Grappling (ish) hook method or ideas

Ok, serious question here... First, I know that a true grappling hook is a not so great idea (though in this case it could have worked), their size and weight alone makes them impractical.

However the wife and I were exploring this rock arch a few weeks back (to our knowledge it was unexplored, and we found no documentation about it anywhere, I have since found the page for the guys projecting it, and setting up sport routes).  We were just scrambling/hiking and exploring it... we had the static ropes in case we needed to rappel, etc... we end up downclimbing to the bottom of the arch, then scrambling up the scree to the inside.  This arch sits maybe 10-20' bellow the higher area to be able to get out without going back down the scree.  There was LOTS of moss on the ground, and enough uphill angle we didn't feel like we could get to the vertical section to up climb, without risking sliding down... though we wouldn't "die" in said attempt, getting scraped and hurt was a real possibility.  The thought crossed our minds if only we could have gotten a rope up on the wall, we'd have had a level of safety, but a handling to get to the wall.  Hence where a true grappling hook could have worked to throw and hook a tree or rock on top... We couldn't come up with a solution based on what we had with us (or even own)...

Curious if anyone has ever had a similar thought/expereince, where you felt getting a line up for safety/handline, and how could you do it... I've wondered if a couple of aid hooks connected together and tossed could have worked like a "grappling hook" and just toss it, hook a crack, and then once you get to the wall use some better pro.

Thoughts/ideas for if we ever encounter a similar situation... in hindsight, had I have known it... I would have rigged a rope before we down climbed... though we had the gear... I wasn't really keen on setting up a rappel into an area we didn't really know what to expect... I should have just done it... we had ascenders and such with us too, so it would have been a sure in/out way... I guess I just wasn't super comfortable with the set-up at first... funny how perspective changes things... I didn't like it from the top, but from the bottom it didn't look that bad... lol

I made one using the BD Talon and a forged eye bolt for tree climbing.  Now use the purpose built DMM Captain’s Hook.

Brocky wrote:

I made one using the BD Talon and a forged eye bolt for tree climbing.  Now use the purpose built DMM Captain’s Hook.

That looks cool but. OUCH!  $200 for a hook that may never get used. 

William Abbott wrote:

That looks cool but. OUCH!  $200 for a hook that may never get used. 

EBay has cheaper grappling hooks.

The Hook is worth the money for use in tree climbing, overkill for what you need. As suggested there might something better on eBay, but have to determine how strong they are.

Think I ready about someones early climb of a desert tower using an ice axe as the hook.