#Gondola Suspended Platform | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

peter-horrocks · 3 years

Text

The glacial ice cave at Les Deux Alpes

After another hot summer in the south of France (sorry for those of you who experienced the opposite, I know how you feel I come from Manchester, UK) I was beginning to seriously wilt so it was with some relief that we headed off for ten days in the high French Alps.

The entrance to the ice cave at Les Deux Alpes is just beyond the people along the track

After last year's very successful trip to Les Menuires I doubted that we could repeat similar enjoyment this time round as at some stage it is bound to rain in the mountains and there has been plenty of that in many parts of France this year. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

We spent the first three days at La Foux d’Allos which is just two and a half hours drive north of Grasse where we live. Earlier in the year, we had spent a pleasant week there, just the two of us. This time we met up with my French wife’s sister and husband who had brought two of their grandchildren along with them, all the way from Normandy. They had a trying fifteen-hour journey down spent mainly in traffic jams ending with a rather terrifying last section over the Col d’Allos where the narrow road and huge vertical drops tested their nerves to the limit, though the kids marveled at the scenery. Regular skiers it was the first time they had holidayed in the high mountains in summer.

It was interesting to observe the reaction of the children who are aged seven and nine, the youngest is an absolute live-wire and the elder somewhat reserved and a bit of a bookworm, as La Foux d’Allos is a low-key sort of place and the main attraction is mother nature. Our first days walk directly from the apartment where they stayed (which is owned by a friend of ours, we stayed there previously) was up the valley to the source of the river Verdon which goes on to carve out the Gorge which is one of the most spectacular and visited in France. Up by the source there was hardly anyone, yet the scenery is magnificent and it gets better and better the higher you walk, and we got up high, to 2200 metres. Everyone loved it and the numerous marmots (a sort of groundhog) and circling birds of prey kept us entertained. I was delighted to rediscover the rock with a partial imprint of a giant ammonite fossil which I discovered last time, just off the beaten path.

Lac d’Allos

The following day, early in the morning (to be sure we got one of the limited parking spaces) we drove up to the Lac d’Allos which is the biggest, highest freshwater lake in Europe. A wonderful place for pleasant walking at high altitudes and a superb spot for a picnic in the fresh mountain air. Even after a couple of days of long walks, the kids were still keen to walk out in the evening so they could sit and watch the marmots gamble around grazing as the sun set, it was they who were pestering us adults to go.

Marmot

We took our leave and headed further north another four and a half hours drive to the Oisans valley and the famous ski resort Les Deux Alpes where we stayed in a superb recently built wooden chalet on the edge of the village with the luxurious feature of a hot tub on the big balcony which commanded stunning views of the valley, mountains, and glaciers.

This time we were with my wife’s five grandchildren aged from three to twelve and their parents, like last year. It is amazing how relatively inexpensive such a high-quality chalet is even in peak season. There is demand and there are people who take holidays in the high mountains but its nothing compared to the millions who prefer to pack on to hot crowded beaches and pay through the nose for exorbitant coastal accommodation.

There is still a buzz around Les Deux Alpes in summer as the ski set is replaced by mountain bikers. This activity has exploded with the development of electric bikes which has opened up the sport to less fit people of all ages. And in the resort, there are lifts running to take bikes and riders up very high and dedicated graded tracks to ride down. There are specialized shops for hiring the bikes and all the necessary protective equipment too. All-day long there were hundreds of people setting off nice and fresh or returning covered in a respectable amount of mud, nearly all smiling, chatting, and enjoying themselves.

There were many bars and restaurants open and it was our first experience of presenting our Passe Sanitaire (obtained after our double vaccination jabs), which were duly scanned by the waiter’s mobile phone system when we paid our bill, all very relaxed, easy, and reassuring. None of the bars or restaurants were particularly busy but the atmosphere was pretty cool all the same, out on the terraces in the fresh air overlooking the magnificent mountains, it was nice after so much time at home recently, avoiding people.

The children enjoyed walks around the valley and their treats were the dry toboggan run and the ingenious non-motorized carts which were adapted to be dragged up the mountainside by the Poma lift leaving gravity to provide the speed on the downhill with braking being the drivers main preoccupation. All good fun. An unexpected bonus was the de-stocking of the equipment shops in the resort at the end of August with loads of high-quality gear being sold at half price, we picked up some incredible bargains including walking boots and ski jackets.

Just inside the glacier surrounded by raw ice

The highlight of our stay was a visit to the ice cave at 3400 metres up on the high glacier. I had wanted to visit one since I discovered more about them during my time working in Chamonix where I had the privilege of skiing down the Valley Blanche, but never got round to visiting the ice cave in the Bosson Glacier. I’ve always been fascinated by glaciers, especially the fact that such a huge quantity of ice is constantly on the move, typically 25 cm a day. And my imagination was enhanced by the tale my brother told me of when he discovered the frozen body of a Japanese mountaineer on one of his expeditions up Mount Kilimanjaro from the Kenyan side, the glacier finally gave up its prisoner after 15 years of entrapment, and they were able to reunite the preserved remains of the unfortunate man with his family at last.

The ice cave is hacked out by hand

It costs 25 euros for the lift pass and entry to the ice cave at Les Deux Alpes. A ride up two very long gondola ski lifts then on the highest funicular railway in the world which actually goes through the rock under the glacier via a tunnel, is easily worth the money. We were accompanied by Mathieu and his twin boys aged seven, one of whom has difficulty walking, all of us were well kitted out with puffer jackets and walking boots, which we appreciated as we had to walk a couple of hundred metres across the snow to get to the ice cave entrance and there was a bitter chill wind blowing up there.

The ice sculptures in the cave included this octopus

Inside the ice cave, I was surprised at how long it was, there were vivid explanations of how it is hacked out by hand and there are parts with fabulous ice sculptures of things like sea horses and fish which are beautifully smooth and nicely lit for maximum effect, which had the children enthralled. Clearly not one for the claustrophobic, it did not disappoint as an experience.

The views from the suspended platform were spectacular

And once outside we walked a few hundred metres more in the snow to a suspended viewing platform with awesome views of the surrounding mountains and as we made our way back to the lift we saw the white peak of Mont Blanc the highest mountain in Europe which loomed above all else.

The passes are valid all day and Mathieu immediately insisted that his wife Caroline accompany him back up to the ice cave as he didn’t want her to miss out, his interpretation of how she would feel was correct, she didn’t want to come back down, she loved it so much up there on top of the world. None of us wanted to leave Les Deux Alpes at the end of our stay either.

At the tourist office in Les Deux Alpes, we learned that in August this year the glacier was closed for summer skiing for the first time ever due to the effects of global warming. I can but hope we are not too late to react and modify our way of living in time to both avert pending climate-related disasters and save the magnificent mysterious glaciers all over the world.

#Les deux alpes #glacier #ice cave

3 notes · View notes

the-dreamer-traveller · 3 years

Text

Concerto

If you just attend to a NSR megastar’s concert without crashing it, what would it look like?

The dream takes place in a well-designed city built by a large river, with the buildings sometimes being built on the water. Canals, small bridges and a few large domed arenas, the main transportation around is usually a gondola, ideal for taking a scenic view and terrible if you are trying to go to work, although cars can be driven in some parts of the city. The entire city is a huge reminiscence to Venice. However, the entire dream made me ride on a gondola while I am attending two concerts of NSR megastars, SAYU and YINU.

