In high places: rope access

Basically, rope-access technicianIndustriekletterer(-in), Seilzugangstechniker(-in)rope-access technicians provide a way to access locations that are otherwise hard to reach. The Hoover Dam, in the US, for example, which is part of a massive hydroelectric power plantWasserkraftwerkhydroelectric power plant, was famously built with the help of rope accessSeilzugangstechnikrope access. It’s a skill that is used in various industries, ranging from constructionBau, Errichtungconstruction and infrastructure maintenanceInstandhaltungmaintenance to conservationErhaltungconservation and rescue operationhier: Einsatzoperations in emergency services. The technicians are often multi-skilled people — almost like Swiss Army knifeSchweizer TaschenmesserSwiss Army knives. They might be electricians, welderSchweißer(in)welders or painters, too. It’s just that they use ropes to access a particular sitehier: Stelle, Ortsite.

I was hungry for adventure, so I’ve spent the past 15 years make a livingseinen Lebensunterhalt verdienenmaking a living in the natural historyNaturkundenatural-history sector — I work primarily with media companies and scientists. I’ve worked in more than 40 countries, but it all started with my collaboration with the organization Global Canopy. I went to Borneo to train a group of Asian science students in rope access for fieldworkFeldforschungfieldwork. That work led to getting involved in nature documentaries, which I loved because I’m in my element in natural environmenthier: Umfeld, Umgebungenvironments. Sometimes, I have to develop special rigginghier: Kamerahalterung, Kamerabewegungssystemrigging methods to support the filming of a specific species, such as the monarch butterfly.

I’ve worked in some really iconic locations

I work away a lot — sometimes, for six weeks at a time. There are times when I’ll be staying in extraordinarily nice accommodationUnterkunftaccommodation, and other times when I’ll be in a hammockHängemattehammock in the wild. I’ve worked in some really iconic locations in the UK, including the Spinnaker Tower, in Portsmouth, which is very exposedhier: ungeschützt, freiliegendexposed but has great views at a height of 170 metres. I also worked on the walkwayGehwegwalkway over The O2, in London. And I have great memories of stopping for lunch on a ledgeFelsvorsprungledge at Cheddar Gorge, the deepest limestone gorgeKalksteinschluchtlimestone gorge in the UK.

I left school at age 15 with no qualifications, but I pursue sth.etw. verfolgen, nachgehenpursued what I loved: climbing. It’s about having a clear idea of what you want, doing your research, saying “yes” when opportunities arise, developing a niche service and letting one job lead to another as you build your reputation.

OLLIE LAKER is the founderGründer(in)founder of Figure Nine, a Bristol-based business for rope- access services