West Ridge store

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DonC

climber
CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 12, 2017 - 11:52am PT
in case there is more than one, I'm mean the one in southern Calif where Don Lauria was at. what years what is open? late 60's - early 70's?

I know there has a been a few mentions of this, but can't find this information.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Feb 12, 2017 - 12:05pm PT
Don Lauria

Trad climber
Bishop, CA

Dec 24, 2015 - 01:47pm PT
In 1964 we opened the "little" West Ridge Mountaineering on Pico Blvd. in West LA. Mike Sturm was repping his Eiger stuff. He continued to be one of our main suppliers after we moved into the "big" store on Olympic and Bundy.
from
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1343654&tn=80

I found this by typing the following into google:
site:supertopo.com "West Ridge" store Lauria
DonC

climber
CA
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 12, 2017 - 12:28pm PT
thanks Clint, I did a similar search and just missed that reference.

Does anyone know when it closed? With messaging not working, hard to send Don a question directly.
EdBannister

Mountain climber
13,000 feet
Feb 12, 2017 - 12:36pm PT
The "Sturm" in the quote was Mike Sturm who was the principle buyer at Liberty for many years, he also wangled commissions from some manufactures in Europe for the goods he imported! Example, EB.
Eiger was the Liberty in house brand.

Dennis Henneck, Russ McClean, Don Lauria were the managers in the old days....

Edit: Deleted misinfo

Jamesthomsen

Social climber
Mammoth Lakes, California
Feb 12, 2017 - 10:58pm PT
Ed,
Mike's company was originally Eiger Mountain Sports. We made gaitors for him in 1972. We was also the importer of Millet backpacks and when they were 6 months behind in shipments he asked us to make copies for him. Greg developed about 5 styles and showed them to Mike, but at that point the Millet shipment arrived and he said he no longer needed them.
So, we put some labels from our mountaineering guide service (Wilderness Experience) on the packs and took them to West Ridge. Don started the conversation with, "That's all the world needs, another pack company." But he ordered a few for the store and they sold, so he kept ordering.
Thanks again Don.
life is a bivouac

Trad climber
Bishop
Feb 13, 2017 - 01:25pm PT
Hello Ed, I was there that X-mas. It's now more than a few years ago, however I do remember that evening...

Bill used to drop by the store all the time with new gear ideas and prototype. He was after all, one of the original store "family members"; going back to the early '60s store.

The Westridge always had parties and Christmas was a bash... There were a lot of employees and customers celebrating. Bill however hadn't been coming by for quite awhile, it may have had something to do with his personal life; he was fairly private, but I knew he'd had a break-up with his wife not too long before.

A bunch of us were sitting around in the boot room on couches by the fake fire place. Some one of the employees, it doesn't mater who, came over to Don telling him he had a phone call. It was long before cell phones.

Bill had not, to the best of my recollections, asked Dennis, or my self to go climbing any time during or around those holidays. I feel you are insinuating something that may be incorrect.

I'll leave the rest of this story up to Don, as he'll see this Post some time today...

Russ McLean
Don Lauria

Trad climber
Bishop, CA
Feb 13, 2017 - 01:34pm PT
Ed, I don't know where you got this information regarding Dolt asking any one of us to go climbing. To my knowledge he never asked any of us, ever, to go climbing. As for the night of the Christmas party, it goes something like this:

On December 6, 1971, while delivering some Dolt Rope, Bill mentioned that he was definitely leaving McDonnell Douglas after 10 years to go into Doltco on a full time basis. He was asking my opinion. A great idea I was sure he could do it. He was elated by the encouragement.

One week later, Bill telephoned, his voice quavering, "I'm thinking of selling most of my interests in Doltco, are you interested?"

"But Bill, I thought..."

“I changed my mind, Douglas has offered me such a good deal I can't let them down." He sounded unconvinced and subdued.

"Okay, Bill, I'll buy whatever you're selling." I really didn't believe he would do it.

"I'll call you later to arrange a meeting," he replied weakly.

On Christmas Eve 1971, the telephone rang at the shop in the midst of a Christmas party.

"Hello, Don?", Dolt asked in a hushed tone.

"Yeah, Bill, what's up?"

"I just called to wish you a Merry Christmas", Dolt answered, his voice almost a whisper.

"Merry Christmas to you too, Bill."

He didn't answer.

"Bill, what's with the deal we were talking about a couple of weeks ago?" I was searching for a subject that might break his silence.

"Oh, I'm not sure what I'm going to do", he replied slowly.

I had never heard him sound so depressed. He continued, "I just
called to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

"Well, thanks, Bill. Same to you", I replied awkwardly.

"Thank you, Don. Goodbye."

As far as I know those were the, last words William Andrew Feuerer ever uttered.

One week later, the police were summoned to Dolt's apartment by Ken McNutt who had noticed the week's accumulation of newspapers on Dolt's porch and found his door chained from the inside. Dolt was found hanging from a water pipe on his back porch.

