Top rope climbing in the 1970s

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Top rope climbing in the 1970s

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Old climbing buddies of mine, during their continuing canoe and road trip in Canada, sent this historic post card image of five top rope climbers and their belayers for our web. This looks like the group we always tried to find at the crags in Southern California during the 1970s. I am sure they are not part of the notorious East Coast pioneer rock climbing Club, "The Vulgarians", because of their total modesty in front of the camera. Note that in the 70's bolts are no where to be seen; the top ropes were set from the top of the cliff and the routes look rather basic. They do not have chalk bags because they are climbing "clean", very popular at the time.

However, they do have harnesses and hats. Read more about harnesses in the 1972 Chouinard Catalog where they were first introduced to America
--On Belay! Bob Speik

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