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This is our ten year catalog. For those of you who don't know us here's a quick look.

Titoune was born and grew up in Chamonix. Her family has been involved with climbing for over a century. I was born in the U.S. and started climbing through a picture book on Chamonix I got for Christmas when I was eleven. I aways knew I wanted to climb more than anything so when I was old enough I went to a French university because the course load was light and the Alps were close. Titoune moved to the U.S. in the early seventies because she liked the American lifestyle. We climbed seriously in the Alps during the seventies, climbing most of the big walls, a couple of new routes, and doing the occasional solo. In the late seventies I realized guiding was not for me so I had to figure another way to earn a living with climbing. So after years of studying physical sciences and Romance languages, I went to business school for an MBA.

"Titoune and I met on a Chamonix expedition to Peru in 1977. I like to say that I met her in a South American bar, which is true, except that the bar was in a hotel where the team linked up. It was an exciting time, for we were doing difficult new routes alpine style, which was not customary."

I finished school while Titoune worked in a climbing shop and a clothing factory; we were married in 1979. I lost my mind and did a ten month stint with a Big 8 CPA firm. I regained it on an Alaskan expedition during the two week annual vacation they gave me and I returned to the world of climbing.

We started the company in 1981 with one sewing machine and a typewriter. Our goal was to make lightweight gear that was unavailable for climbing. We coined the now often used expression "Light is Right" in our 1983 catalog in an often-studied essay entitled "Light is Right." We chose North Conway for very simple reasons; it is surrounded by wonderfully varied rock climbs which in the winter give excellent training for the mountains; New England has serious work ethic; there is a resident population of good climbers to help us develop our products; and it is close to a major airport.

In the years that followed, we managed to climb a few walls in Yosemite and the South Face of Aconcagua, make several trips to Canyonlands, take one trip to the Himalaya, and return many times to the Alps. Each time, we created and modified equipment we needed. We also worked and climbed with some quite unusual though gifted people. We developed sewn slings, chalk bags, lightweight climbing packs, bivvy bags, and high altitude suits.

In 1986 I learned about paragliding and spent the next five years learning to fly; I view paragliding as a mountain sport like skiing and climbing. During this time, I won one National Championship, captained two World Teams, and last year ranked second in cross country flying.

In 1989, like many other companies we were victims of a lawsuit. Rather than settle, as so many experts in the industry urged, we fought as hard as we could to the very end. The Phyrric victory for the plaintiff sent a signal to the rest of our industry to never give up. Now, resistance seems the general response. Without this attitude, there will never be equipment innovation in our sport.

Our manufacturing philosophy is to make the gear light and simple to help every climber achieve his personal best. Our climbing philosophy is that all types of climbing are more similar that not and that within climbing there is a great unifying ideal of boldness and commitment tempered with a reverence for nature.

Stay Wild. Share Wild.