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7. bonus:




Here's a few bonus items that will help you get a head-start with tower climbing:

Knots: there are so many useful knots, but maybe ten or so "core" knots that everyone should know how to tie.
There are little plastic "pocket guides" for knots, get one. Learn how to tie a figure 8, bowline, prusik,
square, sheet bend, and clove hitch for starters. Ideally you should be able to tie any of these knots in
the dark. A good exercise to do while watching TV. This is for Ground Crew too!

Storing Rope: learning how to store a rope so it's effortless to get out of the bag is a valuable skill. It's also
equally valuable to do the reverse: untangle a long rope. There are numerous guides on how to wind up a
rope, but I've found "flaking" a rope into a bag is faster and more effective. IMHO, winding ropes is only
useful when you don't have a bag to put it in.

I have too many carabiners and ropes. I also don't have enough carabiner and ropes. That's just how it goes.

Don't be afraid to cut your accessory cord to a convenient length. It'll take awhile to figure out what mix of
rope lengths you prefer to use. Rope isn't that expensive - losing a few feet to figure out what you need is
a good investment. Melt or otherwise seal the ends of your rope so it doesn't unravel.

Gloves: find ones that work for you. They dont have to be expensive or rugged. I've got "good" gloves but I
prefer to wear my cheap hardware store yard work gloves. They're more flexible, more comfortable, have a
better grip, and are cheap. It doesn't matter if I wear them out after a year or two, I can easily replace them.
But DO wear gloves, at least while climbing up and down the tower. Take them off while you work if you like.

Bring a lunchbox with frozen water, an extra bottle of water, and a few high-energy snacks like candybars, in
addition to your water bottle. Get something like a Camelback Eddy. It's got a built-in ring to tether to, a
built-in straw, and a spill-proof bite-to-drink nipple.




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