Scared of heights?

[eduncan911]

I wanted to post this for a while. I haven't started my build yet, but I wanted to address a major concern for those wondering about being afraid of heights, especially while stacking and pinning logs and the roof rafters.

In short: you'll get over it, slowly, while "building up" (meant both as literly and as a metaphor!). That's the great part of the LHBA method: you'll stack the logs slowly, going at your own pace, and it will become second nature.

I am unfortunate to be born with the holy $#&@ gene of being terrified of heights (I think it is a gene, right?). For those that can't understand what it is like, here is a way I describe it:

While peering over a ledge, no matter how sure footed, anchored, or even behind glass protection, there is this huge sinking feeling in your chest (I believe this your brain rushing blood into your vital organs to prepare for a fall). It is almost like a lot of pressure from huge stress. Then comes the need to grab tight and freeze - like no matter how hard you hold on, you are still slipping so you pull harder (until your fingers slip and u actually do fall).

I can contest to say that this fear can be overcome. I have forced myself into many challenges in life and have tamed it multiple times. The only problem is, it is still there. It has to be tamed for each experience.

An aunt and uncle of mine ran a $0.99 theatre. A single screen, that sometimes showed two movies in one night. When I was 17, they asked me if I would change the main sign out front every Thursday night.

This was about the scariest thing a person afraid of heights could be asked to do: climb up a rickety latter, 3 stories high, onto two 2x6s spaced 4" apart and spaced 8" from the sign (yes, you can fall between them). The wood was at least 20 years old and weathered. The sign was a big wind-catcher and swayed a few feet in either direction ad the wind blew. Oh, and the first night I did it, a storm was coming so even more wind! You would then need to reach up about 4 to 5 feet to remove the letters and spell out the new movie. Oh, and there is nothing to hold onto. Nothing but your footing. The sign was too flimsy to grip,and there was no railing.

I decided if I I could ever beat this fear, this was the time to do it.

The first 2 or 3 times was embarrassing. I tattled the latter, I laid down on the boards refusing to reach up to the top of the sign (I would just knock the letters off, and would spell out the movie while laying down on the boards, down low on the sign). Almost frozen solid a few times trying to get back onto the latter.

But then, something happened. Over the next few times, I was able to walk around on my knees, still gripping the 2x6s. By my 2nd month, I found the nerve to stand and move around and anchor things up and down.

By the 3rd month, I was a rock star. No fear what so ever and it became 2nd nature, even in the slippery rain.

Over the decades since (err, dating myself), I found similar challenges: roofing, painting, tv dishes, trimming trees, etc. Each of which was just as scary at first as that movie sign. But approaching each one slowly, things calm down and you are able to get over it.

That's why the LHBA method of stacking the logs, one by one, at your own pace is just about perfect for anyone afraid of heights. You'll move slowly as you go.

[loghousenut]

Older I get, the worser it gets for me. If I can pretend to be building a log home, anyone can. Just remember, you are building a family heirloom and there will be times when uncomfortable things have to get done and it has to be you. There will be other times when someone else just HAS to help.

When I was a kid I used to think my Mother was overdramatizing her debilitating fear of snakes. I think I finally have come to realize that perhaps it really was all in her head and hence very real for her.

[sdart]

Yes, I was going to say that as you get older, even some people who were not afraid of heights before will begin to get less confident. Eric is still a young whippersnapper so doesn't know this yet ;) So get busy building, Eric, while you can still deal with heights :D

[rckclmbr428]

Take up rock climbing, you'll get over it.

[eduncan911]

I'm trying, I'm trying! People want too much $$$ for NY land though. So the hunt continues to find a piece near my radius to work...

[eduncan911]

Take up rock climbing, you'll get over it.

