How to Climb Wood Poles

Wood poles are commonly used to support electrical or telephone wiring. These sorts of poles are called utility poles, but are also referred to as telephone poles or power poles. In the United States, the standard utility pole rises 40 feet above the ground and is grounded 6 feet under the earth, but utility poles may exceed the standard height in order to satisfy certain clearance needs. While wood utility poles are climbable without the use of equipment, doing so is unsafe.

Things You'll Need

  • Boots Gloves Long-sleeve shirt Body belt Safety belt 2 climbing gaffs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on protective clothing, and buckle your body belt, or harness, around your waist so that two fingers would fit snugly if inserted between it and your waist.

    • 2

      Secure your safety belt--the band with clips on either end--to the D-ring on your body belt.

    • 3

      Strap the gaffs onto your boots by stepping onto the curved part with the sole of your boot and securing the straps. Be sure that the padded section of the gaff is toward the front of your calf.

    • 4

      Grab the pole with both of your hands at about eye height. Stand an arm's length from the pole, and step up with whichever leg you consider to be strongest. Firmly plant the gaff 6 inches above the ground and toward the center of the pole by striking the pole with your heel.

    • 5

      Pull yourself up by leaning toward the pole while maintaining balance with your arms and pushing up with the foot that is already gaffed into the pole. Your leg should do most of the work. Keep a firm grip as you lift your other leg up, then plant the gaff into the pole by striking the pole with your heel close to your other knee.

    • 6

      Unclip one end of your safety belt from the D-ring, and bring that end around the pole. Grab hold of the pole with both hands as you transfer the safety belt from one hand to the other, then clip the safety belt onto the D-ring. The safety belt should now be wrapped around the pole and clipped into the D-rings on both sides of your waist.

    • 7

      Pull yourself up by moving your hands alternately to a position that is slightly above your head, step up with your lowest leg, and strike the gaff into the pole at a higher position. Reach down with one hand and slide the safety belt up the pole. Repeat in this manner to climb up the rest of the pole.