Stairway to Safety - Climbing to the top of a 1700 foot tall tower to change a light bulb 

As a pilot I have to thank you guys. You change the bulbs in the towers so I don't crash into them and die.

when i was young I worked for a tower company and we went up a 1800 foot tower, i still regret quiting that job. my boss dropped one of the tubes of jb weld and had to go all the way back down to get it, 45 min, to go down and an hour and half to climb back up. it was my first day on the job and so he had me just hang around for four hours by myself getting used to being up that high. It was so beautiful, just thought I'd share.

To me the most scary part is trusting that every little part on that tower is welded/assembled correctly.

I watched this yesterday from a distance near my house. It got me to thinking how the men got up there, so that led me to this video. A hearty thank you for posting this. I had no idea about how this was done. Keep up the safe work, fellows.

I have a vast newfound respect for the people in this video, as well as others who work in this industry, who maintain the towers that provide us with the services we take for granted everyday. Thank you.

That elevator door would open at 1600 ft, and I'd suddenly find out my feet wouldn't move!

Nothing but respect for these guys. Some serious steel cajonies here now. I'll stay on the ground and watch.

To simply say “I’m OUT !” does not begin to express my sentiment. Much respect to these guys.

I for one am glad there is safety equipment to keep these guys safe. I replaced bulbs in towers back in college to support myself. We had clips that we could rest, and tie off at the top, but most the time it was a free climb. I was never at the 1700 foot level, but 150 feet will kill you just as dead. I would cart my coffee jug and have coffee at the top and enjoy the view. Thanks for posting.

I wouldn't even get in that lift, you guys deserve a medal and $500 an hour

So jealous. Such a great view and you get paid to change a light bulb. I had a tower growing up, and the one thing I bought right away was a fall protection suit. A kid in town lost her father in an industrial accident (not tower related) when he fell. I remember touring a CaseIH factory and the banner leading to the manufacturing area said "The fastest way to an accident is a shortcut". Same thing when climbing. Thanks for putting this video out there. We take for granted wireless communications but don't appreciate the risks people take with their lives to ensure those services. Likewise to the flying public as pilots need to see them at night so they don't fly into them.

I watched the “stairway to heaven” video you referenced above and could not believe the level of risk those two climbers were willing to accept “free climbing”. Not to mention there were cumulonimbus clouds building nearby. Glad to see that you guys are lot more responsible, stay safe!

When you're on Sprint and you want to find a signal.

What a nightmare. Every time I watch this my hands sweat.

I climbed towers on buildings, the tops of mountains and stationary towers for the maintenance of beacon lights and aircraft lighting...In my day I only used a belt to rest half way up if I had to...Its the swaying of the tower and the feeling of freedom and danger I loved. I would go to the top, do what I had to and just enjoy the view...I can understand this kid and wish him all the luck in the world...I would be enjoying the view and a bird would land next me...We looked at each other and I understood why I did it...

Imagine going all the way up and then realising you left the light bulb at the bottom of the tower.

"How to climb a 1700 foot tower, it begins with a 1600 foot elevator ride."

I know this is an old upload but I just want to say thank all of you folks who do this very dangerous but necessary work. Pleas stay safe and go home in one piece. 👍

That was pretty insane... I hope those bulbs last longer than old incandescent bulbs. Despite the safety measures, that took massive bravery. Kudos.

I don't care how safe it is, you couldn't pay me enough

And here I am sat in my room in darkness because I can't be bothered to reach up and change my lightbulb...

I couldn't even do the elevator ride.. Total respect for anyone that does this, super cool!

Jumping out of planes for the Army was easy peasy compared to this, I could never do this! Scared of heights? After leaving the door of the aircraft your chute opens within seconds and then we float softly to the ground. Not much fear of heights going thru my head but climbing a tower like that would scare the shit outta me. I would have to have a parachute on my back for sure!

I could not imagine doing this job , even watching other people do it makes me sweat

Perfect climb, and perfect music. That is how my heart would sound in my ears

The sensation in my hands and feet while watching this!!!! HATS off to you guys for doing this.

I have a hard time getting on a steps tool let alone anything of this magnitude! Mad respect to you and your crew!

What amazes me is that you were able to fit two guys and everything you needed in that small elevator.

You're such a badass. I get sick to my stomach just watching this. Mad respect.

