RCS Nail #1 - Rusty

Object/Artifact

-

Yosemite Climbing Museum

Name/Title

RCS Nail #1 - Rusty

Entry/Object ID

2025.2.16

Description

RCS Rusty Nail

Use

Pounded into rock to stand on to advance up the climb. An aid piece.

Context

Made for RCS for the very first rock climbing trip to Yosemite Valley over Labor Day Weekend 1933. The first nail used on Lunch Ledge on Washington Column by Bestor Robinson, Jules Eichorn, and Richard M. Leonard.

Collection

Yosemite Climbing Museum Permanent Collection

Category

Climbing Hardware, Pitons

Acquisition

Accession

2025.2

Notes

Used by Bestor Robinson, Jules Eichorn, and Richard M. Leonard on Lunch Ledge on Washington Column and Upper Cathedral Spire over Labor Day Weekend 1933, the very first rock climbing trip to Yosemite Valley. Acquired 1993

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown for RCS

Date made

circa 1933

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Entire nail

Length

8 in

Diameter

5/16 in

Material

steel, soft

Location

Location

Display Case

Exhibit Case 01

Date

December 25, 2025

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Richard M. Leonard

Notes

Experimental RCS for first climb in Yosemite over Labor Day Weekend 1933 by Jules Eichorn, Bestor Robinson and Richard M. Leonard. Received 1993.

Create Date

December 24, 2025

Update Date

January 1, 2026