Merry Christmas and see ya next year!

Thanks for the skate board Santa!!

Thanks for all the orders and hopefully they have all arrived in time to get under the tree.  There is no more time to make and ship orders for Christmas, so please don't beg.  Orders not needed for Christmas are always welcome, but your confirmation email might be a bit late since we are going to be out of town until after the New Year.  See ya in Twenty-Eleven, hopefully with all sorts of new goodies and a new and improved FISH web site.  Keep checking back here for a launch date.

Do you FLAG your ledge??

I've posted this Q over on SuperTopo, but you can answer here as well.  These were the questions:

How many people actually flag their ledge these days?

How many flagged ledges do you voyeurs see up on El Cap, as a percentage of total ledges seen?

And if you don't, why don't you flag your ledge?


Thanks for any feedback. As for 2011 there is probably going to be some portaledge changes since the 2010 prototype ledges outfitted specifically for flagging were a big hit.
Let me know about it!


Here is some more info on flagging from Climbing Magazine:  Flagging your Ledge


Here is a previous blog post I made in May about ledge flagging and how it will damage your ledge.

Christmas!

Production schedule is pretty darn full.  If you wanted anything, you might have a couple more days to order, then lights out.

Orders not needed by 12/25 are still welcome.

D5 Hammer Production

photo by Vershke Group

At last, the cool new D5 hammers are freshly minted and ready to pound some iron!  This is the long running  (5 years from concept to fruition?) project from over on Supertopo.  All FISH did was tack up some slings, so toss out a big hand to Theron Moses, Joseph Healy, Conrad Anker and a bunch of other SuperTacoites that made it happen.
Here are links to the whole story:


Who's in?

Who's in II?

I want one list of people!

Actual hammer Production

Hammer Time announcement

You  can order your hammer right here from The Vershke Group

Closed for Thanksgiving

FISH will be closed for Thanksgiving starting today, and will back in action on Dec. 1st.

If you have any wild dreams of getting some FISH stuff under the tree for Christmas, I would suggest ordering right now.  There are already a bunch of Portaledge orders in here and production time is getting short.  The last day to order for Christmas delivery will probably be around Dec 10th.  After that all bets are off for getting your goods on time.

John "the Gambler" Rosholt has been found.

Johns remains have been recovered in Red Rocks.  Many posts, stories and pics can be found here on SuperTopo and over on Mountain Project.

Here is an article by Pete Takeda that will supply the back story and some history on John: The Gambler

Christmas Ordering

Now would be a good time to start thinking about getting your orders in for Christmas.  Usually the last shipping date for a Christmas delivery is about the 17th of December.  Since ledges are usually a multi-week affair to get manufactured and shipped, orders for any ledges should be in here by mid November.  Help us out and order early.  Every now and again we like to do Christmas too. Thanks!

Worldwide Tubing crunch!

It seems that all the 4130 in the world is either in Germany or Chicago, and they are holding on to it.  I just scored a few hundred feet from a steel mill here in Los Angeles, so if you are interested in getting a ledge in the near future, now would be a good time to order up.  This batch of tubing has been on order FOR MONTHS, and just arrived yesterday and is already being chopped for ledges.

Ledge parts are in!

The big news is our new supplier has cracked off a batch of Portaledge parts.  No easy feat.  It was looking like we would not have any parts to make ledges for many months unless we found a new machinist pronto.  All is well in Ledgeville.... Whew!

Big News on the horizon

We are still swamped and gagging, but.... hopefully good news soon.
Stay tuned!

Refurb Haul Bag for sale (SOLD)

I have a Deluxe Haul Bag that is just taking up space over here.  The story:  A couple of wall bailers sent it back as defective since there was a stitch low down on the bag that was missing.  They said they hauled it 2 pitches before bailing.  Obviously they had no idea on how to pack a haul bag since they totally smoked the collar closure and had some other suspect wear patterns on the bag.

So, I replaced the collar with a new one, fixed the stitching flaw and put some PlastiDip on the main haul strap bond areas.  Overall this bag is about a 8.5 or 9 on a scale of 1 to 10.  Yours for $99 plus shipping.