We used to have very similar light hosings on the LORAN towers I used to climb for the USCG. Man I loved being able to look at the world with that perspective! Good on ya gents for showing people the right and safe way to climb. It doesn't really take that much extra time and it is worth it every time!!

Absolutely frightening. I really hope you boys make at least 250k per year. You deserve it. Incredible video.

My legs are shaking watching this. Huge respect to these brave men. 👏

I can't even climb a freakin step ladder to change a light bulb

WOW! You guys are awesome! I was shocked to learn that the previous video in which the other two climbers were using unsafe practices by free climbing. My hats off you guys! :)

I did it for 30+ years. Retired 2 yrs ago. Was a notorious free climber... loved it. HOLD FAST STAY SAFE

I was compelled to watch this even though every nightmare where I've ever fallen off of anything at all has been triggered in the waking hours. Thank you kind soul

Thanks for serving our country!!!

it must inspire confidence when you see the rusty, crumbling metal all over the tower

My knees start shakin' just watching this.

Joe: Hey Bill. Me: What. Joe: Pass me the light bulb bro. Me: What light bulb Joe: ......

Every time he reaches for the belt to move it my hands sweat and my legs shake. I could never in my life do this. These guys have my 100% admiration and respect and I'm a war veteran...

Really insane. Nice to see that you are trying to protect yourselves for a a change. Seen too many videos without any safety gear.

I'm already struggling to change a lightbulb in my car - let alone at those altitudes!! Awesome job, guys ... 🙏

Ive always wanted to see the coming back down part, Im no professional climber, but I have climbed huge things in the past, and getting down was always the scariest.

What a view! These guys have an amazing job!

Probably should switch over to LED soon.

Thank you for the video and for you support of proper safety practices. As a former sales rep in the safety industry, protecting workers' health and welfare in the work area is something dear to me. In your profession the need for safety equipment is obvious but there are many workspaces that have unrecognized dangers for the worker. Safety in the workplace is the right pf every worker not just those in the most obvious dangerous professions.

It takes a particular breed of person to do work like this...

All that trouble for one single lightbulb. Why didn't they design it so that it would have slot for like 4 different lightbulbs, so when the one dies they can just switch to another one. They would have to do this less often then.

Watching the 300" tower climbs like it was all good, then saw this and kinda got nauseous for a second. This is a respectable job for sure. Good to see people like this not only doing the job but also taking the security/safety aspect of it seriously.

Respect to these guys. Absolute balls of steel.

How many balls does it take to change a lightbulb?

Safest climb I’ve ever seen for an antenna most just put their hooks on the peg ladder this is to smart with the rap around harness

My hands and feet sweat watching this. This is nuckin’ futs, you guys must have a lot of confidence in yourselves. Stay safe.

Sound is beautiful!

This made my feet sweat.

You do it right and do it safely the first and every time after that. I did this for the US Air Force for 24 years and never lost, forgot a bulb or climbed the wrong tower, but I do have to say, "IT IS SCARY AS HELL" just dont freeze, you have to come back down. LOL

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.

Respect for these guy's, and the crews that put these towers together ❤

Anybody that does this kind of work for a living has to be bat shit crazy! I could not even watch the video when he was climbing to the antenna and looking up and down!

When I was a kid (some >50 years ago) my dad took me out to watch an old buddy of his change the light bulb on the top of the KVLY Fargo, ND antenna tower at 2,063'. This was the highest antenna tower on record for many years. The transmitter engineer grabbed two bulbs (an extra in case one was bad or got broke) and took off up the tower. No elevator. He was up around 200' and he slid down the ladder back to the ground. At first we thought he was falling, but he was just 'slipping the outside of the ladder rails with his boots. He walked over to his truck and said "Forgot my gloves." and took off back up the tower. It took quite a while for him to get to the top. I had binoculars and could just see him. When he was done, coming down he slipped the 20' sections at almost free fall speeds. If we hadn't seen him do that the first time around, we'd have thought he was falling. How much did he get for the climb? It was just part of the transmitter engineer's job, no extra pay. (The transmitter was at the tower base.) Safety gear? A hard hat, gloves, and a pair of Redwing boots.

Thanks for posting your hard working ability...im particularly glad you showed the glass globe cover that myself and fellow brothers and sisters in the union manufacturers by hand🇺🇸👍👍

Big respect for everyone that works in those industries

I would not even ride in that elevator, under any circumstances.

Man I forgot to mute the awful music because of how amazing this video is.