Ha! Funny thing is since moving to NY, I've been mountain biking up in the Shawgunk Mountains. There is one trail about 15 miles in length (8 miles to the nearest road or habitat!) And part of that is on an 300 foot cliff. A rocky cliff that I usually park the bike and go hiking/climbing on for a few hours for "lunch" to sit dangling off of a big cliff. The first few times I couldn't get near the cliff. Now, photos are of me sitting on the ledge with legs dangling off of it (can't find one on phone to post). I find that spot extremely relaxing since it gets me away from the crowds on the trails.

2013


2014

The top of that waterfall is another lunch spot. Legs dangling. About 90'.

[loghousenut]

35 years ago I spent some time exploring an abandoned Titan missile silo near Boise. My brother, Randy, walked right up to the edge of the open silo hole and looked down at the stolen cars and crap that folks had shoved down there. When I finally slithered like a worm up to the edge and stuck my nose over to take a peak, he kicked the bottom of my foot and that's all it took to freeze me. I got so weirded out that I hooked my fingers on the edge of the hole as he was finally dragging me back away from the hole.

Oddly enough, at that time I was working construction, putting up steel buildings. Mostly I was running equipment but occasionally I had to climb and bolt-up red iron, and set roofing panels, and I spent plenty of time 30 feet up. Something about being the best man/woman on the job forced my brain to let it happen (albeit slowly and with a lot of "hanging on"). I guess I'm no longer the best man/woman on the job. I could not do lunch with you on that clifftop, Ed.

[sdart]

I'm trying, I'm trying! People want too much $$$ for NY land though. So the hunt continues to find a piece near my radius to work...
I know you're trying, Eric-- just teasing you :) Been following your land search on the member's side and all the steep lot solutions-- not easy!

[patrickandbianca]

I have a moderate case. I used to be bad. I flew helicopters for a while and surprisingly that didn't bother me at all.

Mind over matter. I wish I could be there to hold the bottom of the ladder for ya.

Patrick

[Tom Featherstone]

Yea, Ronnie has always been a little nervous since his brother pushed him off Miller's Bluff into the pond... I never did know why Auntie was so afraid of snakes. It didn't seem to stop Bo & Ronnie from telling me that she really liked them and bring home everyone I found.

I can still hear her screaming Bo!!!!!!!

[BoFuller]

Yea, Ronnie has always been a little nervous since his brother pushed him off Miller's Bluff into the pond... I never did know why Auntie was so afraid of snakes. It didn't seem to stop Bo & Ronnie from telling me that she really liked them and bring home everyone I found.

I can still hear her screaming Bo!!!!!!!

I resemble that remark.

[rreidnauer]

Scared of heights? But heights are fun!

400~500 feet down right behind me!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/titantornado/Mount%20LeConte%20July%202011/Cliff_Tops_Me2.jpg

Looking over the edge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/titantornado/Mount%20LeConte%20July%202011/Cliff_Tops_Drop2.jpg

[Mosseyme]

My father in law was once in a town gas station and chatting with the guy at the next pump. The guy looking around sees the the 300' tower over there and ask, how would you like to be the guy that has to change the light at the top of that thing. Reply was, as far as I know I am guy that last changed it! He worked as a steeple jack for a number of years painting water towers inside and out, hanging from a rope painting bridges a long way off the water ect. Me, not terrified of heights but respect the fact that my balance has never been that good and less so now.

[John W]

I got a great parasail ride courtesy of the USAF at water survival school. The lighter guys (which I was at the time) went up about 500 feet. Looking down at my feet and nothing but water down below, I was MOSTLY comfortable, but at the same time had the distinct feeling I didn't need to go any higher.

[BoFuller]

I tried parachuting for my 50th birthday (successfully, I might add). 10,000 feet didn't bother me, so I don't anticipate 35 feet bothering me either. :)

Just don't talk to LHN on the day (or the day before) you're going to be up high. He trembles on the 2nd step of a step stool, and will get you thinking about all kind of weird things.

[Steve]

Something about this thread reminded me of this photo....

2027

[John W]

I heard a rumor that LHN had a jump ball playing basketball once and came down crying. Just a rumor though. Maybe Bo was there for that one, I don't know.

