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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 12, 2007 - 11:16pm PT
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Scored on ebay - an old, new Gregory "Big Wally"! I've been wondering what I'd do when mine finally gave up the ghost only to be saved by the bell. Halelluha! I was told this was the last of a batch that had been purchased for a special forces team back when they were still making them. I love these packs...
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 12, 2007 - 11:17pm PT
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Nice. I designed that pack and the Black Crag when I worked there from like, 93-95.
There's a story behind it, of course.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 12, 2007 - 11:23pm PT
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Well, in that case I have to take my hat off to you as a designer. That has been the only pack I've been completely happy with ever since the day I bought the damn thing long ago - glad to have a replacement in the wings as the first one is finally giving out.
Do tell...
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 12, 2007 - 11:31pm PT
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Climbing and Rock and Ice came out with similar favorable reviews for this product in the same month.
I'm really glad you like the pack.
Ray
(but that's not the story)
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 12, 2007 - 11:38pm PT
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In fact, since discussing events regarding former employers is probably not in the best taste, I'm going to skip it.
Again, thanks for the compliment! I really appreciate it.
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couchmaster
climber
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Mar 13, 2007 - 12:20am PT
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Did you ever come out with the Grade VI version?
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 13, 2007 - 12:26am PT
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this is a really good question.
Michael Kennedy wanted one for one of his Alaskan adventures so I wanted to make sure the thing worked. I built it, took it to the valley and had a friend (bigger than me) use it on an ascent of the prow - I carried 2 Big Wallys. The pack worked great.
That's the end of the story.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 13, 2007 - 12:34am PT
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This one was a step towards Big Wally.
Major political drama here too - exhausting - even the color (now in vogue) created conniptions.
Also some basic confusion regarding the difference between mass and density (not knowing the difference?) by someone with the initials YC.
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Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
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Mar 13, 2007 - 12:39am PT
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raydog. WTF!
your political inability to kiss your bosses ass resulted in years, yes f*#kin years, of us climbers with substandard products?
you dont sound like a f*#k so it mite of been your bosses...
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 13, 2007 - 12:45am PT
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I love my work and have always found it easy and you know - that alone might have been hard for them to take.
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Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
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Mar 13, 2007 - 12:51am PT
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well. ok. and not to diss on A5. they had some good sh#t. but paks was not one of them. i bought one of their first astro packs. great idea? NO! in order to haul the f*#ker you had to turn it inside out. so cruising up the NIAD i was supposed to turn it inside out when i wanted it in pack mode?
A5 had some great products and i supported them. but packs was not their strong point.
some designers were before their time. you sound like one of them. hope you are still at it....
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 13, 2007 - 12:53am PT
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Thanks.
I'm still at it.
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johnboy
Trad climber
Can't get here from there
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Mar 13, 2007 - 01:17am PT
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Healyje;
How much did you give for that on Ebay?
Very nice product raydog.
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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Mar 13, 2007 - 01:32am PT
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Raydog, believe me, I resemble your pain! Keep on truckin', trucker...Great designs!
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 13, 2007 - 01:32am PT
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Thanks jonboy (edit and Jello)
Below, the first utility pack I designed in 1979.
Note how the back of this completely frameless pack looks like the human back - it has the same shape.
Now, look around at what's out there today...are these packs really designed to fit, ya know, like a glove?
Remember this anatomic block was the product of a no-name geek in a garage in Imperial Beach.
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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Mar 13, 2007 - 01:40am PT
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Looks like a form-fit to me, Ray.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 13, 2007 - 01:45am PT
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$51.00 - Deal of the Century as far as I'm concerned...
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 13, 2007 - 01:49am PT
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Yeah that is a good price.
That Ballistics cloth is from a US mill and was pretty expensive
even then.
The name of this thread just floors me with it's irony - thanks.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 13, 2007 - 02:10am PT
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Wait - someone else deserves credit here.
That pack was built in Gregory's Temecula plant run By Bob Rudolph - the former production manager/construction engineer for Wilderness Experience in Chatsworth.
He's the reason my design turned out so well - was so faithfully reproduced as a product.
Last I heard he was in Santa Barbara working for JANDD, hope he's doing well.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 13, 2007 - 11:24am PT
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Does anybody have the review of Big Wally published in Rock and Ice? This was around 93/4.
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