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[strandman]

My first route in NH was the WG- I told my partner that it was 5.4 and about 300'. HA ! We survived and next day did Sliding Board. I was way amped and decided that They Died would not be that bad- WRONG. I lowered off a sideways hex and Kurt Winkler suggested some other routes.

[Admin Al]

LOL 

how old were you & Kurt back then?

[strandman]

I was 17 and I guess Kurt a couple of years older- maybe 20 ?

[Admin Al]

so no cams at that time? just nuts & hexes?

[strandman]

Cams !?  I barely knew what a full length sling was (still don't). We had maybe 4-5 hexes , a few wires and  maybe 20 biners total. Back then a "quickdraw" was some 9/16" webbing doubled over. Remember Titons ?

[frik]

So in other words you had a normal 70's rack. Sometimes when i get on a route i think how did we not all die back then.

[strandman]

 
 I was pretty cool thought with a 165' rope, not a 150' ! just think- cams, wired rocks and Rp's all came out over a very short period, not even 2 years. And of course a real change, I think was when John Bouchard gave us some sewn slings ! What a breakthrough. maybe '81

[smartpig]

Anyone identify the boots Sal is wearing.  Rich and I climbed with him 'cause he could afford all the gear.  I don't believe he climbed much after 1978!

[strandman]

I guessing RR's the old blue wonders with a STEEL shank. Even I never had these, but I remember Al Rubin wore them a lot. These were also popular before EB's.

[smartpig]

That would be corectomundo!

[OldEric]

I guessing RR's the old blue wonders with a STEEL shank. Even I never had these, but I remember Al Rubin wore them a lot. These were also popular before EB's.

Ha - I first did Sliding Board in RR's - try that.  And El Cap twice.

9/16 tape "quick draws" were called hero loops - mainly for tieing off bottomed out pins - remember that?

[smartpig]

Vasque ascenders was my first climbing shoe because they were $25 from the long gone hiking store in Keene, NY!  EBs were about $60 in 1978?

[Jeff]

I bought my first of 2 pairs of RR blue boots in '69 from "Jim" the then ranger at the Gunks who sold gear out of his ranger truck--also bought a Bell climbing helmet from him as well as enough one inch sling material to make two 4 step aiders which we tied up as we walked to the Northern Pillar area to do my first aid climb, up the arete left of N. Pillar  ( senior moment has stolen it's name). 7/16 goldline was of course our choice; it is likely that we had a Moac chock and a few Clog hexes but we were well equipped with Chouinard lost arrows and angles.

[strandman]

Ha - I first did Sliding Board in RR's - try that.  And El Cap twice.

9/16 tape "quick draws" were called hero loops - mainly for tieing off bottomed out pins - remember that?

Ya Eric, but you did El Cap with Harding right ! ? Willie wore sneakers on Sliding Board.
You know why they were called hero loops ? 'Cause in RR's you needed to to pull up on the pins ! And I used 1/2"- 9/16 was too girly