1972: WITH RAY JARDINE, TOPPING OUT ON THE DIAMOND

Here we are on Table Ledge just after finishing Curving Vine, the 4th ascent according to a note in my climbing log. Ray had been living in Boulder and we climbed regularly for a year or so, often doing the classic off-widths that Ray was a master of. We did second ascents of The Turnkorner and the Crack of Desperation as well as an early free ascent of the Crack of Fear. Ray went on to become famous by bringing active camming devices (known as “cams” today) to market as Friends around 1978. Greg Lowe probably invented the first spring-loaded cams a few years earlier and both guys should be credited with launching one of the greatest revolutions in climbing protection.