pounding you away.

(by the way, if you haven't already taken care of this, get your ass back to shore and remove your contact lenses, false teeth/bridges, wooden legs, and anything else that's not firmly attached to your body) (or it'll end up as Your Gift to the Adam's River)

 

3. Feel the push and pull on your body as you wade out. Pause at the point of no return - realizing that the reason this place is so blocked off is due to the deaths - take a breath, hop on and

 

go.

 

Once you're on...you're there till the end. Till you're spat out at the end of the defile, or till a whimsical wave decides to hold you under or splatter you upon a canyon wall. We hope the latter two don't happen. ... once you're on...ohhh you're ON!

 

 

Builder...it was the biggest rush. It's gotta be like jumpin outta an airplane. Just amazing. Two arms of the Adam's river up near Cache Creek in B.C., converging in a narrow canyon to create a furious maelstrom of churning solid white water. It was like looking down into a washing machine gone mad.

 

I tubed it. Time and again, year after year.

 

If I had magical powers, I'd take you there right now. We'd tube it this morning...before the coffee's even done it's job.

[builder]

It was like looking down into a washing machine gone mad.

 

I tubed it. Time and again, year after year.

 

If I had magical powers, I'd take you there right now. We'd tube it this morning...before the coffee's even done it's job.

 

Sounds like excellent adrenalin rush material, Skater.

 

Just like Tully river gorge in flood.

 

.

 

http://www.ragingthunder.com.au/multimedia/raft/video/raft.mp4

[snafu]

Oh hell yes!

I remember have to lay down to look over a cliff one time. And being up on the 20 some odd story of a hotel in Hawaii gave me the heebie-jeebies. But for some reason I

[skategreen]

Oh hell yes!

I remember have to lay down to look over a cliff one time. And being up on the 20 some odd story of a hotel in Hawaii gave me the heebie-jeebies. But for some reason I

[sarahk]

My husband is freaked by heights and it's great fun playing tricks on him. I get scared but it's directly related to the increased risk - like if that tower had no hand rails!

 

That Jimna place looks cool. I'm hoping to make it back to the Sunshine Coast in '07 so will see if we can go there.

[builder]

Welcome to GF sarahk.

 

The real scary thing about that tower is, the stairs are open, meaning if you are watching your feet, you can see straight through.

 

Mates and I used to climb the tower in the dark, with no torches. Now that was a bit freaky.

[eisanbt]

I only get edgy if I'm not particulary stable. If there is a railing or something else to hold on to than I'd walk accross an I-Beam at 500ft, but were I to walk up to a broad cliff edge than I'd probably lay down to look over the edge.

[builder]

I only get edgy if I'm not particulary stable. If there is a railing or something else to hold on to than I'd walk accross an I-Beam at 500ft, but were I to walk up to a broad cliff edge than I'd probably lay down to look over the edge.

 

Laying down or standing up, I still get that "jump" feeling.

 

When I was rigging, Monday mornings were a bit shaky, by tuesday I was walking on 8 inch thick walls, ten stories up, like it was the pavement.