Bogen Posted October 28, 2004 Posted October 28, 2004 What are some jobs people have had that related to their climbing? I responded to a bulletin board ad for a climber with biology experience once, and spent 2 months collecting insects in the upper canopy of old growth boreal forest along the Peace river in northern Alberta. I had a great time with it, and went from cautiously trying to protect each "ascent" in the first few days to leaping from tree to tree by the end of the summer. I know other people who have had jobs with geology surveys. What other ways have people put their experience to practical use? Quote
Lepton Posted October 28, 2004 Posted October 28, 2004 I was once paid as a consultant to a window washing crew that wanted to do a bid on a multi building apartment complex. The job required a series of "drops" or rappels to clean the 4 story stacks. I trained them how to rappel and where to set their anchors at the top of the building, some of which required 80 foot spread anchors across the roof to access certain points. While I got a couple hundred bucks for consulting, they landed the $2000 bid and the two man crew finished the job in two days. Hmmm, it seems there are a lot of mid sized buildings that require this kind of rappel procedure to wash the outside of the windows. This is a lot cheaper than getting trucks with lift ladders into tight locations. Quote
Skeezix Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 I was a climbing ranger in the North Cascades for 10 years. Quote
kurthicks Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 I think guiding fits the bill. Also, running the climbing portion of an outdoor program at a university. climbing and getting paid for it. Quote
lancegranite Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 I am a climbing high steel rigger. We do stage shows and convention work. This summer I also became internationally certified as a rope access technician. There seems to a lot of work for climbers, we aready used to taking care of ourselves in difficult situations. Quote
Jim Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 Bat surveys w/loooong rappels throught cave roofs Raptor tagging Tree climibing/jumar jugs for nest surveys Rappels and climbs for rare plants and lichen surveys along desert cliffs 1 assitance for petroglyph survey Still get to do some of this occassionally . It's my job! Quote
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 There's always the coveted "underpaid gym bitch" position! If you play your cards right, you can work your way up to wall monitor and play bad cop with the hardmen! Quote
RuMR Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 (edited) DFA pays quite well for sycophants... I applied for a position through DFA Enterprises, but was turned down...The "We are Sorry" letter said i was too good lookin' for the job and would attract too much attenzione from DFA... Edited October 29, 2004 by RuMR Quote
Dru Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 i think it had more to do with height.. that your head is at his nipple level when you stand up, and mid-thigh when you kneel... most inconvenient, you'd have to use a couple pillows Quote
RuMR Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 i see that you know all of the job requirements...so tell me, are you satisfied w/ the pay? DFA was complaining about your braces, said sumpin about dockin' your pay... Quote
Dru Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 You forget Canadians are not allowed to work in the US without a green card. Quote
RuMR Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 he did mention how much he was paying you for your "under the table work" and how much he was saving on not having to pay taxes and social security... Quote
RuMR Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 i didn't know ol' DFA's bedroom nickname was Moose... wow, the things one can find out on a climbing site... Quote
RideT61 Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 I break climbing gear for a living. I addition I get to test out outdoor fabric and other gear on a regular basis. The obvious advantage to this is that I have a pretty good idea of what gear (climbing/camping/clothes) works well. On the down side I am now aware of how poorly most designers are. If they concentrated a bit more physics and funtion rather than visual appeal gear could be much better. Unfortunately, most companies make gear that sells instead of gear that works. This is most true when it comes to technical clothing. Quote
Dr_Crash Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 I work in technology so I can afford to climb drC Quote
RideT61 Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 You mean you can afford to but the crap marketing tells us we need. I hate marketing!!!! Quote
Dr_Crash Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 Ignore marketing then, dude. Use that little thing called a brain that sits between your ears, and make your own decisions. As needed, ask friends to try their gear, for advice, for their ex-girlfriends phone number (and history), etc. drC Quote
RideT61 Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 I do ingnore it. It's the rest of the dumb bastards out there that think they need all the new crap I pity. Between my job in a lab and time on the mtn, I know what works. I just think it could be much better if designers were engineers instead of artists. Quote
Dr_Crash Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 Form sells often more than function. At least it does to the masses who have no clue what they want and go for higher $ / cuter is better. drC Quote
Dru Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 what's the point of making gear that works if it doesn't sell because it looks ugly and your company goes bankrupt? Quote
Dr_Crash Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 No point, Dru. I also buy nice looking stuff. But only the one that works. I think we were talking about stuff that does not work. drC Quote
Dru Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 I was replying to this Unfortunately, most companies make gear that sells instead of gear that works. Well duh! Quote
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