MODESTO, Calif. (AP) – U.S. rock climbing icon Royal Robbins, who founded the outdoor clothing company bearing his name, has died after a long illness. He was 82.
Company spokeswoman Christina Erb LoVullo said Wednesday he died Tuesday at his home in Modesto, California.
Robbins was a leading figure in the “Golden Age” of Yosemite Valley when climbers made new ascents previously believed to be impossible.
He was also a major promoter of clean climbing techniques and equipment to avoid rock damage.
Robbins and his wife Liz in 1967 made the first ascent of the Nutcracker route on a Yosemite buttress using removable metal wedges for their ropes.