Recently, I just finished partaking in SAYU’s concert, which is pretty much as awesome and interactive as with the canon. Soon afterwards, I board on a gondola while I am heading to YINU’s concert, where the route takes on the massive river in the center of the city, where I would be looking at the buildings for the time being.

SAYU appears in one of the buildings, doing cute things that cute girls do in anime, though she is probably doing it in promotion of other products, her music or her concert.

Her appearance is something that I am bugged in my mind, although aware that this is a dream, SAYU’s appearance in the canon games outside of her virtual world is a headscratcher to me. Is she some sort of a well-developed robot or is a hologram that is created by whatever technology Vinyl City has in its hands? She appears to be large, as tall as about 3/4 of the building next to her, so she could be a hologram. But she is also interactive and can be physically touched, just like in the games, so she could be a robot. This is probably one of the biggest mysteries of No Straight Roads that I am thinking right now.

She continues to promote her products and remains cute. However, her eyes turn to me and smiles with a peace sign next to her eye. She is just aware that I am one of her concert goers and returns that presence by acknowledging it, or maybe it is just a lucky action that is in my position. It is just bizarre, strange and comforting to see an idol doing that to me and when the gondola reaches to a pier, I quickly walk up and move to the concert, appreciated with it but cannot convey the message to her.

o----------------------------------------------------------------------o

Yinu, at the age of 9, is one of the most brilliant and popular child prodigy musicians belonging to NSR. She sure does like to put her awards next to Alice, Puddles and General Stragovich.

Upon arrival, YINU’s concert takes place in a ridiculously large dome that it manages to fit perfectly on what appears to be either a giant holographic field with a large platform of where Yinu and her piano are set in or an actual light cartoony hilly world with grass green hills, trees, a bright sky with clouds and bright sun. This is so ridiculous that I just believe on the former. I stood on the other side of Yinu’s tall hill, where there is a suspending bridge in front of me as well as a sign that I cannot read well.

Yinu is playing her piano in the hill, smiling softly as she concentrates on her performance of the show. Interestingly, she uses her boss theme mixed with rock and EDM elements from her boss battle as the musical performance, despite that I am not even fighting against her.

Then things started to take an interesting turn…

As the tempo and musical performance reaches to a higher peak, the clouds on the sky move in a quick pace while the sky also alternates to nighttime. The “dome’s roof” also slowly splits open, revealing a sky full of stars while the clouds are moving lazily. The stare at her performance in dumbstruck wonder, taken aback by the manipulation of the entire concert arena. Other feats would also include in changing of the geography of the arena, creating and destroying hills and making way for other landforms, while the hills of where Yinu and I stood remain unchanged.

#dream #dream journal #no straight roads #music

2 notes · View notes

midnightsun-madness · 5 years

Text

Crescents

Tokka oneshot. Boomerang doesn't come back, but neither does Suki. A past/present/future exploration of Sokka and Toph's relationship, picking up from the airships.

"Have I ever mentioned how sweet it is that you invented metalbending?" Sokka asked, admiring the damage Toph was able to inflict on another fire nation airship. She had quite literally bent the metal rudder so it would change its course and crash into the ship next to them, slowing them down and throwing off the firebenders enough to let up on the destruction of the land beneath them.

"You could stand to mention it more," Toph remarked with a satisfied smirk. She had impressed Sokka and the rest of their group with her earthbending skills since she joined them months ago, but she never hesitated to bask in the praise she received- a sense of self-worth she only realized while fighting grown men at Earth Rumble VI.

Toph's ear twitched at the unexpected sound of a door opening behind them, her moment of pride cut short. A firebender had poked his head through the narrow opening of the exit door to inspect the damage to the rudder. The captain would not have made such a destructive order. The only explanation was some sort of debris hitting the rudder, or perhaps an engineering malfunction. Either way, not his problem.

To his surprise, it was a water tribe teen and his earthbending accomplice.

Toph lunged forward, grateful that her bare feet were able to grip the slope of the airship. Her sense of balance was ripped from her as Sokka grabbed her arm, knowing of the eventual fire blast that the guard would produce. Three years older, he was physically stronger and faster, and she would struggle to keep up without him guiding her. Despite his maturity, he knew that she, too, was well aware of the unrelenting bloodthirst this nation had for Avatar sympathizers.

And as he predicted, the fire blast came spiraling towards them, born from the fury of a fist and further encouraged by the comet. They felt its heat before it was able to engulf them, and that was all Sokka needed to leap off the slope of the airship and test his luck at preventing a thorough roasting. Squeezing his grip on Toph's wrist, he whipped out his space sword with a practiced precision and sunk it into the body of the ship, attempting to slow down and brace their fall.

Toph was not happy. She didn't appreciate being dragged around on the top of a burning blimp, and was livid about getting yanked off of it. Granted, knowing a lousy firebender could boast the kill of two kids in the Avatar's posse would have made her even more angry, so she forgave Sokka for jumping off. But this pride could not stifle her fear, and the abruptness of her lack of grounding caused her to shriek. She would save her shame for another time, if there was another time.

Sokka's muscles, while he thought himself strong, felt as if they were being torn in two as he held on to his sword with one hand and his friend with another. Frustration dueled with his fear- his tektite weapon was slicing through the fire nation airship like butter and doing nothing to slow their fall.

His eyes widened in horror as the sword quickly withdrew from the metal as they passed the widest point of the airship's width, leaving them no guidance as they fell through the smoky air. He stared in dismay as the safety of the roof grew further away. The strain in his right arm subsided as his sword withdrew completely from the ship, leaving them airborne. But before he knew it, his left leg hit a platform extension of the gondola and his right arm threatened to pop out of the socket of his shoulder as Toph flew past him, clearly missing the landing.

"My leg!" Sokka cried, stifling a curse and momentarily loosening his grip on Toph's wrist, to her dismay. Her throat hurt from all the screaming, and she was resentful that Sokka got the luxury of not being suspended in midair and at the mercy of what little senses she had left.

"Hang on Toph!" Sokka shouted through gritted teeth, trying not to focus on the intense pain in his leg.

"Aye aye, captain!" She shouted back, trying to lighten the mood upon hearing the pain in his voice. She squeezed him in encouragement, feeling Sokka's pulse racket away underneath her fingers.

She lifted her head up to the sound of another door being opened, this time accompanied by several iron-clad feet running out onto the metal beam where Sokka lay. Toph's palms began to sweat, and she dug her nails further into Sokka's wrist.

Sokka watched in dismay as the harness-bound firebenders approached him, assuming position. Without thinking, his fingers found the sharp edge of the boomerang saddled to his hip, as they had so many times before. He chucked it with all his might towards the firebender at his right, snapping the thick wire that secured him to the ship and snuffing out the birth of a fire blast from his fist. The guard's steady footing faltered in surprise, and he fell.

With the same urgency, Sokka kicked the hilt of his sword from its stick in the platform and grasped its edge mid-air. He ignored the sharp pain of the blade buried in his palm and whipped it at the soldier to his right, slicing through the entire body of the platform and sending the guard to his death in the firey hell that roared beneath them.

"Bye, space sword", Sokka whimpered, watching his beloved, albeit inanimate, companion spiral through the air after his enemy and into the smoke. He knew it would take the sacrifice of his weapons to buy them more time, but that couldn't override the hollow feeling of loss. He wasn't a bender, and now he only had his bare hands to fend for himself.

