In 1986 John Middendorf founded the climbing company A5 Adventures Inc. to meet the needs for a growing new breed of climbers whose nucleus centered in Yosemite California. A5's first product was a forged well designed hammer that set the standard for high quality climbing gear. Since then, A5 has established itself as the innovators of modern big wall climbing equipment. The A5 company was sold to the North Face in 1998.
​

link to John's website
​- bigwalls.net

---

The mechanical advantage
​- awesome story of climbing history
​and gear that was published in Ascent magazine 1999

---

The Mechanical advantage
​-Climbing pitons early evolution

---

---

.........................................................................................

---

This green fanny pack was used by John Middendorf on his first ascent with Xaver Bongard of the Grand Voyage route on the Great Trango Tower in 1992. The fanny pack was donated to the Karabin Climbing Museum April 2005.

---

John Middendorf - Kolob, dog collar 

---