Mike, you make some interesting observations seeing things from the professional side. I never saw anyone working on the lines so I have no idea how they accessed them. As you say, the outer wires would have been a challenge to access. The ‘twisted’ are just a parallax issue. From the same spot looking to the right the wires (horizontally opposed on the wooden gantry) lead onto vertical poles. The gantry is merely a distribution structure to the adjacent pole route
As to the lack of protection on the gantry, maybe the Russians allow their gene pool to purify itself naturally and those left of a wiser disposition are not tempted to climb it!
[EDITED to say]:
Thanks for editing all those phographs in the first section Mike and for inserting the above picture - much appreciated.
[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 06-27-2005).]
[This message has been edited by Hutch (edited 06-28-2005).]