Toph gritted her teeth at the lack of awareness and the heat of the wildfires below them. Her heart skipped several beats as she felt Sokka's hand slipping, gripping him only by the fingers now. She knew he had lost both of his weapons from what had transpired. Perhaps his boomerang would return in time? With the amount of steps she had heard come out of the airship, it probably wouldn't even matter. She swallowed her naiveté but it stuck, forming a lump in her throat.

Sokka groaned in exhaustion and defeat, watching more firebenders pour out from the gondola. Too many moments had passed by. "I don't think boomerang's coming back, Toph," he stated, voice shaking and eyes squeezing shut in pain. He wouldn't let his weakness be the reason he let go. "I think this is the end," he told her, choking on his words as he watched her face contort in fear.

"Look out!" one of the guards shouted, pointing behind Sokka. They quickly left the plank of the gondola, a very different sense of urgency calling them away from where Sokka and Toph were hanging on.

Before Sokka could lift his head back to see what danger approached them, it crashed into the underbelly of the airship, the force shoving Sokka from the safety of his perch.

To Toph's surprise, the fall was short. She was able to sense in her hands and feet that something solid approached her mid-fall, and she braced her muscles accordingly to lessen the damage of the fall. Sokka was not graced with this sixth sense of sorts- his chi did not flow the same way it did for those who could bend; and the senses he did have were certainly not as finely tuned as Toph's were.

He landed on both feet, collapsing in pain as he gripped his shin. His vision tunneled, adrenaline wavering, shattered bone grazing the nerves in his left leg. The incredulous tone in Toph's voice brought him back, an instinct motivating him to snuff out the pain. This battle wasn't over.

"How did that happen? Did boomerang come back?"

"I don't know," he muttered.

"Just finish the mission!" Suki had called before the approaching smoke from the impact immersed her in ash and shadow. Paralyzed in shock, Sokka couldn't tear his eyes away.

"Sokka! I think we've gotta-"

"I don't know," he repeated, turning his gaze towards Toph, inspecting her for any injury. Behind her, he caught sight of the destruction he had caused with his "airship slice" strategy. How many lives had it took, he wondered. How many lives did it save?

Toph wiped the sweat from her forehead, plastering her bangs to the side. "Is your leg okay?" she asked, hearing him stifle a whimper in pain. It made her nervous; she wouldn't be able to carry him to safety by herself.

"Doesn't feel too great," Sokka choked, his eyes welling with tears from the pain. He let his head down onto the warm metal of the roof, looking for the moon with the light of the morning sun.

Toph's throat hurt from the smoke and the lump that was still buried there. Helplessness was a feeling she had tried so hard to bury over the years, but she had never felt it to that degree. The moment of true blindness, true dependence on another person, had shook her to her core. She drew in a shaky breath and squeezed her eyes shut. Her eyes flickered behind her lids as she tapped into the nerves of her body, rooting her focus and energy into her hands and feet.

The occasional bits of debris hitting the airship were overwhelming- causing large ripples in her seismic sense. Sokka lay four paces away from her. She could feel a break in vibration where the roof door was- the one she had failed to feel on the prior ship. Long metal bars ran down- a ladder. More debris hitting the body, distracting her, and this time it stuck into the shell of the ship.

"We need to get off the roof," she shouted. Not only were they an open target for shrapnel, but her skin continued to grow hot as the ship approached the flames. They must be sinking.

Toph gripped the ship with her right hand and roughly sunk her fingers in, bending her elbow down and thrusting her shoulder and arm towards the roof door she had felt. It swung open with a loud thwunk, now hanging by a single hinge. She turned around to help Sokka get to his feet, and they began limping towards the door.

Sokka slid down first, careful to avoid putting pressure on his shin. Toph followed closely behind, securing the door shut on her way down. Even the metal within the ship was now warm to the touch. The heat of the fires was unrelenting.

Sokka inhaled, trying to focus only on the task at hand. He looked down to assess how much further they'd have to climb, and returned his gaze forward to his grip on the ladder. He noticed his hand was stamping blood on each rung, the cut from his space sword still fresh. He swallowed dryly, hoping his adrenaline would last and continue to dull the pain.

Moments before Sokka's foot touched the ground, the airship lurched with a deafening crash as they hit the outskirts of the Wulong Forest. Sokka was sandwiched between the floor and Toph, who had also lost her grip on the ladder upon the airship crashing into the tops of the trees. They slid down the catwalk with a yell until the ship came to a halt.

Before Toph could clamber off of Sokka, the ship slowly began to tip over, settling on its side and into its final resting place on the shallow waters of the river. The right side of the ship now lay flat, water lapping at its sides. Despite its metal structure, it seemed to deflate on itself as the beams bent to accommodate the shift in weight.

They lay still for a moment, gripping each other's sleeves and breathing heavily. Sokka, despite being thrown around upon their turbulent landing, found himself propped on his elbows and shielding Toph, who laid beneath him. Her arms were outstretched, fingers sunk into the metal sides of the ship in an attempt to steady herself. The wide grimace on her face remained for the moment of paralysis the pair shared, afraid that the slightest movement would cause the ship to tip further.

Sokka finally sat up, bumping his head on a beam that had bent significantly in the landing. He peered around them, rubbing his head, disoriented with the new layout. They had slid far down the catwalk and the ladder they had come down was out of sight. Sokka began to feel increasingly claustrophobic as he squinted in the darkness, looking for any sign of an exit.

"Man," Toph muttered dryly, raising herself up. "That was quite the joy ride."

"No kidding," Sokka breathed. He rested his head against a beam, exhaustion taking over. He turned towards Toph, relieved that he had at least taken most of the beating. More moments of silence passed as the pair caught their breath. "We need to keep moving," he said finally, squeezing his eyes shut and lifting his head. "We need to find Aang."

Toph nodded in agreement and began to feel around her. Sensing here was like a maze- the abundance of bent structuring was leading her to dead ends. She could feel the familiar composition of the ladder they had come down though, and knew which way would get them down and out.

Maneuvering the metal was trickier than usual- Toph had to feel which beams were supporting others to ensure her bending wouldn't cause further damage to the already compromised structure they were caged in. She lowered herself into an opening she had made, guiding Sokka down the metal jungle gym and finally peeling back a portion of the outer shell of the ship into a makeshift slide. The opposite end landed with a splash.

"Is that water?" Toph asked, startled by the sound. Her heart sank at the prospect of being denied real, raw earth. Her body yearned for some sort of foundation after their tumultuous hour spent on the airships.

Sokka peered over her shoulder and scoped the landscape. They had crash landed in a section of the forest that was untouched by the fire nation's fury. The only disturbance was the broken tops of trees where the belly of the airship had scraped through. Ash swirled around in the air like snow, reminding Sokka of the home he had left many moons ago. He drew his eyes downward, towards the water, momentarily reflecting on simpler times. He drew his legs over the slope Toph had created and slid down, landing gently in shallow water.

After reassurance from Sokka, Toph followed suit, and they began their short trek from the ship into the cover of trees.

"It's a little tight, but I think it's better that way. Thanks."

Sokka lifted his leg, admiring Toph's handiwork. She had fashioned a metal cast of sorts and bent it around Sokka's shin to secure his broken bone. They sat together under a rock tent, preparing for rest that was well overdue. The weight in their eyelids and the soreness in their muscles coaxed them under the shelter of the stone cover, forcing priority over bathing. Smoke and ash coated Toph's skin where the water had not touched. Bruises bloomed over her knuckles. Her feet were red and swollen, a painful memory of burnt soles reminding her of weeks prior.

