Those Crazy Eighties

Climbers and boulderers (there really wasn't such a thing back then) had a penchant for fashion in the 1980s that surpassed any other climbing era. Although their eye for fashion may have been blind, their eye for classic problems was definitely 20/20. Here are some photos from this era. If you have any photos from the 80s (or earlier), please e-mail us.


Paul Lembeck on a V4ish problem at the beach at Castle Rock in Marblehead, circa 1983.
Photograph from the Lembeck collection.


Paul Lembeck on a V0 at Puffer's Pond near UMass at Amherst, circa 1984.
Photograph from the Lembeck collection.


John "Whitey" McLean bouldering at Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree in 1986. Notice the chalkbag, possibly the precursor to the currently in-style chalkpots. Photograph by Ed Sewall.


Ed Sewall bouldering on the west side of Mount Tom in Arcadia State Park in southern Rhode Island in September of 1987. Photograph from the Sewall collection.


Ed Sewall on Venom, 5.10 at Snake Den in Johnston, Rhode Island circa 1987. Photograph from the Sewall collection.


Paul Lembeck on the 5.10 traverse at Rattlesnake Gutter circa 1982. This was the standard outfit for a winter bouldering session at that time. Paul told us that him and his buddys rode their bikes 7 miles and dealth with knee deep snow to get this session in. Glad to see the dedication was there, back in the day. Photograph from the Lembeck collection.

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