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Chris McNamara
SuperTopo staff member
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 16, 2009 - 03:38pm PT
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2009
Michael Kennedy named Editor-in-Chief of Alpinist Magazine
Announces April 15 release date for Issue 26
Jeffersonville, Vermont—March 16, 2009 Height of Land Publications, the independent publisher of Alpinist, Backcountry and Telemark Skier Magazines, announced today the well-known climber and editor Michael Kennedy will join Senior Editor Katie Ives to relaunch Alpinist Magazine. Issue 26 ships to subscribers, shops and newsstands April 15.
Founded by Christian Beckwith and Marc Ewing and operated in Jackson, Wyoming, until the autumn of last year, the quarterly Alpinist features a timeless, clean design with minimal ads. Publishing only the highest quality and most authentic climbing art and writing, Alpinist portrays the essence of the climbing life, inspired by an ethos of beauty, purity and style, and a dedication to help preserve the natural world that makes all adventures possible.
”My aim is to continue to explore the heart and soul of the climbing experience,” says Kennedy, “building on the incredible foundation Alpinist has developed over the last six years.” Widely known in the climbing community for his work at Climbing Magazine from 1974 to 1998, Kennedy served as an advisor to Alpinist since its inception in 2002. In over 35 years of climbing he has ventured far and wide, from pioneering Colorado ice climbs to lightweight alpine climbs in Alaska and the Himalaya, and he remains an active rock climber and backcountry skier today.
Independent publisher Height of Land Publications was founded in Jeffersonville, Vermont in 2002 and currently owns and operates Alpinist, Backcountry and Telemark Skier Magazines. "Our mission is pretty simple," says cofounder and Height of Land Publications Editorial Director Adam Howard, "to publish about that which we live. Michael is climbing, and he understands little companies like ours. It's a perfect fit."
—30—
To subscribe to Alpinist visit alpinist.com or call 888-424-5857.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Mar 16, 2009 - 03:43pm PT
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Same bus, new driver.
And there couldn't be a better choice.
DH
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apogee
climber
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Mar 16, 2009 - 03:58pm PT
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Fantastic news- wasn't sure where this new ownership thing was going to land, but with MK at the helm, I am sure it will be of the highest quality. Looking forward to the first issue.
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Mar 16, 2009 - 03:58pm PT
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Congratulations Michael (if you are reading this). Good luck.
Best, Roger
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RDB
Trad climber
Iss WA
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Mar 16, 2009 - 04:27pm PT
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That is AWESOME...congrads Michael!
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Fletcher
Trad climber
here to eternity
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Mar 16, 2009 - 04:32pm PT
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Great news.... looking forward to that.
Eric
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Anastasia
climber
Not here
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Mar 16, 2009 - 04:33pm PT
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Yeah! Congratulations! Looking forward to buying your work!
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Scared Silly
Trad climber
UT
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Mar 16, 2009 - 04:47pm PT
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There goes the neighborhood - from high standard to uber high standard. I can not wait.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Mar 16, 2009 - 07:15pm PT
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That's great news.
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Maysho
climber
Truckee, CA
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Mar 16, 2009 - 07:37pm PT
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Big Congrats Michael,
(and congrats to Alpinist for scoring you!)
Though I hope you won't miss your retirement too much!
Peter
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Mar 16, 2009 - 07:43pm PT
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A good mind, a good voice, a good man, and loads of
experience both as an editor/writer and as a
climber.
All the best, Michael,
Pat Ament
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Mar 16, 2009 - 10:15pm PT
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Flight of the Phoenix with an ace pilot in the cockpit!
This is terrific news for Alpinist, Kennedy, and the readership.
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Mar 16, 2009 - 10:24pm PT
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Wow what wonderful news! I can't think of a better outcome. I can't wait!!!
May I humbly suggest a retrospective on Fritz Stammberger?
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TYeary
climber
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Mar 16, 2009 - 10:27pm PT
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Great news for all of us. Glad Michael's on board.
Tony
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Bruce Perschbacher
climber
Carbonale,Ill. 62901.
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Mar 16, 2009 - 10:51pm PT
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Hello,
Really looking forward to the next issue. Congratulations.
Cheers,
Bruce.
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Michael Kennedy
Social climber
Carbondale, Colorado
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Mar 16, 2009 - 10:53pm PT
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Thanks, everyone, for the positive comments.
It is more than a little daunting to follow in the footsteps of Christian, Katie, and everyone else who had a hand in putting out 25 issues of the best magazine our community has seen. I only hope I can live up to the expectations expressed here.
I really did plan on fading into obscurity but this seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Onward through the fog ...
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Mar 16, 2009 - 11:21pm PT
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best of luck to you Michael and to Alpinist!
I, too, can't wait to see the next issue.
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GDavis
Trad climber
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Mar 16, 2009 - 11:36pm PT
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This is like hearing that they are bringing Brett Favre to coach the Packers.... awesome!
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Mar 16, 2009 - 11:40pm PT
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Congratulations - looking forward to more fine issues.
Does this mean you get to be Alpinist-in-Chief too?
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Mar 16, 2009 - 11:55pm PT
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Tami, didn't all that stuff get covered in Issue 13?