"I won't let you down! I promise." Zuko walked towards the group, a joyful determination apparent in the pitch of his voice. They were in the Western Air Temple, recouping after their failed attempt at overthrowing the fire lord during the solar eclipse. After some fighting, explosions, and burned feet, Aang had found himself a new firebending teacher, seemingly appearing on a silver platter.

Sokka gingerly wrapped one arm beneath Toph's knees and the other around her back. She was lifted into the air from her seat on the well where she had been soaking her feet. He carried her within the temple's walls and down the hall to her room. The group typically spent their free afternoons by themselves, since nearly all of their time was spent together. Earlier that day, Toph had expressed wanting some time alone to meditate, per Aang's incessant suggesting, although she really just wanted some peace and quiet. Meditating was boring. Picking scabs was a lot more relaxing.

"Aaaand here we are," Sokka announced, setting her down on the old futon.

"Thanks," she replied, lifting her arm to punch Sokka. "Wha..?" Her fist met no bicep, the velocity of her throw and the careful avoidance of letting her feet touch the ground causing her to fall off the futon.

Sokka slapped his thigh and cackled. "Nice one, Toph. Not gonna lie, it's kind of nice having you completely disabled."

She huffed at her bangs and sat up, feeling her way back onto the bed. To her surprise, she felt the cushion shift as Sokka sat down beside her.

"You need anything else?" he asked.

Yeah, some private time with my scabs. "Nope. But not gonna lie, it's kind of nice having you as my personal slave." She grinned at her sly retort, careful not to laugh.

Sokka scoffed. "In your dreams, mud slug. Holler in you need me." He began to get up and walk towards the door.

"Wait, I do have one request," Toph blurted. She pulled nervously at the hem of her shirt, scratching at the threads. She turned her head towards the breeze of the window behind her, hiding her growing blush from his sight. "When we start setting up the fire, can you put my mat next to yours?"

"Uh, duh," he smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "Later, toasty toes."

"You need anything else?" she asked, her eyes fixated on the wall as she willed the memory away. Her fingers found the hem of her shirt. Hmm, singed a bit.

Sokka looked at his leg, wondering what he needed. Sleep, that was certain. Food, eventually, but preferably sooner rather than later. His eyes traveled up his leg to the water tribe weapon missing from its sheath. Despite the small relief of weight from his hip, the loss of his boomerang hung heavily on him. He lifted his hands. His left was now wrapped with the fingerless glove that failed to barricade his flesh from the sword's edge. He had ripped up the blood-soaked fabric and tied it tight to stop the bleeding and prevent impurities from infecting the wound. His right was in better shape, fortunately. It was this hand that connected him to Toph while she swung helplessly below on the airship. She had left terribly deep nail marks in his wrist, unbeknownst to him until now. He traced the half moons with his finger, still red and indented in his flesh.

"Just some shut-eye," he replied moments later. "We should both get some rest," he sighed, laying down. His mind wandered to Aang and his sister, his father and the rest who were risking their lives for the same cause. He thought about Suki, the day they first met, all the things she had taught him, where she could be now. Did she make it through? Had they lost anyone? A headache began to grow, and he willed himself to think of nothing and focus only on his breathing. To his quiet surprise, it was another's that beckoned him into a drowsy state.

Toph sat slumped against the wall, feet flat on the ground. The gentle lapping of the shore lulled her to a state of semi-consciousness, Sokka slowly following suit.

Toph was choked awake, very suddenly realizing the tide had grown to an incredible size and completely washed over her tent. The pair had only been asleep for a few precious minutes; she was a bit groggy from her cat nap being cut so short. Eyes wide and cheeks puffed, she slammed her feet into the ground and clocked her fists skyward in an uppercut. The pair shot several feet up as a column of earth lifted them up and out of the rising flood.

Sokka sputtered awake, looking around in shock. The fires that had been blazing eastward were extinguished as the gentle, albeit massive wave overtook the trees. They sat on their small island, safe from its grasp. And just as suddenly as it came, it retreated.

"Aang," Sokka whispered in slow realization. "Toph, it's gotta be Aang!"

"That must mean we've won, right?" she asked, startled as her voice cracked with emotion. This war could be over. Their task complete.

"I don't know anyone else that could waterbend a.. flood," Sokka said, looking around him in awe. He had grown used to the power of bending, having traveled long and far with the Avatar and watching his sister master her craft. Before they had met Aang, her waterbending was still a force to be reckoned with, in his opinion. But now- seeing this, a feat of nature at the mercy of human hands and in the name of peace, drew him to his knees. He turned to Toph, her jaw clenched, veins protruding from her hands that lay flat on their pillar. He still didn't truly understand bending, and perhaps he never would. But seeing the flood, and seeing Toph act so instinctively, only made him appreciate it more.

"We'll split up to cover more area," Sokka decided, rubbing his hand over the freshly posted flyer. "Toph, I guess you should just come with me."

"Why? Because you think I can't put up posters on my own?" Toph snarled, grabbing the first flyer off of the stack and ripping the brush, still dripping with glue, from Sokka's grip. She whipped it across the wall and slammed the paper onto the glue, still fuming.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Toph bit her lip. "It's upside down, isn't it?" She clenched her fists, embarrassed at her outburst but frustrated nonetheless with her unintentionally parading her disability. Earthbending couldn't cover everything, a reality she still struggled to accept. "I'll just go with Sokka." She handed over the brush back to him, keeping her head down.

The group split up, Katara covering the west wing of the city square and Aang covering the south. Sokka and Toph began walking eastward, towards the rising sun.

"It's not that I don't think you're incapable," Sokka began, trying to diffuse the situation. "I mean, you're clearly capable. With fighting and whatnot. I just think we're more uh..effective? As a team. You and me. Yeah." He nodded his head in approval.

Toph huffed, unable to sense his heartbeat and breathing while they walked. She needed stillness if she wanted to tell whether he was lying or not, a perk of her earthbending that she had yet to reveal to her friends. It could still come in handy. And she knew Sokka was probably just bluffing, but a small part of her, one she tried hard to keep away, curled open inside and smiled.

"Hey," Sokka said, voice considerably lower this time. He stopped walking, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know you want to help. I know you still feel bad about Appa getting captured."

Toph held her breath. She kept her head hanging low, the curtain of her bangs hiding her face.

"We owe our lives to you- you kept the library from sinking and completely burying us. I know it must've been really hard for you, knowing what was happening with Appa and everything, and I just want you to know that I owe you one. Aang and Katara, too. And you are capable, even if you stick posters on backwards."

"Oh, uh.." Toph scratched the back of her head, unsure how to respond. The poster was backwards? Ugh! But even so, he was sincere. She could feel it now. What should she say? Should she hug him? She imagined his arms around her, her face nuzzled in his neck. Her palms grew sweaty. She felt heat rise to her face and she kept her head down.

"I mean it," Sokka continued, determined to cheer her up. "You're-"

The sound of water crashing against the walls of the town square cut him off. Toph lifted her head, now out of the clouds, and turned towards the noise. "It's Katara. Let's go."

Sokka, now giddy with excitement at the prospect of winning the battle, winning the war, scooted himself over to where Toph sat and threw himself at her.

"He did it! We did it!" Sokka squeezed his friend with everything he had, ignoring her squeak of shock.

She patted his back slowly, holding herself back. He wasn't hers to show affection to, anyway. Her heart beat harder as she felt his grip soften. It started to feel less like 'squeeze your best friend really hard' and more like 'serious human-to-human emotional exchange'. Her heart nearly stopped when he sighed into her shoulder, stroking his thumb gently over her back. Yup, they were definitely having a moment.

