Blackpool Tower Climb!

First opened in 1894, Blackpool tower is a 158m high steel structure. Blackpool Tower was modelled on the Eiffel tower, however one of the main differences is that the Eiffel Tower is a free-standing structure and Blackpool Tower is not. This fact presents a large obstacle for anyone who wishes to climb Blackpool Tower without the owners permission, as tower climbers “Userscott” and “Stepping Lightly” know only too well. At the foot of Blackpool Tower is a building of about 6 stories that houses which hides the base of the tower.

It’s about our hundredth attempt at possibly one of the hardest ‘buildering‘ challenges in the UK that leads us to the base of the tower. For two years the challenge wasn’t even the tower – it was getting to the base of the tower

writes Userscott on 28dayslater – The UK UE Urbex Urban Exploration Forums website, following his successful covert Blackpool Tower Climb with Stepping Lightly in August 2009.

Tower Climb

Preparations of the Blackpool Tower Climb included climbing to the top of the Blackpool fairground rides ‘Pepsi Max Big One’ and ‘Ice Blast’ as well as City of Manchester Stadium, Old Trafford and the Angel of the North. Climbing to the top of Blackpool Tower took the duo several hours and they did not finish until after midnight. Blackpool Tower is made from cast steel girders with large overhangs at the viewing platforms, making a challenging tower climb. Their post on 28dayslater contains plenty of impressive photos at various stages of the Blackpool Tower climb. To avoid detection the climb to place at night, the view over Blackpool at night with all the lights glowing was worth it – they were lost for words.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson told the Daily Telegraph that they had had no reports about the incident, and that:

Unless there is any evidence of any criminal activity having taken place, we will not be launching an investigation…it would be up to the owners of Blackpool Tower to prosecute the individuals under civil law for trespassing.

Getting caught during the Tower Climb was a worry, as Userscott writes:

It’s a busy night on the front and surely somebodys noticed two trouble makers packing 60m of 8mm rope and bright white Petzl helmets.

However they completed the Tower Climb, right up to the flagpole at top of tower and abseiled back down without anyone reporting them.

Bridge Climbing

Climbing structures has become popular in recent times, as pointed out in our Bridge Climb post in February this year. Unauthorised climbers were caught climbing the Tyne Bridge and Forth Road Bridge.

Tower Climb

At 158m the Blackpool Tower is pretty high, and for some climbers the thought of climbing an iconic structure is irresistible. Obviously we are not suggesting that anyone should go out and illegally climb a tower. But, if you could climb any tower, legally, in complete safety and with appropriate climbing gear, which tower would you climb? Let us know, just write a comment below!