These guys have done a great Job with this magazine!!!!
Not to mention the business concept behind this project....... Not sure if it sustainable, but I damn well hope so! I believe this is a first for the climbing world.......
Cliffhanger Guides in in full support. I am currently in contact with Dean about purchasing ad space........ Get ready to see some ads that R&I or Climbing would never print..........
My question (as a Californian) is: when did we start calling California "Cali?" Can't abide.
I think that cropped up in the late 80s Gangsta Rap scene.
Like N.W.A. (Niggaz Wit Attitudes ... Easy E, "Straight Outta Compton" and so forth). Or maymbe Tone Loc ("Funky Cold Medina").
Brandon: California centric? To me that defines California. I.e. West Coast trendsetting and etc.
... a bit of narcissism, an ounce of inventiveness, a splash of the unique, a gallon of go for it.
All the best to CALIFORNIA CLIMBER
And thanks for making the download possible: definitely a good move to get this thing rolling (market seeding).
Thanks, Tarbuster. That could explain why I haven't fully embraced the moniker--much as I'm all about Gangsta Rap.
On the question of a "CA-centric" mag...I understand that there are some who feel that CA is the epicenter of climbing (and others who aren't too stoked about that perspective), but at the same time, I'd imagine that most CA climbers (like myself) would think it pretty cool to stumble across a mag called "Colorado Climber," or "Georgia Climber," or the like.
Roger dodger, and copy that mooser, per the state specific.
My next vote would be for a "Montana Climber" ... 'xcept it would be called "Montucky Climber", and you could read it but 'den dey have to kill you.
just to set you fellers straight on a few things--
california is the center of the climbing universe. i could prove it by dropping names here that would go off like nukes, but you should know this. a big reason for it is the misery of southern california. because we're miserable, we climb harder. what else is there to do, really?
san franciscans hate to hear "frisco". my theory is it derives from the days of the barbary coast when pockets were picked a lot.
san bernardinoans hate to hear "san berdoo" on los angeles traffic reports. it's the only attention they ever get from l.a. and it comes pretty close to "bird doo". i've developed my own nicknames, like san boodleloney and san gorgosaurus.
if you lived through the vietnam era, "cali" picked up a bad ring from lieutenant scapegoat. the other nickname for california is simply "cal", which is a contraction of "casual", which californians like to think they are because it takes their minds off miserable. berkeley is "cal"--pretty casual university, no? i'll bet no one in berkeley would ever admit they are miserable.
i hate to drift this thread too far, so let's get back to the subject at hand. i've worked on and written for half a dozen magazines, and i think this one has some potential--"the right place at the right time". i'd like to invite all of its staff down to southern california to suffer a little more. the picture on the back cover seems a step in the right direction:
Alright... I was all skeptical *(eye-roll)* at first. A whole mag just about California? Was this just going to be another homage to beer and graffiti at Stoney Point or weekly pictures stolen from the El Cap report?... Well ... now that I actually perused the online copy.. they are winning me over.
It' looks great!
Route Data base from Noob.com:
California... the only state with #'s in the 5-digits... more than double the next most prolific state of Colorado.. I guess that can keep them busy with articles for a few years.
Nebraska (8)
Nevada (2198)
New Hampshire (1375)
New Jersey (290)
New Mexico (747)
New York (1566)
North Carolina (2091)
North Dakota (13)
Ohio (479)
Oklahoma (947)
Oregon (1479)
Pennsylvania (2313)
Puerto Rico (319)
Rhode Island (87)
South Carolina (97)
South Dakota (516)
Tennessee (1606)
Texas (2109)
Utah (4906)
Vermont (245)
Virginia (986)
Washington (1765)
Washington D.C. (2)
West Virginia (1952)
Wisconsin (625)
Wyoming (1642)
PS: Yup... "Cali" is lame. Only haters in flat states use that term.
Great looking mag! Dean and the gang did a lot of work and it paid off for sure. Psyched to see the local places get some publicity and get everyone psyched! Keep 'em coming!
I just came across this thread and on behalf of the CC Mag staff, I would like to thank you all for the AWESOME words, wishes and encouragement.
I personally am WAY psyched on how this first issue turned out. The paper quality is amazing and the writing is great. I had a blast designing the first issue and attempting to create a brand and look.
We are planning on releasing issue #2 in the early fall and are already working on it. It will have a similar feel and look to issue #1 but I will be attempting to push the design a bit more.
I wanted the first issue to look clean and sleek but not too conservatively designed. I didnt want to break out the first issue and have people be too overwhelmed. We struck a good balance with the first issue and will continue to build and grow. At the moment, while we are small (VERY SMALL), independently published and distributed, our design will always be in a constant state of change. Certain things will remain similar but be prepared for a different tune every issue.
We all like repeating the classic routes over and over, but a newly cleaned line is always going to be awesome. So diversity in creativity is our goal.
Also, one more thing. While this mag is California centric, I do currently live in Colorado (Deano lives in Sonora). Sooo, i wouldnt be lying if I told you that we hadnt talked about Colorado Climber. We just need some time.....
Just got the 2nd (fall) issue in the mail yesterday and started perusing. So far same quality as the first, which is A++. Great pictures, great stories, like the Nettle interview. Thanks!
Love seeing some stuff that's familiar and a lot more that's a short newly-inspired roadtrip away.
good to see Jerry's photos in print. Paper and photo quality is high. It would be great to see this mag take off. I guess I want to just remind you guys to learn from those who lost in the game of zine. Diversify without bleeding out. Western Climbing will give you a greater audience, more advertiser appeal and more opportunity to road trip yourselves for the mag. Pay more attention to editorship of the written word. Assume that your audience is educated and do not limit your target demographic unnecessarily. Keep the photo quality high. Don't be creating a publicity rag to showcase yourselves. I know this is cheeky to just give you all this unasked for advice, but so many have failed at this difficult task out of editorial egocentricity. Congrats and Good LUCK it's a nice first issue! (I tried to subscribe too, a while back, but couldn't do it)
The new magazine is awesome. New routes, new crags, tons of inspiring photos to get you up off your ass and out climbing at a new crag near you.
This mag has the beginnings of what a climbing publication should be. Inspiration.... Not a lame magazine chock full of who's who, what's the latest garb endless articles about someone on some route 99.9% of climbers could never climb even on their best day.
Brandon: California centric? To me that defines California. I.e. West Coast trendsetting and etc. 
Let us know!