real time web analytics
Report - - Kelvedon Hatch Communication Mast - Essex - January 2013, July 2013 | High Stuff | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Kelvedon Hatch Communication Mast - Essex - January 2013, July 2013

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

bhg

In Search of Lost Time
Regular User
About six months ago I tried to climb this mast for the first time. And I failed... I remember checking GAJ and SarahSaw report before, was well impressed that they made it. So one foggy and misty morning I decided to go there and to try it myself. When I got close to it I realised that there was no cages around well exposed ladder, which I remember seeing on the previous report. At some point I even thought that it must be a totally different place hahhaa that I made a mistake while looking for it, or maybe there are even two the same looking masts one with a cage and one without hahhaha. Anyway I tried to climb it and as I said before I failed, and all I remember was fear and anger that I couldnt make it. Here is a story from my frst report:

When finally got to the bottom of the mast realised how tall it really was. The weather was geting worse and worse, foggy and miserable.
I've never climbed that high in my life. And must admit that I was a bit panicking there... Made couple of stops on the different levels. While trying to calm down my wobbly legs, I saw some deers walking around in the nearby bushes...
Sadly I gave up when got to the fourth level (I'm guessing it was fourth - one by satellite dishes) - mainly because it started to rain quite badly.
I will have to go back there at some point in the future, but next time i'm going to make sure to check the weather forecast before..
.

And some pictures:

P1090158-001.jpg


P1090144.jpg


P1090146.jpg


P1090157.jpg


and misty weather:

P1090155.jpg


I was really upset after my first visit there and always wanted to go and try climb it again.

I don't really know how tall is the mast itself, But it just looks just amazing - magnificent structure, a beautiful landmark made of steel.

So after few months I went there again, this time with GAJ who climbed the same mast (with SarahSaw) around a year before.
When we got to the bottom of the structure GAJ seemed to be quite suprised that they removed all the cages..So here I am again (excuse my crazy bruises from previous explores:)

HG2Y1383_zps1e455f21.jpg


And again I am scared... Exposed ladders scare me, I must admit, with no cage around its even worse. I'm pretty sure that cage wouldn't really stop me falling down anyway :)but at least it makes feel a bit safer...

GAJ went first and I followed him...
And 6 months after my first fail I started climbing it again...:

HG2Y1386_zps1560eaf1.jpg


HG2Y1390_zps38f26811.jpg


HG2Y1402_zpsafa88cc6.jpg


When I got to the first level I was really scared. And I could feel my arms aching, the pain I knew before, more psychological than psychical to be honest. It was exactly the same like first time, I could feel the fear that stopped me before:( Than I started feeling really angry cause I just simply didn't want to fail again. At some point - it must third or fourth level, adrenaline finally kicked in and I was fine, I wasn't really scared anymore, my arms were much better and I carried on to the top.

HG2Y1411_zpsd17b8405.jpg


Then I didn't really want to stop and have a rest on every level, all I could think about was to get to the top and have a fag hahaha.

And I finally made it :D

last level - it felt wobbly there, mast was slightly moving :-)
HG2Y1422_zpsa0300cc7.jpg


and last few metres:)

HG2Y1432_zps8f31d4fb.jpg


f94247639c_zpsae4b2946.jpg


HG2Y1431_zps010307fc.jpg


and finally :)

HG2Y1428_zpsae03c5bf.jpg


I must say that I was very happy that I finally made it :) GAJ - thank you for the great time (even if was swearing at some point) and documenting my climbing :)

Here is some pics I took later not many :

GAJ :)
IMG_3492_zpsf17f0261.jpg


IMG_3493_zps90d68bde.jpg


IMG_3502_zps470b7294.jpg


IMG_3504_zps575f6856.jpg


IMG_3508_zpsf383d397.jpg


pink:)
IMG_3510_zps330a041f.jpg


IMG_3509_zps68d1d5e3.jpg


Well and then we were on the way back to London.. And I felt just great, excited and happy that this time I made it...

So farewell Kelvedon Mast I don't think I will ever climb you again :)

null_zpsec27fe29.jpg


Enjoy :)
 
Last edited:

EOA

Exploring with Bob
28DL Full Member
I really enjoyed reading your trials and tribulations of getting to the top :thumb
 
Top