I’m not terrified of heights, but I don’t love them, either. If I stand on top of a high building, I feel a wobbly, intense tingling in my legs. The closer to the edge, the worse the feeling. So, when I was asked to step out of my comfort zone and climb to the top of a fire truck ladder in full fire gear, it made me very anxious, but I agreed.

Climbing the ladder was only half the battle. The fire gear would be hot, heavy and cumbersome on any day, but especially so during the humidity of June. They thankfully spared me the tools and oxygen tank which real firefighters also carry.

Once I was properly outfitted in the pants, suspenders, jacket, a heavy hat that kept falling over my eyes, boots that were one size too big and bulky gloves, it was hard to move freely, which made climbing the ladder more intimidating. I realized there is a considerable comfort level that comes from wearing clothes that fit well, and when they didn’t, I felt like a Michelin Man child playing dress up.

But Deputy Chief Larry Celender, the firefighter who followed me up the ladder, was encouraging, and the ascent was quick. I concentrated so hard on placing my oversized boots into each rung and gripping the railing with my heavily padded gloves that I hardly noticed that I was going higher and higher, until I got to the top. The railing on the ladder made it easier — it would have been much worse if it was a regular ladder.

Finally, I reached the top of the fire training facility, which I was told is about 65 feet high, and I was glad I didn’t have to climb from the ladder to the roof! I looked around, waved to my small audience, and then prepared to go back down. Descending the ladder was difficult as moving backwards is more challenging, and I felt even more clumsy.

When I reached the bottom and realized that I didn’t get that panicky-tingling-wobbly feeling in my legs, I asked if they could make the ladder go higher, straight up, past the top of the facility. The ladder raised at 45 degrees and seemed much more intimidating.

It was easier climbing the rungs at the steeper angle, because when the ladder was lower, even though I was going up, it was a more horizontal climb which was harder. However, the higher I climbed, I found my white-knuckled grip getting tighter!

I was glad to get down and for this experiment to be over, and I was super happy to take off the fire gear. In hot weather, it is brutal, and my clothes were soaked and wet underneath, but luckily, I brought a change of clothes.

All in all, it was an exciting thing to do and it’s always nice to step out of your comfort zone a little bit. Especially when there is a friendly firefighter standing right behind you!