SORRY, THIS ITEM HAS SOLD!  KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR MORE DEALS

Saturation Point

FISH has reached a production saturation point.  What does that mean?  Well, the amount of orders in here exceeds the available hours to make the stuff and get it out to you guys that are going on vacation this summer.  So, if you want a ledge for this summer, you are probably out of luck.  If you want some trinkets, we can probably whip them up and get them out to you, but CHECK WITH US FIRST via email.  Anyone that already has an order in here is now our top priority. Your drop dead dates are in our current production schedule and slated for an on-time delivery.  Those that snoozed, loozed (is that a word??)

If things go well, we will be ready for the the Fall glut of orders.  If you want something for Fall, get your order in NOW.  If you want something for a June, July, or Aug delivery, you might be hosed.  If we ever catch up, this message will self destruct.

NEWS FLASH 9/1/10:  WE ARE STILL WAY BUSY BUT HAVE RECOVERED ENOUGH TO ACCEPT WHATEVER ORDERS YOU WANT TO TOSS IN HERE.  PLAN AHEAD FOR MAXIMUM PRODUCT ENJOYMENT.

Knot tip

A cool knot for securing a fixed line on something like the raps from the Heart or down from Sickle, or any two bolt anchor is the Double Figure 8.

It is fast and secure, and gives you two quasi equalizing "ears" to clip into the bolts.  Here is the link for a demo of how to tie the knot:  Double Fig. 8

Rappelling with a skinny trail line

There is a discussion going on over at SuperTopo that is directly related to a rappelling fatality in Yosemite last week. There are many posts on the technical aspects of rappelling with one lead line and one "pull" line of a small diameter, when the anchor consists of rap rings.

Petzl has a diagram of how they suggest a single line rap should be done.  Their method is safe enough to keep you alive, but it too has problems with the knot possibly getting through the rap rings and then becoming un-retrievable from below .  I've suggested that the clove hitch method be used and is the safest method available in this scenario.
The relevant technical posts start here in the thread.
There is some really good info in that thread and is worth your time to read it and understand it.
Clint Cummins has just added a great presentation of Yosemite style anchors and which rap set up will allow or not allow the knot to pop through the anchor rings.

FISH product instructions

The written instructions for things like Haul Bags and Portaledges are pretty well buried on our site in the Tech Weenie Pages.  Until the new site is up and running, they might be a bit easier to find right here.Listed below are PDF's of the instruction sheets that come with many of our items. If the item you need instructions for is not listed,please email us.

FISH Haul Bags, All models
FISH Atom Smashers, All models
FISH Portaledges, All models
FISH Hooks, All models
FISH Headmaster kits
FISH Bolting Gear

Yeah.... I get spam

How much more shank lengthening or Eastern Blok women do I really need? I mean c'mon... except for a few guys who spray on SuperTopo, who really needs this stuff? Here is about a months worth of junk email in the bin at the server. I understand that I have a bunch of email addresses associated with the biz and whatnot, but this seems ridiculous.

And this is just at the server level.  My desktop filters (I have 106 of them) pump down about 500 or more useless emails a month to the local trash bin.  Unreal...

Bail Sling Offer

From the Leave no Trace thread on SuperTaco.  This is an offer for 3 pieces of webbing that when knotted can be over the shoulder length slings.  You get one of each color, Yosemite gray, JT tan, and Red Rocks red.  Slings are 1" tubular nylon and are less visible than some of the tat described in the above thread.  Be a good doo-bee and order up a set to live in the bottom of your pack until needed. I hope the PayPal button works.  If not, just email us or order directly from your own PayPal sign-in. Cost is $5.00 total and includes shipping.

Colors

Yos, JT, RR mix all Yos

Yosemite Web Cams

Those Yosemite Web Cams sure are some sweet action!  Here is the link to the cams: http://www.yosemite.org/vryos/
I just happened to peek in a few minutes ago and this is what I saw:

The view, as Raymond Chandler would say, "is satisfactory".

Portaledge Flagging

I was just thinking about this very thing and a thread showed up on Mountain Project regarding flagging a portaledge.  The link to the whole thread is at the bottom of this post.

