As we are taking pause today to appreciate all of our front-liners on “Tower Tech Appreciation Day,” the men and women out in the field making all of our grand plans actually work, let’s thank them for the little things as well. We can let other voices (see top story above) extoll their courage in the face of physical dangers under challenging conditions and their fearless spirit under crushing deadlines. Kudos to all of that. Over the years in our coverage of these warriors, it’s the minor inconveniences that pop up in stories that are also worthy of our sympathy and gratitude. Bugs, bird poop, ill-fitting harnesses, outdoor plumbing, time away from family, bad road food and not-quite four-star accommodations are all part of the tower tech’s life on a regular basis.
Tisha Robinson is both an advocate and award-winning film producer for tower climbers. As the Founder and Director at Tisha Robinson-Daly Productions/ HIGH The Movement, she posts on social media, encouraging others to say “thank you” and let the community know how appreciated they are.
“I’ve received so many messages and emails from climbers all over the world saying how much it means to them,” Robinson told Inside Towers. “The note (see pic above) is one that I left when I noticed a rope hanging from a tower while I was out running errands. I’m always thinking about climbers and wanted this crew to know that I saw them and appreciate the work that they do. The last photo is of me and William Stone, a climber. He and another climber were driving through PA and I met them at a restaurant and treated them to breakfast.”
Having been on the road with tower techs and chronicling their lives, Robinson said they lead a very isolated and disconnected existence. Many climbers, she said, work rotations that keep them on the road for weeks at a time.
“Living one’s life out of a duffle bag, without the comforts of home is numbing,” she said. “Always being a stranger in a new town is rough. Missing out on life that is taking place back home is heartbreaking, not just for the climber, but for those he or she left behind.” To Robinson, tower climbers are heroes worthy of having their story told.
“They get up every day and do a job that most wouldn’t dare,” she said. “They do it on little sleep, little food, oftentimes, and away from those they love.” -jf
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