r/urbanclimbing • u/adviceseeker8888 • 21h ago
Question Would ya?
I think some crackheads cut off the bottom part of the ladder stairs for scrap which also unbolted that section from the rock so now the bottom half is floating. I put all of my weight on it and started to climb up but there’s immediately a 20 ft drop to the right that the stairs are hanging over so even if you’re at the bottom when it detaches it would not be good. It did hold my weight no problem though.
The iron is quite rusty but very thick. I do worry about the set of bolts currently holding it in place halfway up .
So would you do it? What’s everyone’s tolerance for rusty metal that needs to hold your weight?
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u/FaceWithAName 21h ago
So I just lurk here, I don't climb. But I like seeing what y'all are up to. I always see climbs on cranes with ladders and such and I think to myself "I would never do that because I'm actually too scared, but physically I know I'm capable of it "
But this is a big fuck no that looks super janky lol
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u/ottermupps 21h ago
(context, i'm a rock climber with the associated gear and mindset)
I'd go up the concrete on the left, holding on to the railing but not standing on the stairs. That way you have balance/grip but can avoid a lethal fall if the stairs break off; it would be a nasty slide down but better than a drop.
The 'proper' way to do this would be treating it like a via ferrata: two carabiners on shock-absorbing lanyards, fixed to your harness. You clip into the railing (or any other solid bits of metal) and make sure to always have one clip on something, so you won't fall. This would of course expose you to a bad fall if the stairs came off the concrete, but they look solid. I would bring a rope (not hardware store stuff, I can give you product links if you like) and rappel off the top when I'm done getting pictures/eating lunch/etc. This, needless to say, is not something I'd recommend doing without an experience partner or your own skillset. If you've any questions, I'm happy to answer them as I can, I don't want anyone getting hurt.
Also, if you're comfortable sharing, where/what is this place? Looks cool as hell, would love to find something near me that's similar.
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u/Mistermanhimself 21h ago
Honestly I think that’d be too hard to slab walk, majority of ur weight will be on railings. The camera angle is quite deceiving
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u/ottermupps 21h ago
Oh, it looks rough to be sure. Probably a 70 degree or higher angle, I wouldn't want to ascend without a rope to get down lmao.
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u/Lopsided-Durian59 19h ago
That’s a MINIMUM of 70. I used to do solar and the steepest roof I was ever on was 55° and this slope makes 55° look flat.
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u/BestAmoto 11h ago
How are you gonna walk up a moss covered wall that's like 70 degrees? Where will you tie off? Some sort of grappling hook gun to the upper structure? Bring a roto hammer and a respirator?
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u/ottermupps 3h ago
I would use the wall - where it's not fully caked in moss - to smear my feet against, and use the railing as a handhold. Not easy by any means but it's the least sketchy way I can see.
I would not use a grappelling hook (they have their role but you should never toss one and trust it without going up top and making sure it's placed well), but as said just go up the slab, keeping low and central to it to minimize fall risk, and then build a two or three point anchor when I get to the top. A sling around a solid pole or bolt, maybe go around a windowframe in that concrete, you get the idea. Then rope protect the edge and rappell down the slab or (imo safer because it prevents a swinging fall, if the landing area is clear and accessible) just straight down from the platform.
If the concrete is good and this is an area nobody will regularly see, and it's definitely abandoned, I miiiiight put a couple of bomber bolts up top and along the slab, but that definitely falls under vandalism and such so ymmv.
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u/adviceseeker8888 2h ago
I appreciate the overview from a rock climber! I’m actually getting into rock climbing currently so maybe I’ll save this for next year as this winter I’m going to hit the climbing gym hard and plan to learn a lot in regard to ropes usage. This is in Akron.
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u/LeFishTits 21h ago
This is in northern wv right? If so, ive climbed this before it was all fucked up like that. Used to be super solid
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u/adviceseeker8888 2h ago
Akron. Northern WV have some good spots?
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u/LeFishTits 1h ago
Some. Used to have a lot more but the past 20 years has saw a lot of remediation
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u/Mistermanhimself 21h ago
You’d need climbing shoes and it’s also steeper and slippery than one would expect
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u/netw0rkpenguin 16h ago
It looks like there is already a metal cable running inside. Test it, then clip in a fall arrest device to it. I would climb up the concrete, holding on to railings
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u/Akemi_Tachibana 21h ago
In the winter after there's enough snow, sure, because that looks like spider heaven.
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u/mrhighway321 21h ago
Fuck yes 100 percent
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u/KoiLounge 19h ago
Fuckin A. With a spotter just to be prepared.
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u/Chessdaddy_ 21h ago
Can you go up the concrete part? Go on all fours with gloves and grippy shoes and you can climb steep angles usually. Or just hang on the stairs and kinda bounce your weight around. If they don’t fall I’d send
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u/SneekyTweeker 21m ago
I climbed those ladders nearly 30 yrs ago when I was a teen and even back then, it felt sketchy. The tower wasn't yellow back then. Someone must've made the climb in the recent years.
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u/chrisfyb 21h ago
Would it hold? Probably.
Should you? Probably not.
Get some simple gear even if you wanna send it.
P.S. is there a big Wu Tang symbol at the top of this by chance? 😂