Chouinard has long been something of a personal inspiration. - Early advocate of Clean climbing - All around dirtbag hero and hardman (numerous FAs in the val

Chouinard has long been something of a personal inspiration. - Early advocate of Clean climbing - All around dirtbag hero and hardman (numerous FAs in the valley, the bugaboos, patagonia, the gunks) - blacksmith, who made and used his own tools to climb. - by all appearances a bullheaded guy on ethics and best practices: “ The whole purpose of planning something like Everest is to effect some sort of spiritual and physical gain and if you compromise the process, you’re an asshole when you start out and you’re an asshole when you get back.“ As it happens, the companies he founded or was involved in make very nice gear and i’m happy to own an ethically appropriate amount of it. Preferably preowned, and repaired instead of replaced.