RRC Archives

My comfuser has been broken! Finally up and running again! Damn technology and my lack thereof! Sticky still mutters in his sleep, "No, no, Jeff! No, no, Theresa! Please, no 5.11s........arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!" It's really sad..................

Well, I'll agree with dipsi. I have used a stick clip to get a toprope on routes that were a little out of my league just to get to try the moves. If you don't climb with people that can climb harder than you it is about the only way to safely try some hard stuff. Then when you go back the the level that you are comfortable with it makes it seem easier.

Just in case anyone is new to stickclips - here's my recipe. I base it on a 3-part, telescoping light bulb changing stick (you could also use the aluminum/fiberglass painting telescoping poles) I use a medium-sized hose clap to attach a 5" long metal spring clamp (the kind with the orange rubber ends). This should be a one stop shopping trip at Lowes/Home Despot.

The orange rubber ends of the clamp let me clamp down on the stem (back) and gate (moving bit) of the carabiner at the same time, holding it open while snagging the bolt. The clamp is usually strong enough that even if the gate closes, you can still get the 'biner onto the bolt.

I've been able to get draws off of bolt with a stickclip (can't remember exactly how - involved twisting), so they're multifunction!

Is your stick clip yellow. Mines yellow with orange rubber things on the clamp.

Man I've stick clipped my way up more routes than I can remember, sport and some trad. Whatever floats your boat...its just rock climbing!

Mine's grey with an orange and blue clamp thingy.

I am not afraid to say that My stick clip rides nicely on my harness as I climb. Ya see, I am not much of a sport climber and neither are the people I climb with but we like to flail around on them so we can improve. So, I have stick clopped every bolt on routes that are too hard for me to lead. this enables me to improve and not die while trying. I don't spray about how I sent a rout that I use stic clips on but It's much better, in my opinion, to get on the route and do all the moves than to stand at the bottom and say" Damn, I can't to that..it's too hard"

Verbal wrote:Is your stick clip yellow. Mines yellow with orange rubber things on the clamp.

Yep! Sure is.

ditch the stick clip and just climb the damn thing.

yoda wrote:ditch the stick clip and just climb the damn thing.

I'm guessing that you're called 'yoda' not for your wisdom, but because of all the falls going for the first bolt have lead to a certain amount of vertical compression?