059: Don Lauria- Don founded one of the first outdoor stores in Southern California, West Ridge Sports. He also has a prolific rock climbing career. In this episode he tells us tells us his favorite Norman Clyde story and much more.
This episode is with my good friend, Bishop legend and renowned climber Don Lauria. Don is a retired engineer, lives in Bishop, and is the editor and CFO for the Bardini Foundation. He made the third ascent of the Dihedral Wall (1967), the second ascent of the North America Wall (1968), and the second ascent of the Wall of the Early Morning Light (1971), frequently climbing with Dennis Hennek. In this episode we talk about his store West Ridge Sports and much more.
Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show NotesThis episode is with my good friend, Bishop legend and renowned climber Don Lauria. Don is a retired engineer, lives in Bishop, and is the editor and CFO for the Bardini Foundation. He made the third ascent of the Dihedral Wall (1967), the second ascent of the North America Wall (1968), and the second ascent of the Wall of the Early Morning Light (1971), frequently climbing with Dennis Hennek. In this episode we talk about his store West Ridge Sports and much more.
First Exposure to the Outdoors
I was an engineer at North American Aviation back in the early 60s and a friend of mine asked me if I'd like to go backpacking. I'd never been backpacking, I didn't even know what the word really meant. I'd never been in the Sierra and that's where he wanted to go so I went. I didn't own any equipment, didn't have a pack and there weren't any packs back then, this is 1957. So there wasn't much available, Kelty certainly wasn't available so I made my first pack frame out of wood. The guy that asked me to go was an engineer and he had already designed a wooden pack frame. He gave me the plans and I just went home and cut it out and put it together. I went to an army surplus store and found some kind of a canvas bag that sort of fit the frame and sort of nailed it on. We went up to Big Pine Creek to The Third Lake and spent the weekend. I enjoyed myself so much so that I went again the next summer.
Things we talked about
Stony Point
The Sierra Club
West Ridge Sports (Mountaineering)
Yvonn Chouinard
Doug Tompkins
George Marx
Bob Swanson
Jim Thomsen
Greg Thomsen
Royal Robbins
60/40 Parka
Yosemite
Dennis Hennek
Tony Puppo
Chris Iverson
Todd Vogel
Eastside Sports
Allen Steck
Allan Bard
Norman Clyde
Best Gear Purchase under $100
a good rope
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