I am planning a trip to Yosemite in April and would like to begin to learn to aid climb. I have, and am, practicing a little at the Red River Gorge in Ky. I would like to know of an area where I could practice in the park with my friends so we can stay out of other folks way on aid routes. Also, I have noticed, in some pictures of people aid climbing, a carabiner hanging from a wire about 2 - 3 feet long. What is this for. Is this something to clip to while passing gear to protect it form falling?

-- Fred Petersen (Fred_Petersen@ces.purdue.edu), December 22, 1998

Answers

A few classic practice lines for aid are Direct South Face, Rixon's Pinnacle Bishop's Terrace (roof) The Folly, Left Side

The wire is probably a "funkness cable", used to clean pitons and heads by clipping the hammer and yanking to create a big impact.

-- Quang-Tuan Luong (luong@ai.sri.com), December 22, 1998.