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The Royal Story
A ManifestoLook at the challenges you’ve taken on –The ascents and achievements.
They read like a one-man history of climbing
- First ascent of Tahquitz Open Book, California.
- First ascent of Northwest Face of Half Dome, Yosemite.
- First ascent of Salathe Wall, El Capitan.
- First ascent of Northeast Face of Higher Cathedral Spire.
- First ascent of Southeast Face of Proboscis, Cirque of the Unclimbables, Yukon.
- First ascent of the Dru, Chamonix.
- First solo ascent of El Capitan.
RR Yosemite Boots
After spending his younger years free climbing rock faces in Chuck Taylors, Royal, working with the French shoe-maker, Galibier, designed a climbing shoe specifically targeted at Yosemite’s big walls. It was called the “RR Yosemite” and proved a big hit.
These exploits made you a legend. A towering figure in the world of climbing. In the literature of the outdoors, you’re called one of the planet’s great adventurers.
These feats you achieved on your own – a single individual determined to surpass all others. To go farther and climb higher.
Royal's Climbing History
1950 Royal begins climbing at Stony Point in the San Fernando Valley, California 1952 First ascent Tahquitz Open Book (first 5.9 climb in the U.S.), California 1953 Second ascent North Face of Sentinel Rock, Yosemite 1957 First ascent Northwest Face of Half Dome, Yosemite (first grade 6 climb in the U.S.) 1960 Second ascent of Nose Route of E1 Capitan, Yosemite 1961 First ascent Salathe Wall of El Capitan, Yosemite / First ascent Northwest Face of Higher Cathedral Spire, Yosemite 1962 First ascent Direct Route, West Face of the Petit Dru, Chamonix, France 1963 First ascent Direct Northwest Face Half Dome, Yosemite / First solo of 1,000 foot Overhanging Face of Leaning Tower, 4 days, Yosemite 1964 First ascent Southeast Face of Proboscis, Cirque of the Unclimbables, Yukon / Second ascent Dihedral, El Capitan, Yosemite / First ascent North America Wall El Capitan, Yosemite 1965 First ascent on the Dru, Superdirect Rout, Chamonix, France 1967 First new route in Yosemite using only chocks and natural runners (Nutcracker) / Liz Robbins is the first woman to climb Northwest Face of Half Dome, Yosemite / First ascent West Face of El Capitan, Yosemite (first time chocks were used on a big wall) 1968 First solo ascent of El Capitan, Yosemite 1968 First solo ascent of North Face of Mt. Edith Cavell, Canada 1969 First ascent of the Prow, Washington Column, Yosemite / First ascent of Tis-sa-ack Route, Northwest Face of Half Dome, Yosemite 1970 First ascent Arcturus, Northwest Face of Half Dome, Yosemite 1971 Second ascent Dawn Wall, El Capitan, Yosemite -
What unites them is a new mission.
To equip the outdoor person that lives inside everyone. To create apparel,
footwear and gear so innovative – so superior in comfort, fit and quality –
that you would wear them proudly.What makes this mission uniquely powerful
is the fact that it’s dedicated to your name.
And to all it represents.- The name: Royal Robbins.
- Both a man – and a company.
- A name that will never be just a script on a label.
- But a brand unlike any other. Authentic and original.
Every product – and every person – aiming
to be part of this brand must pass the
highest quality test of all.- Not just to live in the great outdoors.
- But to live up to your standards.
- Your accomplishments.
- Your life.
It's time to tell the world about you: Royal Robbins.
And how the clothing that carries your name, lives up to it.
Billy Goat Button
In 1968, two years after the “RR Yosemite” boot was developed, the company, “Robbins Mountain Sports” was officially founded at the summit of Yosemite’s Half Dome. It was the first time a woman (Liz Robbins) had climbed the Northwest Face of Half Dome. Legend has it that a hiker snapped this photo of Royal and Liz at the summit in short cut-offs. When they later saw the photo, they said to each other, “Maybe we had better get into the outdoor clothing business!” And so the Billy Goat® short was born. Named after the famous campfire song, the garment lives on and remains a Royal Robbins® best seller.