SMC 00 HEX

Object/Artifact

-

Yosemite Climbing Museum

Name/Title

SMC 00 HEX

Entry/Object ID

2026.1.107

Description

A SMC wired hexcentric stopper manufactured in the 1970s

Use

designed to be wedged into rock cracks, camming into place when loaded to protect climbers from falls

Context

This is a classic piece of 1970s-era climbing gear. Seattle Mountaineering Company (SMC) produced these small, six-sided stoppers on wire, with sleeves for protection and to keep the wires untangled. Unknown acquisition.

Collection

Yosemite Climbing Museum Permanent Collection

Category

Climbing Hardware, Nuts/Chocks

Acquisition

Accession

2026.1

Notes

Unknown Acquisition

Made/Created

Manufacturer

SMC

Notes

circa 1970s

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Label

Transcription

SMC 00

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Entire Wire with nut

Dimension Description

Nut

Width

1/4 in

Length

1/2 in

Material

steel

Location

Location

Display Case

Exhibit Case 11

Date

February 4, 2026

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Unknown

General Notes

Note Type

Cataloging Note

Note

Caption in the museum is: "Caption in the museum is: "The clean climbing movement of the 1970’s spurred many hammer-less climbing gear options. Some worked pretty well in Yosemite cracks, others not so much, potentially putting the climber at risk. The generic term for hammer-less gear is Nuts."

Create Date

February 4, 2026

Update Date

February 4, 2026