Trip to the Top of Sutro Tower | KQED News

Have you ever wondered what it was like at the top of Sutro Tower?

Reporter: Jessica Plazcek
Video: Adam Grossberg
Music: Chris Zabriskie

[victorsaenz]

I work on this tower everyday. Typically we travel the country climbing taller towers than Sutro but with the entire Bay Area as the backdrop it’s the most impressive tower I’ve been on, not only is the view great but it’s also an extremely stout tower! Most broadest towers are only a few feet wide and they sway in the wind. I’m extremely thankful to work on sutro. It’s 977ft tall and sits on Mt Sutro which is 911ft above sea level. So when you look at outer sunset or the water you’re close to 1900ft high which is taller than any skyscraper in North America

[Zdog]

The final line in this story is telling, and so true. For those who have worked on radio or TV, ones work relies heavily on objects such as these. But, how often do we get the chance to see them close up, up top? Well done KQED!

[karlk]

I really liked the natural-sounding narration that gave you a lot to think about or empathize with. Nice job Jessica.

[thenonerudite]

A friend who worked for a local television broadcaster took me up there many, many moons ago. We brought a Frisbee up with us and stood on different sides of the walk and tossed it to each other until one of us missed the catch. It just sailed and sailed to the ground. Had a dream last night that I was up there again - including the small confines of the 2-person elevator. What a singular experience it was indeed.

[TazawaTanks]

Very cool. I see this tower every day, as I live almost underneath the tower and can walk to the base in a just a few minutes.

[CDN]

Being afraid of heights and claustrophobic, this is my worst nightmare.

[gkugler]

Been up that car a few times. Rode on top of the car when we had 3 persons & gear. Had to move/rotate as wire rope ran thru pulley at angle below 720' catwalk. Another leg has the high power rigid waveguide "pipes" running up them. Never had reason to get too close to masts, (it requires a scheduled event where engineers severely reduce power to the masts during the wee hours of the AM)

[kristenmariposa]

i love sutro tower. and i love that you can see it way over there from many different places in the bay area. and then you can stand beaneath in sf or across from it at twin peaks, i am jealous of you girl!

[johnreichle]

One of my favorite San Francisco landmarks!

[jellis]

I've been up there many times to do radio work for KTVU. it's nice and peaceful. I went up before they had buttons to stop at a certain level. You had to look for rope and pull to stop. It was much better after they installed the buttons like a normal elevator

[ericstevens]

I've been up that tower, being above the morning fog is an amazing experience.

[richardgeis]

I have been up there back in the 90’s
My buddy David Grimes work there. Wild experience
There was more fog the day we were up there
Once in a lifetime experience.

[midcenturymodern]

This structure reminds me of the Eiffel Tower. At first, the Parisians hated it, but now the city of Paris just wouldn't be complete without it.
Years ago, I almost accepted an engineering job offer from one of the Bay Area broadcasters, but I chickened out because it occasionally required going up on this tower. I just couldn't do it. 😨

[gregoryrobertson]

There may be over 500 broadcast towers in America taller than this one including the KVLY-TV tower in Blanchard ND (2, 063 ft). This one has the coolest name though.

[annettesanchez]

My hands are DRIPPING with sweat just watching this!!! My boyfriend is on this tower right now doing work!!! Oh dear LORD. 🙄

[MyStratocaster]

I have a hard time putting up my Christmas lights each year. The anxiety starts about one week prior to Thanksgiving. I would never have stepped out of the elevator. No thanks,

[HamRadioNow]

I'll never forget the grinding motor of that

[alexa.davronov]

The song name is _Chris Zabriskie - Is That You or Are You You?_

[timesurfingalien]

Ive worked on that tower. Did repairs on the tv broadcast antenna

[djmk]

They need to build a restaurant at the top with views of the city below!