What's the story?
Long, long ago I developed an interest in rappelling and ascending devices. At that time, I made the decision to collect one of each device so that I could compare how well they worked. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. I've spend a fair amount of time and money collecting things that really have no real monetary value, and have decided to show some of what I have here. Click here for a quick glance at my collection.
This site is a hobby, not a business. I don't sell anything listed in this site, so please don't send me catalog requests or equipment orders.
Please
check
out:
I'm always looking for
additions.
If you have something that I'm missing and are willing to donate
or deal,
please email
me.
This site is a hobby and a service to the vertical community, not a business. Each of the devices on these pages is part of my personal collection. I've used these in a variety of situations caving and climbing, and have formed some opinions of how well each device works for me. I hope that some of the information here is useful to others, but please remember, your needs may be different than mine. I don't run into burning buildings to jump out the windows, I don't play Tarzan of the jungle, and I don't interfere with natural selection. I have no objection to anyone doing these things, but I don't have those forms of experience. If you do any of these, you should form your own opinions.
I do not sell anything listed in this site.
Please don't send me catalog requests or equipment orders.
Yahoo!
I had a discussion area, but some people couldn't act like adults. I put up with personal ads, solicitations, and some indecent comments. Then, one subhuman started running a "denial of service" attack against my site. So I closed my site discussion area, and set up a monitored Yahoo! newsgroup where we can provide access to the majority who are decent people and curb access for the rare few who are not. It's running now, check it out:
Cueva del Altar, Mexico
Don't Die!
I'm not writing an instruction manual, and it's your responsibility to get proper training before using any rappelling, ascending, belaying or other climbing device. Vertical work is dangerous and nothing short of complete abstinence can make it completely safe. I'm still alive after 40 years of a vertical lifestyle, but far too many former friends who are not. Don't even think about learning anything from an internet web site. Remember, natural selection works, and it's forever.
Special Thanks
- To Olivier Peron Caillet for donating a Cassin Twin, New Alp Ring, and Fixe Tapir, and for sending me several new knots.
- To R. C. Wild, for sending me an SFD 8 and keeping me up to date on the Canyoneering community.
- To the "Tree Man" for welcoming me to the arborist community.
- To everyone who helped me set up and tear down my collection ath the 2007 NSS Convention, and to all those who donated vertical equipment.
What's New?
I did a lot of work on the site in the first half of 2007, getting ready for the 2007 NSS Convention. Afterward, I was a bit worn out, and then I was busy traveling on business at the end of the year, so I did not make any changes in the last half of 2007. The last major upgrade in 2007 was to update the Collection at a Glance Area to show my equipment display at the 2007 NSS Convention. It was a while before I had the time and energy to return to the site, but in early 2008 I made one of my largest single site updates ever. Enjoy all of the new information.
The collection is nearing the 1100 item mark, counting a few duplicates, and continues to grow. I bought a milling machine in 2004, and a larger lathe in 2006, now I make new devices as time permits. Some of these are my own designs, others are copies of old, unattainable items, and some are patented items that never saw production. I hope you find these interesting.
Go to the Changes: Past and Future page to see what's new.
Just the FAQs
- Many people around the world send me email about this site. I love receiving these, and encourage anyone who has questions or comments to do so, but first, if it is a general comment that should be shared, consider using the Discussion Area instead.
- Collecting all this stuff is expensive and I welcome donations. In general I don't trade devices out of the collection unless I have accidentally acquired duplicates - if I traded my collection away, then I wouldn't be able to share everything with all my readers. Sometimes I can work a deal where I trade new equipment obtained through a third party.
- Many things on this site are no longer available. If you can't easily find something from your local suppliers or through an internet search, the odds are that I can't either. If you ask, I'll try, but please make the effort yourself before you ask me.
- I hold and maintain a copyright for the contents of this site. If you have your own site, you may provide a link from your site to mine. If you want to quote short excerpts (online or elsewhere), that is fine with me, provided you credit this site as the source. Some people use my site information to describe things that they list on eBay. If you do, (1) please verify that everything you say is true, since I describe the one in my hands, not the one in yours (I've seen errors), and (2) please credit my site as the source of your information. If you want to use this information for any commercial purpose whatsoever, you must ask me first.
- Sometimes I make mistakes. If you spot a factual mistake, please tell me and I will try to fix it. If it is merely a difference of opinion, then I will consider your views, and I might even put them on this site. You might change my views, but you might not. If you don't and continue to disagree, you can put your opinion on your own web site with no hard feelings from me.
Where did I get these?
Can't find it?
What's changing?
You are visitor 119347 since August 17, 1999
Last Modified on March 23, 2008
©2008, Gary D. Storrick
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