[loghousenut]

I heard a rumor that LHN had a jump ball playing basketball once and came down crying. Just a rumor though. Maybe Bo was there for that one, I don't know.

What'sa jump ball?


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/3rdsilllog8-27-09029.jpg (http://s157.photobucket.com/user/loghousenut/media/3rdsilllog8-27-09029.jpg.html)




Figured I'd beat y'all to the punch. HA!

[BoFuller]

He's taking a drink in this picture because he's getting a little dizzy seeing Jake up so high.

[spiralsands]

Last week in Schuyler, NY, a man fell to his death off a one story metal roof when he slid off trying to save another worker who was also sliding off the roof. Height doesn't kill. Falling does. Back in the "old days" of the FAA, I had to climb radio towers with no safety equipment. That all changed about 8 years ago when a radar tech fell off a radar antenna platform when his ladder slipped. The FAA says you can be killed by a head injury from only a 6 foot fall and now issues and inspects all climbing gear for certified trained climbers who get refresher training and equipment inspections annually.

Fear of heights is a healthy thing. Maybe it will get you to tie yourself off to something nice and strong as you teeter about on round logs way up there in the air. Showing off your mountain goat skills is dangerous practice and if it doesn't kill you, it just might kill the person who is trying to save you from a fall.

[John W]

It's not the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop at the end.

[rreidnauer]

And to think of all the hours I spent doing this:
2040
(not me, but the same ultralight I use to fly)

[eduncan911]

Now that stuff is fun. It's just something about ledges and looking over without a handle.

[Plumb Level]

Deceleration trauma sucks.

[blane]

I don't do well with heights but I did get used to it one course at a time like Ed said. My son would walk the ridgepole upright which drove my poor wife insane "we both improved her prayer life while stacking and roofing". Once I tried to get out on the ridgepole to pin rafters with my son and he practically had to drag me off the log as I was froze in place like a scared cat. Then, at the beginning of our build I had to put the b&t on the lifting poles and I decided to use my deer stand to get me up there and not being sure how stable those poles were made me a nervous wreck. I made it up to about 20' and a slight breeze picked and clouds started moving overhead casting moving shadows on the ground and I froze up again. My wife had been watching me sit motionless for about 20 minutes and she realized what was going on and graciously came out to cheers me on and after she came out I new I had to man up get it done "I still try to impress here as often as possible". She never let on that she knew I was terrified that I was being blown over until later that night.
While we were working on the roof I watched every step I made and took precautions to stay safe and never even slipped once then after that was done we started on framing in the first floor and I must have fallen a dozen times. I stepped on a short board once laying across the joists and the back end flipped up sending me face down across the joists leaving me looking like I just came off the grill with lines of bruises 16" OC.

[eduncan911]

Thanks for the confidence and details Blane! That sounds exactly like the cat I'll be and with your fore coming it will help me plan the block and tackle strategy if I go that route. Thanks man.

[loghousenut]

I've still never done lifting poles but I think if I ever do, I'll have those blocks and tackle firmly chained on long before they ever get a chance to be farther than 20' up. I never did like deer stands much anyway. I prefer swimming for my venison.

[eduncan911]

Agreed LHN! I'm really liking the details in this thread.

I'm really considering the block and tackle route they taught us in class if I can't afford a helper and a tele. It's about a 70/30 chance that I will be B&T-ing it, unless some flood of cash comes our way. Especially if I am clearing the heavily wooded land and think a used backhoe is best for that - which would eat up my entire "heavy equipment" budget.

The other idea is the boom truck. I know LHN, I loved your "why a telehandler is better than..." thread and completely agree. But for us, it is cost and for my situation, it is the wireless remote control that some boom trucks come with. :)

[dvb]

You can do a lot of stacking with a backhoe! I stacked all of mine with our backhoe.

[BoFuller]

You can do a lot of stacking with a backhoe! I stacked all of mine with our backhoe.

So has Codeman!