Fifi allegedly means ‘little hook’ though a quick search on the internet reveals some rather less savoury interpretations, so we’d better stick to the alleged version. Fortunately it’s sometimes called a Fifi Hook, it looks like a hook and is used as a hook in artificial or aid climbing.

Artificial climbing is used by climbers who can’t progress upwards by using their own hands and feet, pitons, bolts, skyhooks and ladders are then resorted to rather than retire to the pub. The little ladder used is called an etrier, at the top of the etrier a Fifi Hook is often used to hook into the piton, bolt or skyhook, the climber then steps onto the etrier and hopes the piton doesn’t fall out!

Most climbs originally requiring artificial aid have now been climbed ‘free’, though some aid sections remain – particularly on pitches of big walls.

Dating from the 1960s the Fifis we have here in the collection have been gathered together from various sources by Mick Tighe.