Does anybody remember an old climbing mag 'the thing'? Probably Vertebrate Graphics first publication. Bit of a long shot maybe. A mate of mine has a few and they are simply brilliant, old skool p**s takes. Internet turned up nothing though.
In reply to Hans: Given that these were never produced in great numbers and that they had a very homemade feel to them, I would really like to see the back catalogue published online somewhere as a permanent record. Someone out there must have a full set. Not sure what permissions would be required but I would like to think that the copyright owner would see the value in having them online.
In reply to Hans: Remember it well. Good stuff. The last throes of independent climbing writing. Irreverent, couldn't give a f*ck about the corporate takeover of climbing by the capitalist class kind of shit. Anarchic. Like climbing used to be. And still is. In my head, anyway.
lostcat06 Oct 2013
In reply to Chambers: Agree! Was there a mag called Hubble before this? Pre internet they were of the old school fan-zine type things.
In reply to Chambers: totally agree. It's all a bit tame these days isn't it? All the routes in guidebooks very accurate and clear. When I started at Tremadog, the routes started 'by a boulder in the trees' lol. Apparently the same trend has happened in caving guides though I know very little about the sport.
Nothing wrong with a bit of tongue in cheek humour.
In reply to Hans:
There were 9 issues all together although issue 7 was actually an issue of On the Edge (it wasn't really but they said it was). I also have "The Thing" T-shirt.
> (In reply to Chambers)
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> Which corporate takeover of climbing by the capitalist class was that? There's been a few, surely. Which era are you referring to?
Well, what I'm talking about is the process of commercialisation that has been going on since the early eighties and has now almost completely reduced the art of rock-climbing to an emasculated sport that generates revenue through being so bland. Anyone can do it, these days, and almost everyone has.
In reply to Hans:
Somewhere I have the excellent 'Well Scary Purple Issue', #4-ish. If I remember rightly, in it is a review of the latest all-terrain sandals - 'OK on most surfaces; crap for glacier travel'...
I feel it exploited climbers for cheep gratification and hence belittled them; I mean, encouraging something that might become a dysfunctional role model, by the ill informed, for removing all body parts that didnt assist with climbing: should have been banned !
I remember a great piece about Sheffield cellar life with someone complaining that they were even weaker than the Cornish Pasty (Shane Ohly, I think) and he was 40% potato!
> Anyone can do it, these days, and almost everyone has.
Ah. So something that made you feel special, via your own brand of elitism, has been taken away from you? That appears to be what you are saying, without me exaggerating or twisting your words. Personally I think it is lovely that "anyone can do it".