And for once, Toph let her guard down. The reality of the situation crept up on her. She had fulfilled her duty. She taught Aang earthbending, and they had won the war. Everything would be different now. And Sokka… Sokka had avenged his mother, in a sense. He had a hand in bringing peace to the world. Something he never knew, having been raised in an environment of constant caution. A struggle she had never known, and couldn't fathom to know. Her chest swelled, her throat closed up, and she gripped his shirt as she began to weep.

Sokka remained unfazed, instead pulling her closer into his embrace. "I wouldn't, couldn't have done this without you," he whispered, rocking her.

Toph, still overwhelmed, pulled away and wiped at the fluids that had begun to drip from her eyes and nose. "Of course not," she laughed, her voice still thick with emotion. She swallowed and sniffed, vigorously shaking her head for a moment and trying to regain her dignity. "But I couldn't have done it either," she confessed, reaching out to his arm. "Without you, I mean. Back there on the airship."

Sokka watched as her small, pale fingers wrapped around his wrist, covering the scars she had unknowingly left behind. It would serve as a permanent reminder to him of the hardship they had faced together, of their relationship that now transcended a simple friendship. But he would keep it a secret for himself. He clenched his jaw tightly, lifting his hands to grip her face. Her arm fell, and with it, the pillar they sat upon began to lower back to the ground.

"I will never let anything bad happen to you," he stated, severing the jokes, the cheerful gratitude, the celebration, and dragging Toph back down to that uncomfortable yet necessary moment of vulnerability. The wind rushed through her hair as she felt them approach the earth once again, and she wondered who exactly was doing the grounding.

His hands gripped her face tight, looking into her boundless eyes. For a moment, he almost felt like she was looking back, seeing through him.

Their stomachs gurgled in unison, eliciting a cackle from Toph.

"How much longer should we wait to be found?" Sokka asked. "This is serious business, missy. My stomach is not happy right now."

"Ehhh." Toph flapped her hand in the air, pushing herself up from her seat on the sand. "I can try to find us a snack in the meantime. Unless you actually want to start walking towards the carnage?"

Truthfully, Toph didn't care either way. She was still riding the high from the pair's interaction during the flood. The occasional flashback of nearly dying but surviving, feeling the dirt between her toes once again, certainly helped peak her adrenaline and giddiness. And the fact that they had won the war was just the cherry on top.

She acknowledged that her guard was let down, and the weight of it off her shoulders felt pretty good. The significance of it all had softened her, a tightly closed bud slowly unraveling at the warmth of the sun. But high noon on the day of Sozin's comet had turned out to be hotter than anticipated, and she and Sokka had taken to the river to cool off and scrub the soot from their skin.

"How exactly do you plan on finding food in there?" Sokka asked, watching her march to the entrance of the forest. His broken leg propped was up on a rock, his eyebrow raised.

"What do you mean how? There's plenty of food in forests. All sorts of critters, plants, berries-"

"Okay. Just make sure you don't pick the purple ones."

Toph scowled, disappearing into the foliage and haphazardly waving goodbye. Sokka chuckled to himself and turned his gaze back towards the river, watching the gentle waves glimmer in the sunlight. His eyes traced the break of the waves towards the airship, sitting sad and defeated. Toph's words echoed in his head..carnage..

People had died at his hand that morning. If they continued walking, what would they see, sprawled across the forest floor? Who would they find in the rubble of the fallen airships? His plan had been such a success, but he knew he was hiding himself from the consequences. And after all, the loss of life would be felt on both sides. Unless some miracle had occurred, he was sure he had lost Suki, and there was no use denying it any more. The determined look she always wore, her strength and agility, her compassion- all of it lost in a fog of smoke and ash. Sokka knew from an early age that war wasn't fair. Yet he still found himself biting the inside of his lip in an attempt to stifle the creature trying to crawl out from his throat and scream into the abyss. He knew war now, but knowing something never helped stop him from feeling it when it happened.

He had come to terms with his mother's death. He had even accepted Yue's- so far away that now seemed. He squinted towards the cloudless sky, once again making a futile search for the moon in broad daylight. He knew his mother was always with him, after all, he was her son. And Yue had even said it to him in spirit. But Suki?

Sokka released the grip from his lip, unable to hold back the ragged sigh that pushed out of his mouth. A stream of tears sprung from the corners of his eyes and ran down his face, dripping into the sand with a soft pat. He ran his hand up and down his arm, trying to console himself.

Meanwhile, Toph dragged her feet across the forest floor in ecstasy. So many sensations to take in, so alive and exciting and different from the hot, barren sheets of metal on the airship. Here she could feel an entire ecosystem below her feet. The roots of trees, stretching out like roads. Worms and other bugs digging about, birds landing on branches and taking off again (reminding her of Aang), the soft rumble of an antlered frog croaking, mushrooms sprouting near a- oh. Mushrooms!

Toph made her way over, careful not to spill the berries and nuts she had found along the way and was sheltering in a makeshift pouch of her shirt. She bent down and grabbed a fistful of the fungi. Content with the yield of her foraging, Toph began her trek back to the beach, smug and satisfied with herself. She ignored the occasional nut or berry that dropped from the overflow- she could afford it.

The energy of the forest slowly sunk away as she approached the beach. She paused momentarily, now able to feel Sokka within her scope. He was touching at his right wrist again.

"I thought you said your leg was the only thing bothering you," she accused, kicking up sand as she walked towards him.

Sokka looked up in surprise, violently sniffing in any evidence of his breakdown. He knew she had more experience with sand-bending after their "mini-vacation" on Ember Island, but he was surprised she could still detect the positioning and movement of his body on top of the shifty terrain.

"I've been fine tuning it," Toph smirked, as if she read his mind. She sat down with a flop and deposited the contents of her pouch in front of Sokka.

"I hope you know what's poisonous and what's not. Not really trying to babysit today." She pulled a nut out of the pile and crushed the shell of it in her fist, popping its contents into her mouth. She'd never heard of a poisonous nut, at least. "Although," she continued, a smile creeping up as she crunched away, "cactus juice does sound pretty fun."

And just like that, Sokka began to feel better. They snacked and reminisced on their times in the Si Wong Desert, imitating each other, tossing back witty banter and barreling over at their inside jokes. The group didn't often hear a real, hearty Toph laugh, but Sokka relished in the sound when it happened, even more so when he was the one to cause such a sight. The way she threw her head back, suppressing nothing and letting all of her joy tumble out of her mouth, boyish yet high-pitched and childlike. And sometimes, in those rare instances like this one, he had said something just stupid enough to cause her to curl over herself, clutching her stomach and shaking while no laughter poured out at all, until her head lifted back up to wipe the tears from her eyes and catch a breath, if she was able. He had grown to enjoy her company so much over the time they had known each other.

"…and she's always sucking the fun out of everything, Sokka. Hate to break it ya, but your sister is a fun sponge." Toph had been rambling the whole way down the mountain about her tiff with Katara, and Sokka had been mostly tuning it out, having heard her spiels before. The view of the gated entrance was his saving grace.

"I'll race ya to town," Toph challenged, pretending to lift up sleeves on her sleeveless fire nation shirt.

"Alright," Sokka accepted with a grin. "But no earthbending!" He sprinted away mid-sentence, tongue sticking out as he burst down the hill towards the fire nation town. The gates drew closer and closer, Sokka already mentally preparing for his winning speech.

