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Carly doesn't let little things like 60 foot towers stop her from doing what she wants. The tower is just one hurdle among many that she has conquored. |
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Like everyone else she wears a safety harness and helmet. The students at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina helped familiarize her with the equipment and carefully checked and adjusted it as necessary. Then, it's up and away! |
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Carly started by using a climbing ascender. It's a little handle that you grab and pull down on. Then, while helpers hold the rope steady the ascender slips up the rope and you pull down another bit. She was using a 4 to 1 pulley system. That means that she only pulled a quarter of her weight each pull, but she had to pull four times the length of rope. So, while the tower is 60 feet tall, she pulled 240 feet of rope to get to the top. |
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Then, she did something that really surprised me. She abandoned the ascender and started climbing using only her arms and the rope. There is no mechanical advantage when you only use your arms. You lift your entire weight. |
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Of course, there were some students close by to help if needed. They are there for the able-bodied as well. Safety is always the first concern. Exploring and expanding your limits is second. Having fun is a certainty. |
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There are all sorts of different climbing challenges suitable for all sorts of people. Rope ladders, big hand/foot-holds, little ones, swinging telelphone poles with hand/foot-holds. There's something for everyone. |
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For the last part of the climb Carly used the ascender again. This is a good picture of how the ascender works. |
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On the top with a big smile. |
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Coming down is a whole lot easier! All you have to do is sit back and relax while your belayer (one of the students) lowers you and the pulley assembly to the ground. |
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This climbing experience gave Carly the knowledge that she is capable of tackling a local "climbing wall" which she had been eyeing for some time. More power to you, Carly! |
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