"The first prototypes of the Terrors were used by Bugs McKeith during the first ascent of The Squirrels Pillar, on the North Face of Eiger."

Cubby
17/1/2002

"As one of a group of outstanding young Edinburgh climbers who called themselves The Squirrels, Dave (Bathgate) and fellow member, Bugs McKeith inspired what was to become one of the most powerful Scottish climbing partnerships during the 60s. Like many Scots before him however, Bugs emigrated to Canada. It was here, having adapted his Scottish winter experiences, that he pioneered a new approach to ice climbing. The results were impressive and many cutting edge frozen waterfalls were climbed, such as Pilsner Pillar, Ice Nine and Takakaw Falls. Bugs also left his mark on the big alpine faces of the Rockies but tragically, it was here that he and his wife met their fate, killed while attempting a new route on Mount Assinaboyne."

I think there's an association of climbers in the Dolomites named "the squirrels" too. In Italian, of course. It must be the group of Cortina d'Ampezzo, but my memory might be wrong on this fact.

Possibly the "Lecco Spiders"?

www.ragnilecco.com

-Brian in SLC

There's an actual group of climbers called "Scoiattoli di Cortina" (Squirrels of Cortina), and it's a sort of local version of the more famour "Ragni" of Lecco (whose members includes/included famous names like Cassin, Bonatti, Carlo Mauri, etc). While the "Ragni" is an actual group with some relevant weight into the "politics of climbing" in Italy (they've even a rather interesting magazine called "Stile Alpino"), The "Scoiattoli" is more a loose assembly of local guides. Famous "Scoiattoli" are Lino Lacedelli, first summiter of K2, and the notorious Cesare Maestri.