Welcome to Bigwalls.net, a repository of all things bigwall climbing.  

To contact John Middendorf, email is best.

Mechanical Advantage: Tools for the Wild Vertical Volume 1 and 2:

Between 2021-2023, I have been posting research articles on the historical tools and techniques of climbing on bigwallgear.com.

Below are links to PDF's of the compiled research (large files-tip: right click and select 'download file').  Print versions here.

*Mechanical Advantage: Tools for the Wild Vertical, Volume 1 (mostly European tools and techniques to the 1930s)

PRINT VERSION VOLUME 1 AVAILABLE FROM BLURB USA ($42)

*Mechanical Advantage: Tools for the Wild Vertical, Volume 2 (mostly North American tools and techniques to the 1930s)

PRINT VERSION VOLUME 2 AVAILABLE FROM BLURB USA ($58)

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Above: Portaledge evolution 2017-2020 (left: D4 full-size 2017, right: D4 Delta2p 2020). Pete Zabrok photo.