It’s a vertical climb…

We may be a vertical blinds company, but we have a massive appreciation for all things vertical outside the world of blinds. That’s why in this blog we at Vertical Blinds Direct are celebrating some vertical climbs we are most impressed with!

Mount Everest

Is there a better choice to kick off an article about vertical climbs than the highest mountain on Earth? Standing at 8,848 m (29,029 ft), this mighty mountain has been the death of countless climbers who fell victim to its many hidden dangers. Aside from never rising above freezing level – with a potential temperature drop of up to -60 degrees – there are also risks of avalanches, lack of oxygen and ice in abundance.

In fact, ‘The Death Zone’ as it is so called, near the summit of Mt. Evereset, homes a rather shocking number of bodies of climbers who succumbed to the elements. That being said, there is also a staggering number of climbers who successfully managed to conquer this giant. With more than 4,000 people attempting to reach the top, the first successful expedition to make it to the summit was in 1953, made by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

Mount Everest: one of the world’s biggest natural killers.

Spider-Man

Okay, okay, we know he isn’t real, but can you think of a better wall climber than Spider-Man? Didn’t think so. Who could believe that timid teenager Peter Parker, a mild-mannered orphaned high school student from New York, would rise to become on of the most-revered superheroes of all time? (Yes, we know, we know, it’s fiction!)

After being bitten by a radioactive spider, Parker suddenly finds himself developing super powers, including the ability to adhere himself to ceilings and walls – as shown below.

First appearing in comic books in 1962, Spider-Man has gone on to become one of the most iconic fictional characters in the world. So far, there have been five feature films and nine television series based around the character, and the franchise continues to grow as generation after generation become fans of Spidey.

He always makes it look so easy, doesn’t he?

Fighter Jets

The ultimate vertical climb, it’s always a staggering sight to see a jet fly at a 90 degree angle. This supersonic shot, taken of a US F-14 Tomcat in 1985, captures a perfect vertical climb, to the point where the jet is almost level with the Moon… how far up was it before the pilot’s ears popped, do you suppose?

An air-to-air view of an F-14 Tomcat making a vertical climb.

Batman

You didn’t really think we could leave the Dynamic Duo out, did you? Surely not! While the now iconic 1960’s Batman television series both launched (and nearly destroyed) the acting careers of stars Adam West and Burt Ward, it also entertained millions and continues to do so to this day.

Aside from the comic book-style ‘pow’s’ and ‘biff’s’ that would erupt on every fight scene, the ultra-sleek Batmobile, and the infectious theme tune, another quintessential feature from the original 1960’s series was the sight of Batman and Robin walking up buildings, with the help of the trusty ‘bat rope’. Naturally, the camera was tilted on its side for these scenes – despite inadequate footwear, it’s highly unlikely that a flimsy piece of white string would have taken the weight of two superheroes. That window, Mr Hornet, should have some vertical blinds.

Batman and Robin get acquainted with The Green Hornet midway up a building