Ummm. That seems so unlikely without rope. (Sorry, but that tree is so heavy the last panel would be impossible!) Anyway, the rest of the ship is in contact with the ground so why climb-up in such a risky way?
But it's OK and what's more important is getting aboard the ship and inside.
Maybe the younger generation is stronger as well as faster?
I'm sure that Snowshadow appreciates making the story as realistic as possible. (It would be nice if they could just push a button.)
Actually, I've done just that with a young mother, for the purpose of getting into a building, whose bottom floors were locked, with kids inside. We used 2 trees, though, and interleaved those branches we left on, to make a ladder for the kids to climb down safely. It can be done, if you are willing to ache a bit afterward.
I swear, this is my last post on this subject!!
A risk like that would be the last possible course of action because it could kill you. Maybe not directly but breaking your leg would mean death. If there are access hatches "all over the hull" then that high-up location would be the last place to try.
But to do that anyway with some insurance the best method would be to use 4 trees, with 3 of those to make a tripod that would be a stable structure to inch the 4th up and keep it secure. (Only they'd still need rope or cord or strips of bark to bind the tripod and hold it all together...!)
But I'm wondering why not like large aircraft where the emergency exits are clearly marked on the outside? Something like that, easily visible and made to be opened without special tools?
Designing and building that ship wouldn't have been accidental and it would have those safety features.
Sorry, but I'm just trying to help!
"Maintenance" with an 'e'. Yes it's not intuitive because the verb is "maintain" with an 'a', but that's English for you.
Thanks for pointing out the spelling error. I'll fix it.
Hope she didn't cut off _all_ the branches, they are gonna need hand and foot holds to climb
Still, envisioning it falling down (a few times) before they give up and look for an easier access point :P
There are visible stubs protruding from the trunk. As an ex-rock climber, they look like adequate hand and foot holds to me. And the text says they fixed the bottom end in the mud. That might not be enough IRL, but it's plenty for a story.
I'm guessing they're trying to get aboard that way because they'd have to walk out onto the ice-covered lake to reach any other hatches located lower down on the hull, and the ice doesn't look thick enough to hold their weight? Or else the ice is just too slippery to safely walk on in any case?
Actually, using a pole as an improvised ladder is one of the basics taught in the military.
The example here is that two women are strong enough to carry a light but strong tree.
The use of a pole aid or improvised ladder is the most sensible method to access the craft.
Let's check the image.
It's cold. Very cold. It's also snowing.
There is no obvious grip or rough edge on the crafts exterior.
Any attempt to scale the craft by climbing up slippery cold metal in snow is bound to fail.
The pole ladder makes for the shortest distance and has more than enough handholds and grips.
Stability is enabled by poking one end into soft soil, or snow, and as demonstrated, pinning the other end to the lowest point of the cavity of the engine exhaust cowling.
Short of shaking the tree violently, it's just a matter of upper body and leg strength to climb the pole ladder.
Even climbing one at a time and resting briefly on the way up, it's just a matter of time and chill factor.
So, formerly professionally speaking, Yes, it's the most sensible method to scale the obstacle, in the least amount of time, with the last resource and given the circumstances, the safest route.
As for average body strength, let's not forget that they are both genetically enhanced.
They both demonstrate as basically fit.
Aside from the genetic enhancement, even if they only have two thirds the average stamina and strength of the average fit male, they should do this easily.
IIRC, Tanya (and all of her generation, aka Beta) is genetically enhanced, but her mother (and HER generation, aka Alpha) is not.
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