By Conor Dysinger
From Missoula ,MT
So I am prepping for the summer and getting my big wall gear together, and have a new addition of a portaledge to my gear pile. I have hauled on a wall before, mostly a small pig on an overhead system using body weight to hoist it, but never a ledge. Does anyone have any tips on carrying up an open(deployed) ledge? or any don't do's?

Job Openings

FISH is always looking for talent to work at your location, calling your own shots (in an overly micromanaged my way or the highway kind of way) and being able to meet delivery deadlines.

Russian Aiders

We are fast running out of the titanium "rings" that make up the Russian Aider "aid trees".  These were from the original batch that came from Malcolm Daly at Trango when they discontinued the entire Russian Aider project.  


I just sold the last 1/2 completed set of prototype "cuffs" and there are for sure no more cuffs lurking around here.  


So this is your heads up:  if you think you are going to need new "aid trees" for this season or any season in the future, I would buy them now, and stock up.  I don't see this product being available again from us, at least in its current form.  And I have no idea if anyone is making the cuffs anymore either.  Try Ebay?


Here is the link for the trees:  FISH Aid Trees

Alabama Hills Anchor Maintenance

The Chief, an Eastside guy and SuperTopo poster is doing some much needed anchor replacement in the Alabama Hills.  Strong effort out of these guys!  We were glad to donate a custom Atom Smasher and extra beefy Bolt Bag to the cause.

Happy Customer!

Hey there,

Earlier this year i ordered some fish duffels from you, and just wanted to let you know how

king they are, and send a pic or two...    we are happy customers. =)

We went to Ruth Gorge this past summer, and the texas duffels were the PERFECT choice

for strapping onto a sled, and we even left them out in the weather(had to dig them up a few

times) and ther was no leakage of course, bombproof is what they are.

So thanks for making durable reliable products!

I'm about to order 2 Grade V Haul Bags... getting ready for a big trip. I am going to put in

the order tonight, so i hope you are still making those...

cheers,

Jillian

Portaledge Takedown

This vid was made a while back for my buddy Shack to show him how to take his single FISH portaledge down.  The soundtrack seems to be a bit of a mindbender for some, but it will grow on you.

New Prototype Portaledge

Just finished it up.  You would think I would be out an the bars, being fanned by nubians, and tipping with Benjamins..... but no.  Late night sewing for a Valley launch later this week by a big name test pilot.  Some of the stuff is pretty cool and will be showing up on the current batch of ledges.  Structurally it is the same. These were "soft" improvements to the suspension and bed.  Too secret to tell right now, but you'll see them around.  Thanks to the test pilot too!  Good ideas!

The Living Hell that is material sourcing

Finding the materials to produce the suaveness has a Golden Fleece feel to it these days.  All the great fabrics of yesteryear are now extinct.  Minimum roll size is through the roof, so before you can even decide if you want a certain fabric, you must buy 100 or 1000 yards of the stuff.  What happened?

Even hardgoods are becoming a nightmare.  The FISH Hook, industry standard for bad ass burly is all but extinct due to the cost of 4130 steel and machining.  Portaledge corners are becoming short in supply and a new source must be found soon, or there will be no more ledges.  It is smelling like a doomsday scenario.  Anyone know a good and cheap machinist?

Happy Customer!

FeelioBabar
15+ years of dutiful service, and no sweat for the next 15.
The products speak for themselves.
FISH rules.
carry on.


(Talking about the Atom Smasher Deluxe)

Snake Charmer review

John McNamee reviewed our Snake Charmer rope bag a while back over on Mountain Project.

Here is a link to the review:  Snake Charmer review

FISH Smart Aiders, review

John McNamee did a good long review and overview of aiders over on Mountain Project.  Here is an excerpt of that review:

Back to the review...
Anyhow, last year my old aiders were looking thread bare so I went down to my local climbing shop with the intention of purchasing a set of ladders. Prior that that I had done some web research and had it down to a couple of different models. What the web site didn't convey was the size, bulk and weight of them. So I ended up walking out of the shop empty handed.

I had plans for a trip in a couple of weeks so I needed to get some aiders pronto. So I posted up on supertopo and several people recommended Fish Smart aiders.