Sam Crymble was a Mountain Guide and Instructor at Scotland’s National Outdoor Centre, Glenmore Lodge, back in the 1970ss which is the era from which his axe comes. Ice climbing was evolving fast in those days and technology was struggling to keep up so improvisation was the name of the game. Pioneer climber, John Cunningham, was an instructor at ‘the Lodge’ in the 70s too, and his biographer, Jeff Connor sets the scene well:

“Most lodge personnel can pinpoint the start of the snow and ice front – pointing era almost exactly: the winters of 1970-71, when nights in the staff wing were made hideous by mysterious comings and goings and the sound of hammering into the small hours. It was a time when everyone’s favourite ice axe underwent a metamorphosis; first a softening by heat, then some bending and shaping to the required angle, followed by some tempering.”

Looks like Sam was softening, bending and shaping well into the small hours and we are delighted to have the result of his labours in our collection.