Historic Hood River
Mace Baldwin and Climbing Party, Circa 1920
6-21-2013
Notes
Mace Baldwin took this self portrait on a climbing trip up Mt. Hood about 1920. He was joined by “Dad” Emry, Nelson Emry, Will Zale, and several others who will have to remain nameless. Mace is the guy holding the string to trigger the camera. You’ll have to look closely to see it.
I’ve done some considerable Photoshop work to clean up this image, which unfortunately wasn’t treated well through the decades. I think it is worth it to see such a great climbing image.
l.e.
What a different array of clothing!
Wish we had all of the names.
charlott
Leonard Mason "Mace" Baldwin was one of the organizers to the Hood River Crag Rats. He had vast knowledge of the area as he was born in the present site of Mt. Hood. He was the father of Blanchard Baldwin, also a Crag Rat.
Nelson Emery was associated with Neal Creek Lumber.
What a variety of climbing clothes.
l.e.
I wonder why three matching sweaters?
The first Crag Rats?
l.e.
I think we have seen the guy on the far right before.
db
Those were the days, when you could climb a mountain without first investing in $2000 worth of specialized climbing clothing.
spinsur
I like the tie w/ cork (caulks) boots! they look absolutely done in!
charlott
No the Crag Rats had not been organized then. Yes, I agree about all the investments of clothes. My aunt on her first climb had three sweaters on. Just like some so called skiers, who invest hundreds of dollars on clothes to only park on the deck and drink coffee or hot chocolate all day, then go home and say how tired they are after a day on the slopoes…… I have seen it time and again. I call them " Sun Valley Beauties."
Buzz
Scampered up Mt. Hood in high school with buddy Dick West. Wore everyday clothes and boots. Started climbing from lodge at 3am. My main memories were long slog up to the steep part, the beautiful view from the top, and after coming down off of the steep part, running, jumping, falling down and rolling all the way back down to the lodge. We were in a hurry because we had dates with a couple of pretty Hood River girls to go to the drive-in theater that night. Soon as the movie started we fell asleep. Damn.
Lesa
Love the hats!
Longshot
Wonder what they used on their faces? Charcoal maybe.
charlott
Buzz, did just you and Dick West go on that adventure or was it with the Scouts that were taken up…
Buzz
My dad had a bookkeeper from Portland who was in the Mazamas. He was climbing with a few other people so we tagged along. They kept us in check until we got down off of the steep part and then turned us loose. We stayed in their lodge/bunkhouse the night before. For years afterward he laughed about our running all the way down.
l.e.
Here is the story of Mace Baldwin and group in 1926, finding the lost 11 year old boy which led to the beginning of the name Crag Rats. Sorry the link is so long.
http://books.google.com/books?id=jz_r_Hvha44C&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46&dq=mace+baldwin+hood+river&source=bl&ots=RHjzcZnFJN&sig=rudaq-LzQKSK-ifnb9u7tsI57Es&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-H3GUaLlOMGriAK-6YCwAg&ved=0CFgQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=mace%20baldwin%20hood%20river&f=false
l.e.
A biography of Nelson Emry.
http://www.onlinebiographies.info/or/emry-n.htm
Charlott
The boy was 7 years old and his name was Jackie Strong…..
Susan Wright
I am Mace Baldwin’s great niece, granddaughter of his half-brother Louis Cole Baldwin. Nelson Emry’s name is spelled wrong in this article. It is Emery, not Emery. I grew up next to the Don Emry family on Montello Avenue in Hood River.
Susan Wright
Oops. Meant to spell Emry family name this way.
Arthur
Thanks Susan. I will correct the Emry family name in the notes section.
Sandy Strong Pearson
I am one of the daughters of "Jackie" Strong (now deceased), who was the 7 year old boy rescued by this group, apparently! Are there any more photos by chance? Thank you for posting this. Makes everything more real/personal.
Judy
Lived in my neighborhood.