Historic Hood River
Posing at Cloud Cap
7-23-2021
Notes
I think this Anne Lang view of climbers near Cloud Cap is a companion image to this image from last week. As has been noted these images are posed, and we have no way to be sure they actually climbed in this gear. What we do know is that Will Langille regularly took Cloud Cap guests to the top of the mountain in the 1890s. The Mazamas archivist has positively identified this image from an 1896 climb, which might give a better idea of the actual clothes they wore to climb the mountain. The Mazamas keep the log books from the summit which show this party signing in on July 5.
Basaltgrouse
I am curious about the arm bands purpose as well as the cinching capabilities. I assume they were for more than just fashion. Perhaps to keep sleeves from catching on other things. Would they have had elastic stretch fabric at that time. Certainly not velcro. Secured with buckles or buttons maybe.
kmb
I was also wondering about the purpose or function of the arm bands after seeing them in the picture last week. Their sleeves don’t seem to be that billowy to need to be banded like that, but who knows. I would be more interested in seeing the women climbing in those dresses – now that would be a feat. Perhaps the Mazamas could tell us whether they have any pictures in their archives of women climbers in full length Victorian gowns.
L.E.
I wonder what the story is on that dead, spindly little tree with roots exposed.
Barbara Parsons
I have heard that men’s shirts were all made in one sleeve length, so that the shorter -armed men used tge expandable sleeve-holders to keep their cuffs from slipping down over their knuckles. Several men in our church still wore them in the ‘fortiesb and ‘fifties.