Name/Title
Jardine NPS CamEntry/Object ID
2026.1.136Description
A SLCD owned by Ray JardineUse
A spring-loaded cam designed to wedge in parallel cracksContext
This is a later version of Ray Jardine's "Friend," noticeable since a nut was added to the clip holding the cam device together. Inscribed with the number 2, fitting a two inch crack. Inscribed with JARDINE on the stem, this was personally owned by him. On the other side of the stem is the inscription NPS and scratched next to that is "YOSEMITE." At one point was in the SAR team cache. Donated by someone who was on the Search and Rescue Team. This was a size 2, and a sewn runner was added later, manufactured by YATES.Collection
Yosemite Climbing Museum Permanent CollectionInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionLocation
stemTranscription
2 JARDINEType
InscriptionTranscription
NPS YOSEMITEDimensions
Dimension Description
CamWidth
1-3/4 inLength
5-3/8 inDimension Description
Cam with cordLength
9 inLocation
Location
Display Case
Exhibit Case 11Date
February 11, 2026Provenance
Provenance Detail
Ray JardineNotes
Came from SAR cache.General Notes
Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
Caption in the museum is: "Ray Jardine camming unit that he called the “Friend”. Ray used four spring loaded cams on a rigid stem. The spring loaded cams worked independently much like the suspension of a car. After he made the prototypes Jardine took them to Yosemite in 1974 to try them out. In secrecy he went on to climb some of the hardest crack climbs in the world at that time including the world’s first 5.13, Yosemite’s The Phoenix in 1977. In 1978 Friends became available to the public and were sold by Wild Country. They changed climbing forever."Create Date
February 11, 2026Update Date
March 10, 2026
