Clyde Soles Bio

	Clyde Soles Senior Contributing writer until October 1, 2007

Clyde started in the outdoor industry in 1972 when his Dad and uncle founded the second whitewater raft company in West Virginia. In 1980, he began as a part-time sales clerk for Hudson Bay Outfitters and soon worked up to store manager of their highest-volume store. Moving back to Boulder (where he attended college) in 1984, Clyde worked for Neptune Mountaineering for nearly a decade as a salesperson, promotions manager, and buyer. In 1994, he became the gear editor for Rock & Ice Magazine where Clyde was a full-time product tester for seven years–this culminated with his first book, Rock & Ice Gear. He was also the founder of Trail Runner magazine. Clyde departed the magazine staff world in 2001 to concentrate on his freelance writing and photography. He is the author of Rock & Ice Gear: Equipment for the Vertical World, Climbing: Training for Peak Performance, Climbing: Expedition Planning, and The Outdoor Knots Book.