1968
Bill Forrest starts business in basement in Denver, Colorado
one of the first commercial sewn harness, a combination swami bely and leg loops
1969
develops the Copperhead, a nut of malleable copper (or aluminium) swaged onto a single steel cable
Ray Jardine rents a room in Bill Forrest's house and does some design work for Forrest Mountaineering
1970
develops the Foxhead, pyramidal nut in either aluminium or plastic
Daisy Chain - adjustable anchor line
1971
Single Anchor Hammock - supsension bivouac shelter
1972
first use of solid fibreglass in handle of a mountaineering tool
1973
Ray Jardine uses the Forrest workshop to prototype his 'Friends' spring loaded camming device
develops the Titon with Kris Walker, a T shaped nut (steel in small sizes and aluminium in larger sizes)
1974
develops the Arrowhead, a very slim copper-based nut
Forrest Haul Bags
1975
the famed Mjollnir Hammer, with interchangeable picks
Ice Axes with twisted adze for greater strength
1976
Rabbit Runner - first runner sling with sewn end loops
1977
Bam Nut tool
1978
Gaiters - first with neoprene arch strap
1980
Lifetine Ice Axe - interchangeable picks and warranties
First womens specific harness ?
1981
Ultimate Sit Harness
• first adjustable sit harness with singles pass buckles and elasised butt bands
1982
develops P-Nuts, a wire swaged half moon of steel
1983
Fall-Arrest - shock absorbing runner said to offer 300% increase in margin of safety
1985
releases the Triton, a combination nut, belay plate and abseil/rappel device
Bill Forrest sells company to Olsen Industries
sets up business, ForrestSmith (with partner) to develop a new snowshoe design
after unveiling the design, MSR offer to buy the rights to the design, and hire him to work on their snowshoe line
1995
MSR release a new snowshoe in moulded plastic that was conceived by Bill Forrest
Bill Forrest works as R&D manager for MSR