He felt the ground before him give a quick shake before his foot got caught on a rock, causing him to faceplant directly in front of the gate. He lifted his head in annoyance as he watched Toph saunter under the overpass, chiming "Beat-cha."

"You cheated," Sokka whined, sitting up and dusting off his clothes. "You made me trip on that rock!" He turned around and confirmed his suspicion- a very conveniently placed rock was jutting out of the ground, triangular in shape and reeking of earthbending. He turned back to Toph, pouting. She was crossing her arms, a smug smile peaking from behind her bangs. That was just how Toph was, Sokka knew. She was a peculiar person, helping them save the world yet consistently revealing her unstable moral ground. She always seemed to teeter between good and bad, her motivation stemming from a place of convenience and power, neatly disguised in the body of a short, handicapped girl.

"I don't know what you were expecting, Sokka," she laughed, tilting her right foot skyward but keeping her heel grounded. A short pillar of rock knocked against his bottom, forcing him onto his feet. "I mean, I'm literally about to scam a bunch of people."

Sokka whined again in disapproval, rubbing his bottom as they made their way towards the center of town. They passed familiar alleys where previous gambling had occurred. Sokka, while still enjoying their lucrative escapades, was cautious after finding the wanted poster of "The Runaway" and didn't want to test their luck, so to speak.

"Besides," she continued, turning the corner towards their new victim, "I don't think I can not earthbend. If I didn't I wouldn't be able to see where I was running."

Sokka pondered this while she put on her helpless façade and approached the men gambling with rigged dice. He watched from afar as she tossed the dice into the air, her neck crooking ever so slightly to the left as they landed. It was incredible, how she was able to feel the notches in the die, and override the weights in it that had been causing the dealer's victims to fork over their savings. She made it look so terribly easy, and maybe for her it was. Sokka huffed, impressed, as she shyly asked the men whether or not she had won.

When she made her way back to him, clutching a heavy bag of silver pieces in each hand, he slung his arm over her shoulder and said, "And this is why, for you Toph, I'll turn a blind eye."

They had settled down, finding themselves once more in a state of uncommon peace. The breeze was welcome in the heat of the day, and they sighed in contentment at its caress. Their breath mingled together in the air, hovering above them until it began a journey down the riverbank at the mercy of the wind. It picked up, lifting it over the trees, carrying it past the life of the forest and into desolation, over bodies, weapons, scrap metal. It blew past the carcass of a fallen airship, through its nooks, crannies, and catwalks, swirling around in the engine room and gently lifting the short hair of a warrior. It continued through shattered windows, over charred stumps and wreckage. It blew past a boomerang, twirling the ash around it like incense. And finally, the wind carried their breath over the lake, pushing around the tall columns of rock and gently brushing past Aang like a whisper. He turned his head in the direction from which that breeze had been born, and he knew.

After the hundred year war, their journey as a team and a group of friends continued. There were many more battles- losses and triumphs- that they would face. Some in a new world, one they had built together, some in parts that remained untouched, and some in the world that only spirits inhabited.

Sokka was reminded every day thereafter of that morning that marked the end of the hundred year war. Each night he would strip and remove the water tribe wrappings that hid the scars on his arm, and sink himself into a hot bath. He never did answer Toph's question on the beach, upholding a promise he had made to himself. Over the years, he had turned her away, watching her settle with another man, and then another, raising her children alone. His eye on her was kept close, which turned out to be a relatively easy task as chairman of the United Republic counsel. The half moons, the scars that grew to be so precious to him, were an omen and a constant reminder. For this, he was grateful. He would love no one, for those that he loved would be lost. And perhaps he wasn't cursed, perhaps he could share his life with someone. But for Sokka, the risk of it was too great, and he learned to find comfort in watching, protecting, from the sidelines, until the end of his days.

"Right this way, miss Beifong," the acolyte said quickly, taking her arm and guiding her through the temple. Her earthbending had only gotten stronger as she aged, but she was still unable to see through wooden floors.

She was guided into his room, and Katara rose to her feet from the seat of his bed, bending the water she was healing with back into a bowl. "You made it," she breathed warmly, moving quickly across the floor and wrapping Toph in her arms.

"Katara, would you give us a moment?" Sokka asked, his voice lacking its usual spark.

And then they were alone. Toph placed her hand on his chest- his heartbeat weak. It was time, she knew, for his story to end, as she had known when Aang had passed.

"She hasn't been taking it well," he rasped, looking towards the door Katara had passed through. "Take care of her."

Toph couldn't hold back. "Yeah?" Her voice cracked, but she couldn't find the energy to care anymore. "And who's going to take care of me?" She covered her face with her hands and lowered them to her knees, a sob choking out. She couldn't feel the way she usually did. "Dammit," she weeped. "Why do the floors have to be wood?"

Sokka barked out a laugh, pulling her arm away and wiping his hand beneath her dripping eyes. "I want to tell you something," he said, bringing her fingers to his arm and pulling his sleeve up. She dragged her pale fingers across his flesh, feeling four small indentations. "Do you know what this is?" he asked her gently, adjusting the positioning of her hand so that it wrapped around him, her nails fitting into each notch, her thumb resting on the bone where his wrist met his palm. She felt his pulse, stronger now. She could smell ash.

"I knew I would always protect you," he continued softly. "And I think I'm allowed to tell you this now. What I feel, how you've impacted my life. I feel safe telling you, now that I'm the one leaving. But I never let you go. Since that moment, I couldn't let you go."

Her hand fell.

"You turned me away," she said through gritted teeth. "You made it clear to me you didn't want to be a part of my life like that."

"Toph, I wanted to protect-"

"I can protect myself! I would've given you a family- we could've had the world-"

"I couldn't take that risk-"

"I let you lie to my face, all because of this stupid prophecy you kept telling yourself-"

"I love you."

She paused, the pain on her face shattering him. "You denied us", she wailed. "I'll never forgive you for that."

Sokka struggled to pull himself up, but the regret he knew she felt gave him the strength he needed. He couldn't let her hurt like that. He grew lightheaded, not used to exerting the energy.

Toph fell into his embrace and they held each other. Sokka lifted her chin. She had grown so beautiful- smile lines and crow's feet still visible despite the tears. Her eyes, always captivating. She can't see me, he recalled, his memory faltering for a moment. He pulled her in, resting his lips firmly against her forehead. She raised her head, brushing their noses for a moment, letting their breaths intermingle, before kissing him hard and steadfast.

Katara removed the puffy sleeve of her robe that she had used to stifle her sobbing. She sat crouched next to the door that was left cracked open, allowing her to hear what had transpired, what she had always had a suspicion of. She would give anything to talk to Aang, for some consolation. The only family she had left was the generation she had created and would one day leave behind as well. She hugged herself, quietly clearing her throat and wiping away at her face.

To her surprise, Toph had exited the room, pausing near Katara and turning her head ever so slightly in her direction. For a moment, Katara was scared.

"Tell me when it's over," she said hoarsely. And off she went, head held high, down the hall.

Toph had left United Republic shortly after, following a small voice inside her. She struck up camp in the Foggy Swamp, where she sought enlightenment, answers, closure. She gave herself to the earth. She let flashbacks of her childhood, of the war, overcome her, let it teach her. She saw her children grow old, and her grandchildren. She waited for full moons, when a wolf spirit would visit during her meditations, always fleeting, like a breath in the wind.

