climbing inside abandoned smoke stack

[guest]

I checked out a smoke stack at an abandoned paper mill today. It has ladder rungs on the inside. Its not a ladder necessarly its more like iron rod bent into a c shape then set into the brick. We will need to use a ladder to reach the first rung since it is about 10-15' up. Has anyone out there climbed such a stack? Are these rungs going to be safe or will we risk the chance of them pulling out of the brick. Keep in mind this thing is pretty old. Its just over 200'. So we will also be going static line. Are there any ideas out there on what to use to tie off to?

Pringles Out.
bsbd.

[guest]

Generally these "re-bar" type rungs have a 'T' at each end of the U set back into the mortar, which makes them rather well imbedded into the brick. But its probably not wise to assume this, and said assumption isn't incredibly confidence inspiring when these rungs are loose and wiggling on you, sticking out only a few inches or projecting up to a foot or more, and still others completely missing, as is often the case on such early 20th century abandoned stacks.

I reccommend finding somthing else to jump off, or if you must, just go for it but never have all your weight on a single rung, that way when one busts on you you still have another one or two supporting you. You can also make a meter long leash or two, attach these to your harness (chest strap probably), and clip them into different rungs as you climb as a sort of safety, really no better than just having your hands 'always' on two rungs, but possibly more confidence inspiring.

Have fun!