What’s with the name?
The “Lost Arrow” is a giant rock spire in Yosemite National Park, California. The Spire’s sheer granite cliff faces plunge 1,400 feet to the valley below. The uppermost 250 feet of the spire is totally detached from the rest of the mountain, creating a vertiginous island in the sky.
This cliff was the first big Yosemite wall that Lost Arrow Works owner Nick Aiello-Popeo managed to ascend solo. Climbing a 1,400 foot cliff with a partner is hard enough, so why bother trying to do it alone? Solo rock climbing is an esoteric corner of mountaineering, but a very rewarding one. With years of practice, lots of planning, and plenty of hard work, a solo rock climber is able to experience the vertical world in a unique, quiet way. Without anyone else to rely on, a solo climber is completely responsible for every failure and every success. The Lost Arrow Spire’s direct route took three days to climb, camping on the cliff face each night.
Nick Aiello-Popeo
The founder of Lost Arrow Works, Nick Aiello-Popeo, moved to New Hampshire in 2011 in pursuit of rock climbing and ice climbing. Around this time, he also began his long apprenticeship in carpentry and cabinetmaking. After years of working for other craftsmen and cabinetmakers, Nick started his own business in the Spring of 2020.
Originally called “Efficient Building, LLC,” with a focus on energy efficient homebuilding, Nick slowly began to return his attention to cabinetmaking. Soon, he was building a fully kitted-out cabinet shop next to his home in Conway, and spending more time doing custom cabinetry. In 2024, Efficient Building began rebranding as Lost Arrow Works.
In addition to being a cabinetmaker and a climber, Nick is a husband, father, avalanche safety educator, and a mountain rescue volunteer. When he’s not working, he’s probably playing with his toddler or reading about a random topic on Wikipedia.
Mike Carbone
Mike Carbone is Lost Arrow Works’ lead carpenter. He and his wife are the owners of Fossil Flower Farm in Stow, Maine. Before moving to Maine to pursue farming, Mike had a former life as a do-it-all manager at a chemical plant. Mike has been with Lost Arrow Works since 2021.