And over time, Toph found that some friendships really did transcend lifetimes.

#tokka #toph #sokka #atla #avatar the last airbender #tokka fic #fics #leave ya girl some damn feedback

75 notes · View notes

boltrack · 2 years

Text

0 notes

scaffoldssupply-blog · 6 years

Text

Scaffolding For Sale: Everything You Need To Know

Scaffolding is an essential element for almost any job at heights, but you do not always have the necessary resources to have your own. For this reason, one of the most common solutions is to resort to scaffolding rentals. Today we explain your classes and the elements that make them up.

What are the parts of a scaffold?

It is essential that the characteristics of the scaffolding we choose are adapted to the work we are about to undertake, a decision influenced by a large number of factors. The first, therefore, is to know its parts and be clear about the differences between them:

Base plate: it is essential to level the ground and proceed to the elevation of the structure.

Neck: its union with the base plate serves to build the scaffolding.

Vertical: are scaffold supports. It has a rosette for every 50 cm. and they are used to join diagonal and horizontal

Diagonal and horizontal: they constitute elements that provide support and form to the structure of the scaffolding

Platform and stairs: interior structures used by workers to move between the different levels.

Scaffolding classes and their characteristics

In addition to having their parts clear, when it comes to sale scaffolding it is also essential to know all the types that exist. Although most have common characteristics -like tubular elements- there are differences between them that allow us to establish the following basic classification:

There are platforms that can be in suspense and whose level is variable, being able to activate the height changes both by motorized means and manually. These scaffolds are often known as rack, motorized or electric. Also, they receive the popular denomination of gondolas. They are useful for maintenance tasks that are performed temporarily on farms, for example, glass cleaning.

The frame prefabricated scaffolding, also known as European, can be suspended in a structure or supported on the ground. It is used mainly in facades.

The prefabricated multidirectional scaffolding stands out for its versatility, since it can be used in any sector. The industry is a clear example of this. Its fastening follows the same guidelines as those of prefabricated frame scaffolding.

The mobile towers are scaffolds that are characterized by not being tied to a firm point or having fixings. Its movement depends on the drive of some wheels. On the other hand, access stairs are scaffolds designed exclusively to access a different level.

The towers of formwork are structures that, sometimes, have the same elements as the scaffolding designed for the job. However, its purpose is not to enable a work area in height, but the support of loads. In addition, it must be borne in mind that there are different configurations of the towers of formwork, which gives rise to a fairly wide variety of this type of structure.

When in doubt, it is best to rely on the advice of a scaffolding expert who can guide you in your choice. At Torneiro we are dedicated to the rental of scaffolding throughout Spain and we have extensive experience with individuals and companies from all sectors. Get in touch with us and we will help you make the best decision.

#Scaffolding #Scaffolding for Sale #scaffold

3 notes · View notes

suspended-working-platform · 1 year

Text

Construction Gondola

What Is The Use Of Suspended Construction Gondola In Boiler Maintenance Work?

A Boiler Maintenance Platform is a specialized piece of equipment designed to provide access to boilers and related equipment for inspection, maintenance, and repair work. This platform allows workers to reach elevated areas around the boiler, facilitating their tasks while ensuring their safety. The platform is typically mounted on a robust support structure that can be adjusted to the desired height and position.

A suspended gondola is commonly employed alongside the Boiler Maintenance Platform to access hard-to-reach areas during boiler maintenance. Here are some of the key tasks that a suspended gondola can assist with during boiler maintenance:

1. Cleaning and Inspection

Boilers accumulate dirt, rust, and other deposits over time, reducing their efficiency. A construction gondola allows workers to access every nook and cranny for thorough cleaning and inspection. This ensures that the boiler operates at peak performance.

2. Welding and Repair Work

If any part of the boiler requires welding or repair, the suspended platform provides a stable and secure working environment for technicians. This is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of the boiler and preventing potential leaks.

3. Coating and Painting

Boilers are exposed to harsh environments, and their surfaces can deteriorate over time. Applying protective coatings or repainting the boiler's exterior becomes more accessible with the use of a gondola. It ensures an even and consistent finish, which is essential for corrosion prevention.

4. Maintenance of Flue Gas Systems

Boiler maintenance often includes inspecting and maintaining flue gas systems, which are responsible for venting harmful gases. A suspended platform, such as the ZLP Series Suspended Platform, facilitates access to the flue stacks and duct work for inspection and repairs, ensuring the safe removal of combustion byproducts.

5. Instrumentation and Sensor Installation

Many modern boilers are equipped with various sensors and instrumentation for monitoring and control. The construction gondola enables technicians to install, maintain, or replace these crucial components with precision.

Safety and Efficiency

The use of a construction gondola in boiler maintenance enhances both safety and efficiency. Workers can access elevated areas without the need for scaffolding or other cumbersome equipment. Additionally, these platforms often come equipped with safety features such as guardrails, harness attachment points, and emergency descent systems, ensuring the well-being of maintenance personnel.

#Boiler Maintenance Platform

0 notes

iriequipment · 7 months

Text

Suspended Rope Platforms and Traditional Scaffolding are evaluated to ascertain which offers greater advantages.

The debate between rope suspension platforms and traditional platforms in construction and maintenance has been going on for years. Both methods serve the purpose of safely moving workers to heights, but differ greatly in design, operation and suitability for different projects This blog post will explore the characteristics of rope suspended platforms and traditional scaffolding internally to identify different methods -may be better suited to different situations .

Custom scaffolding: a proven solution

One of the main advantages of traditional scaffolding is its stability and load-bearing capacity. It can support heavy loads, making it ideal for jobs that require a wide range of materials and equipment. Additionally, the scaffolding system is versatile and can be installed to different heights, allowing workers to safely access even tall buildings.

However, traditional scaffolding also has limitations. Scaffold installation and disassembly can be time-consuming, requiring skilled labor and specialized equipment. Additionally, structural buildings can obstruct pedestrian and vehicular traffic around the facility, causing infrastructure challenges, especially in urban areas

Rope suspension platforms: an easy option

Unlike traditional scaffolding, rope suspension platforms provide a flexible and flexible solution

Source- https://iriequipment.com/2024/03/21/suspended-rope-platforms-vs-traditional-scaffolding-which-is-better/

#construction equipment #suspended rope platform for plastering #suspended rope platform #buy suspended rope platform #zlp800 suspended platform #gondola suspended rope platform manufacturer #Traditional Scaffolding #Scaffolding

0 notes

chinarigid · 5 years

Photo

Suspended Platforms | Scaffold Hoist Platform | Height Products | Powered Platforms

#Height Products #Hoist Cradle #Motorized Gondola #Powered Platforms #Rope Suspended Platform #Scaffold Hoist Platform

0 notes

exactlydeafeningdeer · 3 years

Text

3 Ways Suspended Platforms Increase Efficiency for Vertical-Vessel Maintenance

It’s time to upgrade maintenance practices for vertical vessels. Like any routine maintenance, inspecting, removing and replacing refractory in vertical vessels places a costly burden on facilities in terms of downtime and lost productivity. One of the main reasons for this is the traditional solution for accessing vertical surfaces – scaffolding – severely limits efficiency. It also increases safety risks for employees.

Processing facilities are taking action to reclaim maintenance productivity and safety by investing in custom-manufactured suspended platforms for vertical-vessel operations. These systems feature a lightweight, heavy-duty metal platform that is erected inside the vessel and raised or lowered using manual or electric hoists for hassle-free maintenance and relining applications.

