So sad it was already closed to visitors in 1918 due to bird shit piling up on it, an attempted act of sabotage during WW1 AFAIK - and maybe also because only a small ladder leads up the arm and not a spiral staircase to accommodate more people at once.
So, to see those two soldiers up there - although I'm afraid they don't give much about the exclusive place they are..
I thought that area was too fragile for so many daily visitors, but someone on Quora wrote it had to do with safety. Some past visitors who went to the torch would freeze with fear and had to be rescued. Maintenance workers still go up to the torch which sways from the wind and the climb itself is dangerous.
"The only means to get to the torch is a 54 foot ladder which is within the structure of the arm. There is only one ladder and only one access entry/exit point to/ from the torch. Because of this and the fact that there is only a low railing (a 1 inch pipe) around the torch to keep anyone from falling 300 feet to their death, the torch is no longer available for anyone to access without a need to do so.
The main problem is that people in the past would freeze-up on the torch balcony (outside on the roughly 12-foot circular platform) and would be afraid to move, return to the ladder, etc. They would need to be rescued by staff."
https://qr.ae/psvBUb
Ladder
https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-f8d3b33c1d1a5947d1db203360a69fe4-lq
MOST FASCINATING READ!!! Thank you very much for sharing that info.
Next on my eternal dream-wishlist would be the "Relieving Chambers" in the Great Pyramid...
You're welcome. I found a short animation of the cutaway showing the two ladders inside. It doesn't look like a fun climb.
https://youtu.be/GkI_2yiIb48?si=9L6H1DwKr105Rb5x&t=618
Visitors have said it's extremely hot inside so you may want to go during whatever passes for winter in Egypt.
They could have a rope near the top where you'd attach to some screw gate in case of falls or slippage. The rail looks high enough and can be reinforced with netting or whatnot. Of course they can also limit it to 2-3 people at once and one at a time on the ladder.
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