Skyhooks

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Diagram from ‘Rock Gear’ by Layne Gerrard
Skyhooks
Skyhooks
Description
Two skyhooks
Inscription description
Acquisition Method:
Donated by Art McCarthy
Number of Objects:
2
Related Items:
Provenance:
Rather than hooking on the sky as the name implies, a Skyhook is designed to hook in, or onto, small cracks or ledges in the rock. Whilst the tendency in modern times is for free climbing, back in the mists of time aid, or artificial climbing, was much more in vogue and climbers would make their way up the rock face by whatever means possible so when things got pretty blank a skyhook might be the only way to proceed. Pretty scary and only used as a last resort, a suitable crack would be found, the hook hooked on and the climber would attach a sling and stand in it hoping for better things to come. There are legendary stories of climbers making several consecutive skyhook moves knowing that if one didn’t hold the whole lot would fall out with a big’ whipper’ the only result. No maker’s name that we can see on these two but we know they are American as they came from fellow collector, Art McCarthy over in Caifornia.
Object Production
Production Place:
USA
Materials:
High tensile steel?
Maker:
Colour:
a – brown b – silver
Dimensions:
a – 10(l) x1.5(w)cms b – 8.5(l) x1(w) cms
Object Condition:
Condition Date Check:
07/01/2015
Administration
Accession Number:
1202.2015.1(a-b)
Creator:
Hermione Cooper
Accession Date:
07/01/2015
ID:
1
Category:
Location
Location:
Bohuntin
Current Location
Rules:
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007