A5 Big Wall Tech Manual – 1988
In 1988 John Middendorf published this Big Wall Tech Manual. I remember getting my copy at Poor Richards Used Books in Colorado Springs and it was like getting the secrets of the masters handed...
Category: Literature
1962 Rossdale Catalog
Rossdale was a purveyor of “high class climbing equipment” as the cover proudly proclaimed. This catalog featured some interesting items such as the Pierre Allain Descendeur and Decrocheur (which was new for that year), a...
1953 Ski Hut Catalog
The Ski Hut sold camping, climbing, and general outdoor equipment from their location in Berkley, California. Many of the notable figures of 1950’s and 1960’s southern California climbing probably passed through their doors for...
ASMU Sporthaus Schuster Catalog 1937
August Schuster of Munich (ASMU) started his company in 1914. ASMU manufactured high quality outdoor equipment and became especially notable for their rock and mountaineering products. Most of their axes, carabiners, pitons, and crampons...
1956 Tender Leaf Tea Advertisement
Wow. This ad makes some interesting claims. My question is this: “why would climbers even need bottled oxygen if simply drinking Tender Leaf Tea could boost the oxygen in your blood by so much?”...
1962 Keds Shoe Advertisement
I can’t guarantee you that Keds make good climbing shoes but I can tell you that Converse All Stars are pretty bad. I once did “spaceshot” in Zion National Park in a pair…...
Thomas Black & Sons Catalog 1959
Only the climbing related sections of the 1959 Thomas Black & Sons equipment catalog showing the selection of equipment available to British climbers at the time. The whole catalog is eighty-four pages long covering camping, skiing,...
Forrest Mountaineering Catalog 1983
A personal Forrest story: In 1993 I worked for a small outdoor gear shop in Colorado Springs that also had an outlet in Denver. One day while rummaging around in the warehouse I discovered a treasure....
Fisher & Sons 1964 Catalog
This is the climbing specific portion on the 1964 Fisher & Sons equipment catalog. Also covered in the booklet are shelters, clothing, cookware, and many other items for mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts. Vertical Archaeology...
Campbell Mountaineering catalog
Campbell Mountaineering put out this pamphlet in 1979 detailing the design and uses of their unique “wedgefast” and “saddlewedge” chocks. Their publication was fairly comprehensive and offered a good look at the state of...