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Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Aug 18, 2010 - 02:04am PT
There is an article in the new Rock & Ice (#188) about Tom Frost and his photography, by Cory Rich. Including many photos of Frost's not previously published, and the story behind the photos. Well worth a look.

Frost's story is that they were preparing for the second ascent of the Nose, in 1960, when Bill "Furror" (Feuerer) stopped by and handed his Leica to Tom, saying "You'll want it." So the photo of Pratt and Robbins with the gear was the first photograph that Frost ever took.

"Furror". There should be a furore about such ignorance.
Wayno

Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
Aug 18, 2010 - 02:37am PT
I went climbing with Ghost today at Index and he was making fun of my baby rucksack. I said, "hey, at least it's a Dolt pack." I don't know how many years I've had it, but it's still working fine.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Aug 18, 2010 - 04:55am PT
Uhhh,

> He had zero Dolt pins or hooks.

Probably a misunderstanding or a technicality - in 2007 Steve posted a photo of his Dolt "Non-piton?" (nut tool):
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=468503&tn=20

A couple of weeks ago, my partner needed to place a fixed pin on a new route, in one of those spots where the crack goes straight down and a nut doesn't work. He had been short on Lost Arrows, but found some deal on ebay where a guy sold him a quantity of Long Dongs at a good price. He just cut 'em off with a bandsaw - now they are good pitons! :-)

I sort of feel sorry for Marty; I think he was just trying to say that he's a "serious collector"; that your stuff was desired and would be appreciated. I guess it backfired and maybe it looked like the stuff would be lost in the volume of his collection. Of course, I'm sure Steve appreciates it, too, so I'm not saying it is an easy decision to make.

I guess I wonder - is there a "right" way for a person to state their interest in an item? Would it work to say something like "I have been looking for a [Dolt Cobra?] for [20?] years, and I would really like to have a chance to bid on it. My starting bid would be [$300?]" Or does it kind of backfire? I suppose ultimately, even if you are the high bidder, it does not mean you would appreciate it the most; it might just mean you have more spare cash than the rest of the bidders. And I think Marty may have been at a disadvantage because he doesn't post as much on supertopo as Steve does.
BooDawg

Social climber
On the Road, Pacific Slope
Aug 18, 2010 - 09:55am PT
Clint, I appreciate and take to heart your perspective and Marty's. Part of the campfire is about building relationships. I don't think there is a "right" way to express interest in another's possessions that will work for everyone and how they relate to each other. I remain open to Marty's desires as I tried to make clear. Had I been going to AZ, and had other conditions been more favorable, Marty might have some of what he covets. That door is not closed, but he has a better sense of what will work for me now. As I said, I'm actually a generous guy, but relationships have to work in two directions. Thank you for your comments; I always appreciate your presence here on S.T.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Aug 18, 2010 - 07:42pm PT
Ken- Would you take a guess at the start and end dates of production for the delicate eye shape like yours. You mentioned elsewhere that yours were a early run when you went up on the eighth ascent of the Nose.
BooDawg

Social climber
On the Road, Pacific Slope
Aug 18, 2010 - 08:42pm PT
Guessing the beginning date of the production run is easier than guessing the end. Don and I did the Nose in March of 1967, so my guess is that it these pins began to be made in Jan. or Feb. of '67 because upon further reflection on your & my conversations, Bill Dolt brought a bunch of the newly minted pegs to West Ridge and asked us to take them up the nose to test them. That partly answers your question to me about why I even had some when they were so expensive compared to L.A.'s.

I think the best way to get the beginning of the production of the new-improved design would be to puruse Dolt's ads in Summit and see when the new DoltPeg designs appear. Don or others may have a better way to guess this than I.

Edit: Checking Clint's link to your Steve's earlier posting which was Oct. 22, 1967 shows that Dolt changed the design almost immediately following our ascent of the Nose, probably based on the information we gained about how the early model performed on our climb.

We only brought back 4 pegs that we'd actually pounded on up on the Nose which were the ones which he had gold-plated. I cannot find mine and haven't heard whether Don still has the one that Dolt gave to him. A very few of us have insights into where the other 2 now lie, but these 4 would be the rarest of the rare.

