Objects Database

Skyhooks

Accession Number

1202.2015.1(a-b)

Object Name

Skyhooks

Created

07/01/2015

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

07/01/2015

Brief Description

Two skyhooks

Materials

High tensile steel?

Dimensions

a - 10(l) x1.5(w)cms b - 8.5(l) x1(w) cms

Number Of Objects

2

Colour

a - brown b - silver

Object Production Place

USA

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.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Art McCarthy

Acquisition Date

07/01/2015

Condition Check Date

07/01/2015

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

07/01/2015

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