Building and Using a Reacher Pole

by Joe Vogel, GOTC VP
When I’m up in a tree, I like to ascend and traverse. I’ve tried several methods for setting an anchor within about 15 feet. I was taught to get a throw bag and line over a suitable anchor. I should pendulum swing the bag to get it to come back. I rarely got the rhythm. Thanks to Mr. Mumford’s and Climbing Innovations, I have successfully used the mag bag technique. My throwing when I’m in the tree is not great. I’ll hit my target one of three throws. Some days even that is in my dreams. I had seen some videos of people using reaching poles. Telescoping golf ball retrievers were most recommended. I have been using them for about 3 years now and they are, for me, the best tool for this activity.

The head of the first one I built with a bag and a line. Is shown above.
The idea is to knock the bag off the right side of the hook. Sometimes the bag slides or is knocked to the left and slides down the pole. I know, disappointing. Back to this issue later.
Here is a photo of the golf ball retriever pole used for the 2nd iteration.

I decided to keep the original head. If ever I give up climbing, I might take golf. Who knows.
I have some 1/8th inch diameter stiff steel wire that I cut, bent, and dressed to make a hook. It was secured to the ball catcher.
Yes, I secured everything with zip ties. Not very pretty AND it has multiple places for a throw line to snag. That’s why I did something even uglier; I wrapped the whole mess in electrical tape. I then tied on a loop of cord with a Knut hitch for securing it to my saddle.
The throw bag can only come off the end of the hook and cannot slide down the pole in this configuration.
Despite the crude assembly, it works very well. I can reach about 15 feet both overhead and laterally. Check out the videos below to see how it works.
I have ordered a new pole for a couple of reasons. First, the skinniest, outermost segment of the pole I have now does not lock well. Sometimes it does not lock at all. Even when it does, it easily unlocks and slides down or lets the throw bag loose when I don’t want it to. Second, I would like to make the hook removable. I travelled on an airline with the pole as carry-on. (At 44 inches long, it is too awkward and fragile to check.) TSA scrutiny was intense. I was able to sell it as a piece of sporting equipment but trying to tell the TSA that I am a recreational tree climber was met with some skepticism. A golf ball retriever would seem more plausible. And third, this one extends to 14 feet. I want just a bit more reach so I’m getting an 18 footer.
Happy Climbing!
Joe