Edit 2: I just spoke with Don, and he has no recollection of the gold-plated DoltPegs, nor does he believe that he even has any DoltPegs at all in his possession. But he DOES HAVE an old box of hardware that he hasn't looked at in many years that we can look at when I visit him over Labor Day. Should be a fun time!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Aug 18, 2010 - 10:39pm PT
Shouldn't be too hard to spot a gold plated Dolt piton!

Thanks for the background. I will try to sort out the ads.

Don will be with you in a minute! From Summit October 1966.

Classic Dolt photo of Powell pioneering the Stovelegs. From Summit July/August 1966.
karabin museum

Trad climber
phoenix, az
Aug 21, 2010 - 01:10am PT
BooDawg, I am not after your gear, and I am sorry that I have somehow got you upset. You have many fun words to describe me, but all I was asking for was a photo. I have searched for 20+ years for anything about Dolt to preserve in a future museum or create a book about his life. I feel that the contributions that Dolt made to American climbing is beyond special and needs to be preserved. I am not hording the Dolt, just trying to get it to somewhere whom builds a museum. If the Yosemite Museum was not traveling this stuff would already be on display. Go Chicken Skinner Go!

Your gear is special and I don't need any of your gear, just a photo of your Dolt Nut Tool Holder would be sweet since so far you have the only evidence of its existence. If possible please post it on this thread to add to this amazing body of history.

Have tons of fun on your vacation!

Marty
karabin museum

Trad climber
phoenix, az
Aug 21, 2010 - 01:11am PT
But Steve,............You are still a Dog! :)
Dolt advertised his 3 Cobra hooks in Summit Mag dec issue 1968 page 28, then April 1970 summit mag page 33 states "SIXTY COBRAS ON MY BENCH, Which one is for a pretty wench? DOLT"
So this evidence shows there are at least 63 Cobra hooks in existence.


Marty
karabin museum

Trad climber
phoenix, az
Aug 21, 2010 - 01:48am PT
Chicken Skinner, I got your/this photo from the Salathe Thread. This is a photo of John Salathes bolts he used on routes. I believe that the spoon end pick looking thing on the right side of the photo is a Dolt bolt hole scraper. It is shown with the hammers, first scraper, lower left corner in the Dolt 1958 catalog

Rock on! Marty
Wayno

Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
Aug 21, 2010 - 01:50am PT
So how well did these hooks actually work? They seem great for some pockets or for ledges, but seem sketch for some sloping stuff that I have come across.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Aug 21, 2010 - 02:03am PT
The Cobra page from Summit December 1968. I posted as Mimi previously...


They would have worked as well as most until the Logan hook came along.
guido

Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
Aug 21, 2010 - 11:07am PT
Hey Marty!

After some internal debate, I decided to leave the Dolt Nut Tool in Hawaii, but I'll get you the photos that you seek. You'll just have to wait until Mid-Sept.

Just so you know, I'm not upset with you, and I DO appreciate your motivations and your efforts in collecting both the gear and the history.

Rock on! Ken
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Aug 21, 2010 - 11:10am PT
Where are you guys? Sailing back up this way for some killer sushi?!?

Edit- Stuck in RBII. LOL
mastadon

Trad climber
quaking has-been
Aug 21, 2010 - 02:42pm PT

Two minutes on a buffer brought it from used to shiny. His pitons and hooks are like pieces of art and I wish I had more of his stuff.

Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Aug 21, 2010 - 04:28pm PT
Do you recall where and when you picked up that piton?
mastadon

Trad climber
quaking has-been
Aug 21, 2010 - 05:42pm PT

Check your email....
Ken

Trad climber
Arroyo Grande
Aug 22, 2010 - 04:07pm PT
Dolt shipping box (with Dolt packing tape)
Dolt hangars (1 Leeper)
Chouinard holster
unknown holster
Hammerdactyl (Porter crafted after return from Scotland)


(
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Aug 22, 2010 - 04:58pm PT
No question that the Dolt was fired up about his impending horizontals!

From Summit in April of 1967-Year of the Dolt! I love it.


The exhaustive hammer holster ad from Summit January February 1967-YOD...LOL!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Aug 28, 2010 - 06:54pm PT
A classic Dolt photo of Mark Powell leading the traverse off Texas Flake.
From Summit April 1959.

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