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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 9, 2018 - 06:23pm PT
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What happened to them? Bought a chalk bag there around 1984. Loved that bag. Who ran it?
It was a small shop in Bishop.
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Capt.
climber
some eastside hovel
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I worked there at the end. Six or so years I guess. I can't say what the full reason was that Allan decided to close up shop. Hell,it was probably me. I can say it's hella hard to make a go of it in the sewn goods industry in Bishop. Allan did pretty well for a long time though.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Allan Pietrasanta.
IIRC, he started out making covers for computer monitors and keyboards and related stuff, then migrated into haul bags and etc. I used one of his haul bags when I guided a couple of Navy SEALs up Astroman, in 1982. Technically, that might've been considered merely the East Face route of Washington Column, because we used one bivouac. They needed to climb a wall, I led it all free, with those guys on jugs.
Point being, this was the first time I saw a haul bag with offset straps, so that one of them could be clipped to the tie-in knot with a carabiner, offering easy access to the bag. I just thought it was a factory second, with mismatched straps! So I tied both straps straight into the knot, and the thing hung crooked all the way up. Ha ha. Some guide. The haul bag was loaned to me by Alan Roberts, who sewed for Buttermilk.
Allan Pietrasanta was good friends with the late Allan Bard, Dale Bard's brother. In searching Pietrasanta's name just now, and in learning the fact of their first names matching, I'm guessing that's why AB, the easy handle which Bard's friends used to use for him, often called Pietrasanta "AP". Since both of their first names have a somewhat rare spelling, I'm thinking that's why Bard, in a friendly gesture of solidarity, extended that same acronym style nickname to his friend. It was almost like a running joke between them. Now I think I understand why!
It's like a story of three Allan's here, if only Roberts had spelled his name that way ...
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Check out his LinkedIn page:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-pietrasanta-28593496
Owner
ABCOM-Buttermilk Mountain Works
October 1983 – August 2003 19 years 11 months
And now, before I collapse from overworking the theme, here is an entry in the American Alpine Journal, made by Alan Bartlett, for a route he did with Allan Pietrasanta:
And here's an entry on the previous page by the late Jack Roberts, for a route he did with Alan Roberts in the High Sierra:
 Now we've got four Als, and two Roberts!
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
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Knew this lady that lived in Round Valley and sewed for AP....I remember the computer covers now that Tar jogged my memory...Where was Buttermilk Work's headquarters...?
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Bishop?
According to John TP. And that's what I remember.
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Capt.
climber
some eastside hovel
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Yup, Bishop. Same building as Mahogany Smoked Meats on N Sierra Hwy/395.
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F10
Trad climber
Bishop
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F10
Trad climber
Bishop
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there, say, neat share, johntp...
say, sent you a card... a bit late...
my 'work' here is well underway to a good start...
also, hey there say, to tarbuster and f10 ...
:)
happy good eve!
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Hugs, Neebee!
Good job, F10.
Now who's holding some of his other stuff?
BMW. Now that's a sly and auspicious acronym to saddle up with.
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Capt.
climber
some eastside hovel
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Nov 10, 2018 - 05:54am PT
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Nov 10, 2018 - 08:49am PT
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Yes, Capt., that rainbow webbing was a theme.
Allan also liked to work with a dark blue ballistics nylon.
I don't thing I've ever seen AP post up here on the Taco.
I bet he could share some stuff?
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curt wohlgemuth
Social climber
Bay Area, California
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Nov 10, 2018 - 10:10am PT
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In summer 1981, I worked with Allan at Max's sporting goods shop on Main St, across from Joseph's BiRite. He was a quiet get-it-done sort of guy, a friendly dude who never tooted his own horn. My eyes would go wide when he'd occasionally tell me of his skiing and climbing exploits.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
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Nov 10, 2018 - 10:21am PT
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I remember Max... Cool , fiery little guy.. Wonder what became of him...?
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Nov 10, 2018 - 10:30am PT
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Allan came to the Oakdale Festival this year so I suspect that he checks in here now and then.
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 10, 2018 - 06:12pm PT
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Thanks folks. Been on an overnight road trip through the backroads in the Ozarks. Gettin' chilly here. Could sworn they were on west line, but seems Capt. knows the deal. Didn't know Alan was one of the proprietors.
BMW. Now that's a sly and auspicious acronym to saddle up with.
I thought it was pretty clever.
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10b4me
Social climber
Lida Junction
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Nov 10, 2018 - 09:06pm PT
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Allan Pietrasanta was good friends with the late Allan Bard, Dale Bard's brother. He also worked at PSOM with the late John Fischer.
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 10, 2018 - 09:14pm PT
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Allan Pietrasanta.
Met him once at some mid-mountain chalet on Mammoth over beers. A far distant memory. He is well know among the old school east siders.
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Jamesthomsen
Social climber
Mammoth Lakes, California
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Nov 11, 2018 - 12:28pm PT
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I see Allan every couple of months. He is the sales manager of a stationery distributor headquartered in Bishop.
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