Always at the Top

Few people know that industrial climbing is a wild mix of work and adrenaline. It is mostly taken up by those who have traded mountains for the walls of high-rise buildings. But there are also people who were never rock climbers or spelunkers and simply love heights and extreme experiences.

An industrial climber's workday consists of five to six hours hanging on ropes from a building wall at virtually any height. And not just for pleasure, but to carry out some kind of work — moreover, the range of an industrial climber's activities is much wider than simply window washing and snow removal, with which they are often associated.

They repair facades, install banners and signs on building walls, replace cladding and balconies, and sometimes even rescue kittens from tall trees. In other words, they take on jobs that machines cannot handle, where the work of a light, nimble person armed with a couple of tools is more effective. Calling in specialized equipment is expensive and time-consuming, and industrial climbers don't even need scaffolding — they literally dangle between sky and ground while carrying out repairs.

The profession of "industrial climber" was officially registered in Russia only in 1998, but it appeared much earlier — along with the rise of multi-story buildings.

Industrial climbers use the equipment of their sport-climbing counterparts. By the way, many industrial climbers are former or active rock climbers who did not want to separate work from their hobby. Besides being able to operate at height in any conditions, an industrial climber must be a jack-of-all-trades. Any kind of job can come their way, and additional skills and trades may be required. All of this is taught in industrial-climber courses, after which the only things standing between you and conquering the city's heights are a medical examination and a professional aptitude test.

Industrial climbers work alone, in small crews, or for companies. The work is a favorite occupation that brings income — and a decent one at that. For example, facade repairs are priced well; if the job is done properly, people are willing to pay good money for it. Because of its danger and demand, industrial climbing is well compensated. A climber's professionalism depends on the quality and speed of the work. The faster — the better, since the weather isn't always kind, and some jobs can't be done in the rain.

After all, being an industrial climber is more than just a profession. It carries a kind of romance that almost all other occupations lack.