About Dick Kelty: September 13, 1919 - January 12, 2004
Dick Kelty loved hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada. In 1950, unhappy with his heavy, uncomfortable army backpack, Dick Kelty decided to design his own. Out went the heavy wooden frame. In its place Dick used light weight aluminum tubing, molding it to follow the contours of the human body. The greatest improvement was the addition of the waist strap (later padded) which transferred the weight of the pack from the shoulders to the hips. For increased comfort, he also padded the shoulder straps. Dick then worked on the bag, using a rugged nylon. For easier access to items, he divided the bag into compartments, added a hold-open frame at the top, and outside zippered pockets. Gone too was the “one size fits all” aspect –his new creation came in three sizes! Dick’s design was never static –he added and improved features as feedback from customers or his own experience suggested. As he wanted all of his customers to enjoy their backcountry experiences as much as he did, Dick took a personal interest in their trips and was always available to help with equipment and advice. Despite the constant evolution of the backpack, Dick Kelty’s revolutionary innovations are evident in every pack sold today. About the Kelty Scholarship: This scholarship was established in 2008 in memory of Dick Kelty as a way to provide an opportunity to adult volunteers who wish to participate in the Big City Mountaineers program that would otherwise be kept from doing so because of the required $100 volunteer fee. Big City Mountaineers is proud to extend this scholarship in Dick Kelty’s memory. In honor of his love for the wilderness, this scholarship will be offered to select BCM volunteers each season based on their merit and desire. We will be awarding 4-10 scholarships annually. Applicants will be selected based on several criteria, including:
Make a donation toward the Kelty Scholarship fund Please click here to donate by credit card through our online secure server. Please mark "I'd like to make this donation on behalf of the Kelty Scholarship" under "Gift Information". To donate via mail, please download a donation form here and denote on the form that it is designated for the "Kelty Scholarship"
|
 |