Suspended platforms offer a number of benefits over scaffolding systems, starting with effectively eliminating the protracted setup times that dominate scaffolding-based maintenance schedules. Here’s how these customized systems can boost productivity and safety throughout the maintenance process.

Speedy Setup

The amount of time scaffolding systems take to erect is their biggest deterrent and the greatest drain on maintenance productivity. This is due in part to the sheer complexity of the operation, which includes juggling a variety of pipes, hardware, boards and other materials to create the structure. Erection times vary based on vessel size and configuration, but even with an experienced crew, scaffolding can take several shifts all the way up to an entire week to construct. This puts significant stress on maintenance budgets and timelines.

To simplify the process and decrease setup times, steel suspended platform implement a modular design and pin-together construction. This greatly reduces the number of components and tools required for erection and allows crews to complete setup in as little as two hours.

Modular components manufactured from high-strength 6061-T6 aluminum provide the same strength as steel at one-third of the weight. And, because vertical vessels often feature small access points, manufacturers limit the size of modular components. The resulting pieces are easy to maneuver, weighing 40 pounds (18 kg) or less, and fit through a 22-inch-diameter (560-mm-diameter) access hole. This provides a lighter, more easily maneuverable solution than scaffolding’s heavy wooden planks and steel pipes, some of which are up to 14 feet long.

In addition, pin connections allow for fast assembly and improve platform strength over welded connections by allowing for some flexibility while the platform is being raised or lowered. Welded joints are rigid, which increases stress on risers at platform joints. Pin-together joints are a better solution to help maintain safety and stability when dealing with varying speeds from the climbing hoists.

It is worth noting that suspended platforms require some initial site preparations. This can increase setup times the first go-round – sometimes up to a full shift for complicated systems. But in the long run, a suspended platform can save facilities significant time and effort with each use, leading to significant ROI potential.

For example, a copper plant replaced the scaffold system for their smelter with a custom suspended platform. This increased productivity and safety. Overall, the plant was able to save 320 man-hours per shutdown with the new system.

Room to Move

Even after the platform is assembled, the productivity benefits continue to add up. With scaffolding, tools and materials need to be hoisted up to working height a little at a time, often manually. This is a slow process with a heavy physical toll. It also limits productivity by restricting supply lines for materials, such as refractory brick, gunning equipment or other necessities.

A suspended platform, on the other hand, can easily transport up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg) up and down, and the open design provides ample space for personnel, tools and materials. This allows several workers to operate in the same area comfortably, as well as have everything they need close at hand for efficient maintenance. Crews simply load all necessary materials at the start of the shift while the platform is positioned at the vessel’s access point. When more brick or other supplies are required, the crew lowers the platform, loads the necessary materials and then easily returns to height. This saves considerable time and energy and can increase productivity by limiting the number of trips up and down.

The platform also provides more room and easier positioning for equipment such as gunning machines for shotcrete applications. Crews simply set up the machine directly on the platform and maneuver the entire system up and down, eliminating downtime from repositioning while maintaining an ideal distance from the vessel surface for proper adhesion. Using a suspended platform for this application also eliminates the physical toll and risk to crews from heavy hoses hanging from the scaffolding.

In addition, the open platform and electric hoist system allow for infinitely variable height, resulting in unrivaled access for inspection, removal and replacement of refractory materials.

Scaffolding is inherently rigid. It has to be to create a sturdy base of operations. However, this rigidity restricts crew access to the burn surface. Pipes inhibit visual inspection and make it difficult to work on the area directly behind them. The scaffolding structure can also obstruct small flaws, causing them to be overlooked. Crews must squat down or reach up high when working on surfaces in between 8-foot scaffolding stories.

Suspended platforms provide crews with 360-degree access at a comfortable working height, regardless of the task at hand. To optimize accessibility and productivity for a particular facility, manufacturers also customize designs to fit vessels up to 22 feet in diameter, so crews can get directly against the burn surface without risk of falling. This allows crews to inspect every inch, catching even the small flaws that could lead to bigger problems down the line if overlooked. Also, some suspended platforms allow crews to adjust the size of the platform by up to 3 feet while suspended by changing the outer panels. This results in better accessibility and easy transition between different widths of a vessel.

Ergonomics for Better Economics

It goes without saying that having a platform, rather than a narrow scaffold, increases worker safety.

Falls continue to rank number one in workplace injury reports, and refractory repair is not immune to tragic accidents. Recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data identified 338 fatal falls to the lower level among 1,038 total construction fatalities for the year. That same year, falls on the same level or to lower levels amounted to $17.1 billion (29.2%) of the nearly $60 billion spent by employers on serious, non-fatal workplace injuries.

A suspended platform replaces narrow wooden catwalks with an aluminum surface that spans the entire vessel, eliminating the risk of falls or dropped objects. It also eliminates the need for workers to climb up and down carrying small tools and the need to haul materials and larger equipment up to height, hand over hand, resulting in a much safer jobsite.

There are long-term safety benefits that go beyond this. From setup through all aspects of refractory maintenance, an aluminum suspended platform puts less physical strain on employees. The lightweight, modular components are less cumbersome than long poles and heavy wooden planks. Easy access to materials and tools reduces the risk of repetitive-motion injuries as well as minor cuts, bruises or scrapes that come with manually moving refractory materials. Being able to position the platform at the ideal working height for the job at hand limits bending or reaching, providing an ergonomic solution instead.

All of these small but significant safety benefits lead to long-term savings in the form of worker’s compensation claims and insurance premiums.

Making the switch to a ZLP500 rope suspended platform requires some initial planning, but positive returns are almost immediate. Facilities that have made the switch save tens of thousands of dollars with each maintenance cycle, providing a return on investment in one or two uses. The key is working with a reputable manufacturer that can provide a customized platform that fits a facility’s needs perfectly. Working together, these partners can revolutionize refractory maintenance in vertical vessels.

Mr. Jayesh Vadukiya, M.D, New Age Construction Equipment Engineering Company

New Age Construction Equipment Engineering Company is one of the leading manufacturers of construction equipment like Rope Suspended Working Platforms (Gondolas/ Cradles), Bar Bending Machines, Bar Cutting Machines, etc. The company is strictly complying with ISO 9001:2008 certification and its products have also received CE certificates. The stringent quality standards conforming to “OE” standards enable it to guarantee 100% satisfaction for the entire range of products.

New Age believes in innovation, technology, and customization of its products, based on market research and end-users’ expectations, and has a strong sales & service team of professionals. The company has many instances of innovation and customization, especially of its Rope Suspended Platforms (RSP) / Gondolas/ Cradles. Presenting here two success stories on customized RSP for Dam & Silo Project.

The job was to clean the wall of the dam. It was a very difficult job because of the wind pressure and the height of the wall. The width of the road on the dam was too short to fix a standard upper mechanism of RSP. Another problem was the customer’s requirement of designing the upper mechanism in such a way that vehicles should also pass through the upper mechanism and their movement should not be stopped during the cleaning.

Moreover, the upper mechanism was so heavy that it was next to impossible to shift it. The customer wanted to move the wall machine (upper mechanism + cradle) from one place to another in a short time, and we did that without the help of any laborers.

We designed the RSP in such a way that the client’s requirement was fulfilled, and work was done timely. We had also provided specially designed Motorized device for shifting of wall machine without any requirement of labor. With our vast experience of doing challenging projects, we are always ready to take new assignments and try to resolve all issues through our customized solutions.

0 notes