For anybody having this issue, there is an easy way without using any rods or sticks. Turn your heat on and you will probably hear a clicking, open the glove box and release the stop tabs so that you can get access to the back of the climate control panel. There is a lever (use the intensity of the clicking to help you find it. I have huge hands so I usually have my brother reach it.) and flip it. That's for my '02 Exploder, but I'd bet almost all are similar.

Where I live we have cold winters so I only have to do this once a year. If you constantly switch back and forth from cold and hot this might be an inconvenience.