Purchased for pennies at Boulder Sports Recycler – this piton is a small part of climbing history. Its substantial weight offers reassurance of its durability while also giving one pause to consider what it might be like to have dozens of them hanging off your belt as you ascend into the sky.
‘Change Creator - Lessons for a Sustainable Life by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard" [Source]
“Chouinard and his friends, following in the footsteps of transcendentalists like Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Muir, believed they should climb the mountains but leave no trace behind. Pitons should not be used once and left wedged into rock.”
'The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection' [Source]
“A bong is basically a big piton. 'Bongs' take their name from the noise they make when you are banging them into a crack. They were really an American thing, designed to fit in the big, wide, granite cracks of Yosemite (circa 1960) Someone finally realised you could stuff your hand in a crack that size and climb it without a bong. Later, someone came along and invented large camming devices which did the job better so bongs became history.
About Chouinard Equipment
In 1989, facing liability challenges, the company filed for bankruptcy. Its assets were acquired by Black Diamond Equipment, which continues to carry on its legacy. Yvon Chouinard later founded Patagonia, which focuses on eco-conscious outdoor apparel and gear. This reflects his enduring commitment to environmental stewardship and adventure.
