High Scaler

[tbutler]

Back when Hoover Dam:



was being built, they had to deal with a lot of steep canyon walls.



They had to cut and smooth the canyon walls so the dam:



would be neatly embedded into the canyon walls; the pressure on the dam's arch would be transferred into the canyon walls, adding considerably to its strength.

So there were the High Scalers.



They would lower themselves from anchorages at the canyon walls, swinging themselves out in the air, moving from point to point to jackhammer and plant blasting charges and make things ready for the dam-to-come.

I wouldn't want to do it, but I have a lot of respect for the people who did!

(The Bureau of Reclamation has a nice essay on the High Scalers.)

Comments

[yhlee]

Wow, neat!

(I'm scareda heights so I have super respect for people who can do stuff like this. :p)

[tbutler]

I am too; I always have to nerve myself to get close to an edge like that when there's a severe drop, like the picture of the inner face of the dam. o.o

Still, I can imagine how swinging yourself around like that could be fun, if you can stand the fear of falling!