I have the utmost respect for these men who take on a job that most won't. Unfortunately you have those thrill seekers that in no way represent this industry. God bless these brave men and women who brave the heights and elements to do an incredibly dangerous job.

my knees shook just watching the vid. i dont do heights well. God bless you guys! STAY SAFE!!!!

" bye i'm off to work, i might see you later "

God: what are you doing here Me: just changing a light bulb

The safety measures taken here are on a par with those who handle unexploded ammo or who work on live high voltage power like I did for three years. In that three years, I took mandatory Electrical Safety Refresher Courses that were administered by my supervisor and the practices thereof enforced at the individual level by peers. We took them every 3 to 4 months. The other aspect of tower climbers that we must appreciate is the fact those towers are designed and tested by engineers.....every single piece down to the nuts and bolts. After doing a ground inspection, a walk around and looking for potential structural issues, the tower man can climb with confidence. Great video!

I highly respect people who do these types of jobs!

My ball are in my ears,hearts in the throat and my sphincter is so tight that I am in pain!

You would have to drag me ,kicking and screaming, just to get into the elevator...

Omg no…. I’m watching this through squinted eyes. You guys are fearless.

Big respect to these workers.

I agree 100% with your reasoning. Showing the responsible and safe way your job is done. The other video was like me going into a burning building without my scba (self-contained breathing apparatus). As a firefighter it can be done but it's stupid and you won't be living for nearly as many years. And if you have an accident you're dead.

That would suck if he dropped the bulb.

Much respect & in awe of you

Guts! Thanks for taking me along in safety of my rocking chair! I'm 70 don't think After the elevator ride I would have made the pole. Be safe friends

Watching this reminded me of my childhood days. At 12 years old me and my cousins used to climb up a 50 foot tower and with no safety gear on. I guess we didn't have fear of heights then. But fast forward to 2002 I was working on a cooling tower in Los Angeles and I was using a fall protection I fell when the big wrench I was using to tighten up the bolts on the large cooling fan motor slipped and I lost my footing and fell. That fall protection device saved my life. I fell like a pendulum and my knee hit the cross member. I was injured by bruising my knee but I didn't fall 20 feet below to get killed. Fall protection devices work. Later on I became a journeyman carpenter and we utilized fall protection device all the time. Although I feared being over four stories high I trusted my fall protection because I remember being saved by it in Los Angeles California. It just takes one slip to fall off even your shoe can slip

oh Hell naw!...My Fat ass is staying on the ground!

There is no amount of money....

Awesome content! Thank you 👍🏻👍🏻

What a beautiful view.

Could you imagine having a panic attack when your up there.

I know a few Russians who would do this for FREE. Only catch is, they won't wear the safety gear lol

I have nightmares awake--don't have to sleep--when watching this video. I can recall a climber who scaled a tower near Yankton, South Dakota in the mid-1960s and people were invited to watch. When he neared the top, to change out clearance and obstruction lighting, his belt broke, he slipped and in front of a small audience of people on the ground fell a thousand feet. No one in the audience ever forgot that event. You couldn't pay me millions of dollars to do this. Being in the telephone industry, I once asked a cell phone tower climber what they paid for the mid-range high towers and he said, "Around a thousand dollars per climb."

Hats off to you boys. You definitely got bigger ball's than I have. Damn I could probably climb up there, but coming down would be the hardest part for me. I don't know why, but going doesn't bother me, something about the decent terrifies me. Sounds crazy right? You boys be safe and thanks for doing what you have to do

...and here I am complaining, when I have to use a chair to change a high ceiling bulb in my house hahaha

Bad time to realize those laxatives are about to kick in!

I'm starting to get a heart attack from the music - don't think I cut out for this kind of work!

Such a good job! I’m glad I do it for a living!

My palms got sweaty watching this video. Anyone else with sweaty palms?

I don't care how safe it is. I couldn't do this. Feel sick having watched the video, pretty much to the same extent that I did with the original a few years ago.

just getting exhausted from watching this video, mad respect for these guys

It`s good to see workers who didn`t make a single mistake in their carreere!

I know it's safe in theory but I can't convince myself of it.

Try changing a mast head light on a destroyer or cruiser in rough seas

Use to change out light bulbs on these...Great view up there!

Anyone else's palms sweaty after watching?! Holy shit. That's crazy. Yall are friggen nuts! So awesome fellas!