Little Bear Summit Registry - 30 Years Later

[Run1833]

I wanted to share this cool little story I have surrounding the climbing of Little Bear peak. A friend and I scaled Little Bear back in July of 1985. When we got to thve summit, inside an army green canister was the summit registry, where we could sign our names. I took a picture of the registry that day, and it’s been sitting in my scrap book ever since.

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Well, about 4 years ago, I was watching some TV show about mountain climbing and it got me thinking about climbing Little Bear. So, I pulled out my scrap book and saw the picture I took of the summit registry.

I then started wondering if that cannister and registry from July/1985 had been saved and whether it could be found. Looking at the picture of the registry, all I could really make out was the reference to the Colorado Mountain Club. Heck, 30 years later, I wasn’t sure the Colorado Mountain Club even still existed. Well, I took a shot and Googled the Colorado Mountain Club, and saw that it did still exist (http://www.cmc.org).

I can’t remember if I called or emailed about it, but I was put in touch with the Membership Services Coordinator at the club who wasn’t sure if they still had those registries, especially from July/1985, almost 30 years ago. He gave me the phone number of the Club Historian and told me if anyone knew whether the registry still existed, and if so, where it might be, that it would be the Club Historian. So, I called the number and left a voice mail explaining what I was looking for, and if it could be found I’d like to have a copy of the page that my friend and I signed.

So, a week or so went by, and I hadn’t heard anything back, and I was thinking "Well, it was worth a shot". But it was not long after that when I received a call from the Historian who said they might still have it. He couldn’t promise anything, but he would go try to hunt it down at the warehouse or storage room, or wherever he needed to go to look for it...but it was a long shot. Several days later I received an email from the Membership Services Coordinator that stated the following:

"Attached is a scan from the 1984 - 1988 summit register off Little Bear peak. Our Club Hstorian, asked me to send it to you so I hope this is what you're looking for! Your sign-in is clearly visible about two thirds the way down - excellent! Please call or write if you need additional assistance”

Here are a couple pics from the registry, including the page we had signed back in July/1985:

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OK, that’s it. It was a long shot to find that registry and very cool that we got a copy of it 30 years later.

I have to mention the two gentlemen from the club who made it all happen:
* Roger J. Wendell - CMC Membership Services Coordinator
* Woody Smith - Club Historian

Thanks to them again.

[boudreaux]

That is very cool, brings back the memories I bet? Even more interesting is that it took almost 4 years to fil up that register. I'm guessing it probably takes more than a year, but less than 2 to fill it up these days. I've heard from a long-time member that they don't collect registers anymore.

[GA_peach]

Very cool that they were able to find that for you.

I did Little Bear in July of 2015 and all I found was an empty tube and no cap
Alan

[Scott P]

Very cool that they were able to find that for you.

I did Little Bear in July of 2015 and all I found was an empty tube and no cap
Alan

There are just too many people climbing the 14ers in recent years to keep up with the registers. Plus the Forest Service has asked the CMC to take them down on several peaks.

[two lunches]

There are just too many people climbing the 14ers in recent years to keep up with the registers. Plus the Forest Service has asked the CMC to take them down on several peaks.

jeez could you imagine? those buggers would fill up every 2-3x a week on the front range 14ers in the summer

[SchralpTheGnar]

Is there a digital summit register these days? Like 4square for the 14ers from the cmc?

[Jim Davies]

Yeah, but it's largely unused. http://www.epeakregister.com/