Actions where boots (pictured above) have been worn: Mount Rushmore. Keystone, S.D. July 8, 2009. Fisk coal-fired power station. Chicago, IL. May 24, 2011. Agios Dimitrios lignite power station. Kozáni, Greece. December 9, 2015.
4.8.15 | Updated with additional insight, video, and revised topo
As I write this a multi-national team of six climbers from Greenpeace are camped beneath the main deck of Shell’s Arctic-bound oil rig, the Polar Pioneer. Greenpeace intercepted the oil rig the morning of April 6, 2015 in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 750 miles north-west of Hawaii, in protest of Shells plans to drill in the Arctic. The Polar Pioneer is being transported on a 712 foot long heavy-lift vessel called the Blue Marlin and is on route to Seattle where it will meet up with the rest of Shells drill fleet before heading to the Alaskan Arctic.
I’ve seen Greenpeace climbers scale oil rigs before but I found myself intrigued by the intricacies of this climb as I looked thru photographs and followed social/mainstream media. The climb is not over but one thing is for sure — the skill demonstrated by the climbers is impressive and worth noting.
The Climb | April 6, 2015
Note: The following account is an attempt to cover the ascent of Greenpeace climbers as they made their way up the Polar Pioneer oil rig. It’s accuracy cannot be guaranteed as details can only be verified by the climbers themselves.
A team of six climbers — Andreas Widlund from Sweden, Aliyah Field from the USA, Johno Smith from New Zealand, Miriam Friedrich from Austria, Zoe Buckley Lennox from Australia, and Jens Loewe from Germany — left the Esperanza shortly after 0600 onboard an inflatable boat which they used to access the base of the oil rig on the starboard side. It was from this point that a throw line was used to gain access to one of the skids hanging beneath the pontoon of the rig.
Greenpeace climbers come along side the Blue Marlin where they gain access to a skid of the Polar Pioneer and begin their climb. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
What follows is likely the most technical climbing thus far. A section of aid climbing that many would try to avoid. This first portion of the climb navigates a series of what appear to be sacrificial zinc anodes going up the side of the pontoon. It was climber Andreas who led this section using an extendable pole with a hook on the end (often referred to as a “cheat stick” by climbers). Attached to the hook was a caving ladder. Using the pole he carefully hooked the ladder to the anode above which would otherwise be out of reach. After getting a stable hook placement he free climbed the ladder to the anode where he re-attached himself using a second hook as a temporary anchor. This allowed him to take his weight out of the caving ladder so he could use the extendable pole to reach the next anode — these moves were repeated until he was able to throw a long lanyard to reach the stairwell. The fact that this style of climbing was done on a moving vessel at high seas is extraordinary. Something that was captured thanks to whatever genius suggested using the “cheat stick” as the most bad ass selfie stick ever — as evident in the video below.
The start of the aid climbing section. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
Andreas navigates between sacrificial zinc anodes on the pontoon of the Polar Pioneer. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
A long lanyard is used to access the stairwell after climbing the pontoon of the Polar Pioneer. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
Once at the stairwell Andreas gained easy access to an outer leg of the Polar Pioneer and continued upward to one of the eight sea anchors. It was at this point that he fixed a line for the remaining five climbers to ascend. This proved to be highly efficient as it allowed for the climbers to bypass the pontoon by ascending directly from the inflatable below.
Andreas makes his way up the outer leg of the Polar Pioneer. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
Aliyah climbs a fixed line onto the Polar Pioneer. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
Jens just before taking his first step onto the Polar Pioneer. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
Greenpeace climbers gather at an anchor on the Polar Pioneer during their ascent. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
Less than an hour from when it began and all six climbers were at the anchor hauling bags with enough rations for 24hrs. From here the climbers continued upward to a high point among catwalks beneath the main deck. It was here where they chose to make camp.
Greenpeace climbers reach their high point beneath the main deck of the Polar Pioneer. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
Greenpeace climbers take a moment for some much needed r&r after reaching their high point. (Photo: Jens Loewe/Greenpeace)
A successful resupply of materials from the Esperanza was delivered to the climbers in the afternoon making a prolonged stay possible. Additional footage of the climb can be seen below.
General view of the camp set up by Greenpeace activists underneath the main deck of the Polar Pioneer oil rig more than 24 hours after boarding it in the Pacific Ocean. (Photo: Vincenzo Floramo/Greenpeace)
These techniques can prove useful in a variety of scenarios where tension, together with movement, can be used to access something that is lower and to the side of your initial anchor. These techniques are commonly used by big wall rock climbers to move from one crack to another or over a blank section of rock but can also be used for retrieving a line, rigging a banner, or positioning oneself for work – among other things.
To do a tension traverse you must have a surface in front of you to move on; the less vertical the easier. Lower yourself off your anchor and keep your feet flat against the wall for added friction; now walk yourself across the wall and keep eyes on your target as you make your way towards it.
A climber sets up for a tension traverse on Mount Rushmore in order to retrieve a banner that had shifted due to high winds. The red arrow marks the direction and distance of the traverse.
The farther you have to move horizontally then the higher you want the anchor you lower from to be from your intended destination. You want the tension to help you so keep your angle small to avoid fighting additional forces and think about the distance you’re moving – including what you may swing in to if you lose purchase! It may be easier to have a partner lower you in cases where you need to use your hands and feet to pull yourself along as you go down.
A climber uses a line lowered from above to retrieve the corner of a banner on Mount Rushmore following a tension traverse.
With the tension traverse complete and additional line fixed for retrieval the climber ascends to their initial anchor and uses the retrieval line to haul the banner into position with a partner.
A pendulum is the dynamic version of a tension traverse. Consider the swing and risks involved. Do not do this in cases where obstacles and hazards exist. Lower yourself off your anchor and stop along the same horizontal plane of your intended destination; lower yourself slightly below this point and lock off your descent. The tricky part is judging how far to lower so when in doubt start out high. Now run back and forth across the wall until you’re able to swing past the blank section to your final destination – don’t risk taking an uncontrolled swing, anchor in and get safe.
Greenpeace Climbers deploy a banner on the face of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, SD, on July 8, 2009. Photo: Kate Davison/Greenpeace
Warning: Tension traverses and pendulums when lowering involve movement and this can be damaging to your rope. Protect any edges, use rope protection, get eyes on your lines, tie stopper knots at the end of your rope(s), and assess all associated risks before proceeding.
ROPE GUERRILLA 