Here’s an excellent series of long articles, photos and diagrams of climbing history in Europe and North America, by American big wall expert and product designer John Middendorf.

Excellent writing and historical photos, highly recommended!

On your first visit, you can click the “Subscribe” button on the right side of the webpage to get free updates to this ongoing series.

John has more articles than what’s below, so check the archive section of his website, bigwallgear.com to see all of them.

(For details on his product design and portaledges, go to bigwalls.net)

• Climbing Tools and Techniques—1908 to 1939 (Europe, Part A) Myths and Legends

• Climbing Tools and Techniques—early North American Developments to 1910

• 1930s Climbing Tools (Europe, Part C)

• Trains and Kain (Canada climbing to 1916, part 1)

• Trains and Kain (Canada climbing history, part 2)

Below are a few screen grabs from some of the terrific illustrations.

Did you know early forms of carabiners were used by climbers as early as 1890? I didn’t.