He left no note, no will ... nothing. His funeral, paid for by his veteran's insurance, was attended by fourteen people, only six of whom were from his climbing world. The priest in attendance knew only two things about Bill Feuerer his name, and how he died.
Brian in SLC

Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
Feb 13, 2017 - 01:58pm PT
^^^Whew...tough stuff...
EdBannister

Mountain climber
13,000 feet
Feb 13, 2017 - 03:46pm PT
Don, i must have misheard Phil Warrender, my apologies. I understood Dolt asked him to go climbing, he was not able, and the way i understood, Dolt told Phil he would or had asked you guys also...
I apologize.

In any case i think everyone liked the man, and all were saddened to have him take his own life.

edit: i deleted the misinfo.

edit 2: so Mike Sturm's impropriety, gave birth to WILD-X ! cool.

Jim! this reminds me how you eventually turned a hostile takeover into a fabulous job, along with the right preparation and attitude, hats off.
BooDawg

Social climber
Butterfly Town
Feb 14, 2017 - 10:55am PT
I was employee # 001 at the old store near Pico & Bundy. Those were REALLY GOOD TIMES since we were all "family," at least at first. We'd open around 5 p.m. on weekdays. I'd usually walk from UCLA to open the store. We had great parties, usually after hours, aided and abetted by the next door bar from which we'd order food and drinks.

I don't remember Dolt coming into the old store, but my aging brain may have forgotten. But i DO remember him coming into the new store quite often and regularly. It was there in 1967 that he offered Don and me his prototype pitons for us to take up the Nose when we did the 8th Ascent in March of that year.


We felt that the anvil on the head of the prototype was too small since our hammers sometimes missed it while hammering. So he changed the head design, enlarging and strengthening the next generation as one can see in the photos below.



Perhaps this should go on or be linked to one of the Dolt threads.
Don Lauria

Trad climber
Bishop, CA
Feb 14, 2017 - 12:21pm PT
Hey, Boo. We didn't open the big new store until 1969 ... so Dolt must have given us those pins at the Pico store. Right?
LilaBiene

Trad climber
Technically...the spawning grounds of Yosemite
Feb 14, 2017 - 12:54pm PT
Here's Dolt's granddaughter (by birth) with a shoe that she "invented" a couple of days ago after I gave her a couple of empty egg cartons. :) (The wood came from a board she broke for one of her tae kwon do belt tests.)


BooDawg

Social climber
Butterfly Town
Feb 14, 2017 - 01:15pm PT
Don, You must be right! I lost track of the dates, I guess. Sorry.
life is a bivouac

Trad climber
Bishop
Feb 15, 2017 - 07:56am PT
Hello, DonC...
It seems your initial question never got answered. What is your motivation? Writing a book? You have the attention of at least three primary people from that time.

It was a unique period with a cast of characters that would be near impossible to assemble again...

Just wondering.

Russ


DonC

climber
CA
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 15, 2017 - 09:13am PT
not a problem, and nothing as lofty as a book

I bought a Chouniard hammer in the late 60's - early 70's and was trying to remember where I bought it from, for a collector. West Ridge was one of two options. I recall going there whenever I could, lived in Riverside, but after all these years I was drawing a blank on when that might have been. I think this thread confirms that West Ridge was open in the 68 - 72 window.
BooDawg

Social climber
Butterfly Town
Feb 15, 2017 - 12:28pm PT
DonC: Yes, West Ridge was open during the entire 68-71 window, but as Don Lauria said up-thread, the store moved in '69 from near Pico and Bundy to Olympic and Bundy, a short walk away.

Cosmic: I returned from teaching near JTree to UCLA in the fall of '71 and probably worked there again between late '71 and Spring of '73 when I returned to Yosemite to do the field work on my thesis, "Factors Affecting Meadow-Forest Borders in Yosemite National Park, California."

Edit: Thanks Russ (below): I was trying to remember the name of the bar.
life is a bivouac

Trad climber
Bishop
Feb 15, 2017 - 12:37pm PT
Hello Cos Crag Man, The Old Westridge closed in 1969 and, as you know, moved a block over to Olympic Blvd.

There were only two Westridge stores; one on Pico next to the Arsenal, a Bar of the Highest repute, and the much bigger store on, as mentioned, Olympic. So, the one mentioned in San Berdo wasn't...
Cheers! Russ

P.S. Wow! The Boo beat me to it!! Good on Ya Mate!
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
Feb 15, 2017 - 12:52pm PT
So... do you remember these two people?


They were responsible for getting me into the sport... Steve on the Left and Louis on the right.

They took me to West Ridge for the first time... I was so excited.

I worked on Cotner st for about 10 years... 78 to 88 ... Aircraft Bearing.

The west side sure has changed.
BooDawg

Social climber
Butterfly Town
Feb 15, 2017 - 01:55pm PT
For more on West Ridge store, go here:

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=2945029&tn=20#msg2945245
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
Feb 15, 2017 - 05:56pm PT
Cosmic...You must have gotten the scuba tanks with the nitrus oxide..? rj
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