Several times when I have been climbing I wished I had a stick clip. If you don't know what it is, a stick clip is a clip on the end of an extendable pole that holds a carabiner open so that you can clip the first bolt of a sport climb if you are concerned about falling before you can clip. Let's say that it is a very high first bolt, the first few moves are difficult, or the landing is not safe. I have mixed feelings about it. There are times when I know I could have made the moves, but psyche myself out with "what if". Like what if a hold breaks, your foot slips, you break your ankle on that big rock, or what if you fall and roll down the hill. The older I get and the more times I hit the ground the harder it is to go for it.
So becoming more of a chicken I've been going to buy a stick clip. I just haven't wanted to spend the money. I could buy some real gear with the money. I have seen home made stick clips, but they always looked sloppy to me. The clamp was usually attached to the stick with hose clamps. I was always afraid that it might snag the sheath on my rope, or cut my pack. I got to thinking about it and decided to try building one that I liked. I have two dollars invested in mine. .99 cents for the clamp, and $1.00 for the pole which used to be a golf ball retriever that I bought at a yard sale. I attached the clamp to the stick with machine screws and nuts. Then to hide the screws I cut a small hole in the plastic cover on the clamp and slid it over the screws. I even filed a half round in the clamp where it sits against the stick so it would fit as smooth as possible. I am fairly happy with the outcome especially since it actually works.
Several times when I have been climbing I wished I had a stick clip. If you don't know what it is, a stick clip is a clip on the end of an extendable pole that holds a carabiner open so that you can clip the first bolt of a sport climb if you are concerned about falling before you can clip. Let's say that it is a very high first bolt, the first few moves are difficult, or the landing is not safe. I have mixed feelings about it. There are times when I know I could have made the moves, but psyche myself out with "what if". Like what if a hold breaks, your foot slips, you break your ankle on that big rock, or what if you fall and roll down the hill. The older I get and the more times I hit the ground the harder it is to go for it.
So becoming more of a chicken I've been going to buy a stick clip. I just haven't wanted to spend the money. I could buy some real gear with the money. I have seen home made stick clips, but they always looked sloppy to me. The clamp was usually attached to the stick with hose clamps. I was always afraid that it might snag the sheath on my rope, or cut my pack. I got to thinking about it and decided to try building one that I liked. I have two dollars invested in mine. .99 cents for the clamp, and $1.00 for the pole which used to be a golf ball retriever that I bought at a yard sale. I attached the clamp to the stick with machine screws and nuts. Then to hide the screws I cut a small hole in the plastic cover on the clamp and slid it over the screws. I even filed a half round in the clamp where it sits against the stick so it would fit as smooth as possible. I am fairly happy with the outcome especially since it actually works.
