The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
004.2007.1
CAMP Monta Rosa Ice Axe
21/11/2007
Maxine Willett
21/11/2007
CAMP Monta Rosa Ice axe, steel head, wooden shaft, serrated pick, adze, pointed spike on ferrule.
Steel, wood
30.4 (w) x 60.3 (l) x 7.7 (d) cm
1
“D. CN. & FD on points of a diamond with “CAMP” inside.
Circle with mountain logo inside and “INTERALP”
“MADE IN ITALY”
Grey, brown
CAMP
Italy
CAMP(fortunately) is short for Conception of Articles for Mountaineering made in Premana which is in Italy and where a blacksmith, Nicola Codega, diversified a little from making agricultural tools in 1889 and started making ice axes.
His descendants are still making them 120 years later along with lots of other gear and they also produce gear ‘ on licence’ for other folk.
The Monta Rosa axe we have here in the collection dates from the 1960’s and belonged to John Hinde who, among many other mountaineering exploits, was a member and for many years a leader of various RAF Mountain Rescue Teams - a gentleman of the mountains.
Just about every mountaineer had a wooden shafted axe in the 1960’ and many were adapted to deal with advancing techniques; this one has been shortened a little to make it handier for climbing steep ice.
John’s daughter, Fiona, kindly gave us the axe when John headed off for the greater ranges.
Donated by Fiona Wild
01/12/2006
Fair, rusty metalwork
21/11/2007
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
28/04/2009