The Nose: El Cap Haul Bag vs Half Dome Haul Bag

So i agree mostly, but here’s my argument. Having 2 pigs doesn’t mean you have to stuff the f*ck out of them just because there’s free space inside. 2 pigs make splitting the gear on the approach and descent a lot easier. Is a single 100lb pig that much easier to drag up a slab than 2 50lb pigs? 

We used 3 stubby haul bags. 2 Taco ledges, no stove for 4 days and fixed then hauled for 3 days.

This only works with a prime weather window, and most importantly…

PRACTICING WALL SKILLS.

The Nose is all shenanigans. Bring the least stuff possible. I’ve done a lot of dumb stuff but I was surprised at how much stuff there is to know how to figure out. 5.11 climpers bail all day when they don’t practice hauling/jugging, etc. You can aid all day and pace yourself if you can confidently haul your shit up. Go light, bail upwards. 

Max R wrote:

So i agree mostly, but here’s my argument. Having 2 pigs doesn’t mean you have to stuff the f*ck out of them just because there’s free space inside. 2 pigs make splitting the gear on the approach and descent a lot easier. Is a single 100lb pig that much easier to drag up a slab than 2 50lb pigs? 

Technically, yes. Realistically, no. Bags always find a way of getting stuck or hung up, the second has to help move the bags, etc. Its wall climbing, that’s just part of the game.

How you do it is pack all the water in the top bag and all the bivy in the 2nd bag so its light, then clip 2nd bag to bottom of 1st bag.

You can haul it at the same/different length with tethers or clipping both to masterpoint but that is not advisable. 

Max R wrote:

So i agree mostly, but here’s my argument. Having 2 pigs doesn’t mean you have to stuff the f*ck out of them just because there’s free space inside. 2 pigs make splitting the gear on the approach and descent a lot easier. Is a single 100lb pig that much easier to drag up a slab than 2 50lb pigs? 

For 3 days on the Nose, you should be able to get it all into 2 Metolius Quarter Domes.

And yes, know your shit before going up there! ABSOLUTELY have lowering out a heavy bag figured out!

You could also join the Mark Hudon Academy (Www.markhudonclimbing.com) to get totally buffed out on wall techniques. 

Mark Hudon wrote:

You could also join the Mark Hudon Academy (Www.markhudonclimbing.com) to get totally buffed out on wall techniques. 

And since we are advertising, you could also consider purchasing HOOKING UP - The Ultimate Big Wall and Aid Climbing Manual by Fabio Elli and Dr. Piton. 

Message me for details. I will bet you a beer that in owning this book, you will save enough time, effort, energy, and heartache to completely underwrite the cost of the book many times over!

Thanks so much everyone for your time and input! I think I'll go with the El Cap (someone I know has a brand new one that they're selling for half price) and try to mitigate it being tricky to get things at the bottom through a combination of attaching things to internal daisy chains, having a lightweight bag at the top, and having long arms. As for the walk off, I'm ready to suffer.

I've been working my way through Hooking Up—it's great! For the next edition, a section giving ballpark estimates of how big a haul bag you need for different length trips could be a helpful addition for us noobs!

J E wrote:

I've been working my way through Hooking Up—it's great! For the next edition, a section giving ballpark estimates of how big a haul bag you need for different length trips could be a helpful addition for us noobs!

I am glad you are enjoying our book! I am probably not the best person to ask what size haul bag to bring because my answer will always be the same- a great big one! I just hate having to find Space when you're all crammed on the wall, but that's just me. After your climb report back here and tell us if the whole bag was the right size or not and why. Good luck, shut up and climb.