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Katie_I
Mountain climber
Wyoming
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Mar 17, 2009 - 12:10am PT
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I feel really honored to be able to work for MK. =)
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Mar 17, 2009 - 12:22am PT
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Been curious like a lot of folks who would...(actually, I like Tarbuster's metaphor so much I'm slightly flummoxed here). But it never crossed my mind Michael that you might throw your helmet in the ring.
A slam dunk.
However, you've clearly been retired too long to remember those bleary nights of deadline when the fog indeed descends. The GPS has not been invented that can light that passage.
Best of the best of luck to you!
Cheers,
Doug Robinson
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Mar 17, 2009 - 12:43am PT
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I take this as very promising news. Glad I bought in.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Mar 17, 2009 - 12:52am PT
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All this talk of huntin' and shootin' and cookin' varmints is just fine - but what if the one in the pot is a hangdoggin' rapboltin' sport climber who you know?
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10b4me
Ice climber
Rustys Saloon
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Mar 17, 2009 - 12:57am PT
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Fantastic news- wasn't sure where this new ownership thing was going to land, but with MK at the helm, I am sure it will be of the highest quality. Looking forward to the first issue.
I agree wholeheartedly
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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Mar 17, 2009 - 01:09am PT
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Great news for all, Michael! Congratulations...and thanks for coming out of retirement to captain Alpinist into the future.
-Jeff
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Bldrjac
Ice climber
Boulder
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Mar 17, 2009 - 02:43am PT
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Congrats Michael!! That's wonderful news for the climbing world.
Could not have happened to a more qualified and better person.
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telemon01
Trad climber
Montana
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Mar 17, 2009 - 06:41am PT
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Time to renew my subscription... great news, totally appropriate.
Congrats...looking forward to the first issue.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Mar 17, 2009 - 09:38am PT
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A damn good editor, and climber.
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GRJ
climber
Juneau AK
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Mar 17, 2009 - 11:49am PT
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Again, Mike congrats. Many of my older alpinists are bound by duct tape from over use. I am glad to hear the quarterly is coming back. Good luck.
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Mar 17, 2009 - 01:23pm PT
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What Tami said.
Hey Michael, howabout more plastic and pictures of buff young things dyno'in?
Just asking.
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bkalaska
Trad climber
SAn Francisco, CA
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Mar 17, 2009 - 01:26pm PT
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I am really excited as I was afraid this would be a permanent loss to the climbing world with the economy sucking and all. So what happens to old subscriptions that haven't been fulfilled?
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Mar 17, 2009 - 01:26pm PT
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This is good news. Let's hope it can go this time. We can find out if there is a niche market for quality design as the rest of journalism tanks.
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Michael Kennedy
Social climber
Carbondale, Colorado
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Mar 17, 2009 - 05:10pm PT
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Again, thanks for all the positive comments. We are working hard to get the first "new" issue out. Lots of plastic-pulling, mega pads, fixed ropes - the usual jiggery-pokery.
For bkalaska and anyone else who asks, Height Of Land, the new publisher/owner of Alpinist, is honoring all existing subscriptions.
Go to alpinist.com and click on the link at the bottom of the announcement on the home page. You can check the status of your subscription, change address, renew, etc.
You can also email Denise with any sub questions: subscriptions@holpublications.com
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Mar 17, 2009 - 05:50pm PT
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Congrats Mike,
hope you're healed up, and can still find time for the Kor video.
(BTW, yesterday about this time he summited Thumb Butte via yet another new route. The guy just won't stop.)
Best of luck with the new gig.
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pip the dog
Mountain climber
planet dogboy
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Mar 18, 2009 - 04:27pm PT
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Years ago, in about ’83, I was at this insanely expensive old college that once had a mountaineering club of some note. Only I wasn’t wealthy, or even well fed in those days. And by the time I got there, there was no mountaineering club – just endless shelves of increasingly dated climbing guides in a special section of the library (that impacted my GPA a bit). But I had heard tell that there was still a ton of cash buried somewhere, and that (at least BITD) some of this cash was used to pay for “climbing expeditions of merit.”
And while I was capable of neither an expedition nor merit, I was dying to get out of there for a trip to _there_. My goal was simply to go to khumbu and perhaps do something trivial. Mostly i wanted to just see it. So I blow the dust off of all manner of paperwork and find out who to talk to and what applications I needed to fill out for such a grant. There had been no such grants in well over a decade.
So I fill out the forms and end up in front of these two ancient alum at some dusty swank club in NYC (just getting in the door took all manner of ID checks). The ancients take one look at my blue ponytail and 23 piercings and in that moment things aren’t going at all well. The ancients ask me “So what exactly is the point of this ‘expedition’ of yours, you twerp?“
Ummm, errr, (trying to dance my way out of this one), I say, “Well I plan to write about the effects of the influx of climbing on the Sherpanis – as many the few local dudes either get dead or end up with a great wad of cash and drunk in Katmandu.” And they said “And who exactly would publish such an article?” I said, “Um, I’ll get back to you on that...”
In desperation I called Michael Kennedy, then at “Climbing Magazine” and fessed up everything and told him my whole sordid plot. Not that I knew the guy or anything. To this day I’m amazed he didn’t just hang up on me. A few days later, the ancient ones of the mighty trust fund checkbook received a letter on Climbing Magazine letterhead stating the editor was quite interested in such an article. (which of course he wasn’t – nor was I).
And BOOM -- I get a r/t ticket, a check for $800 for any needed gear, and another $1,200 in fun money. TOUCHDOWN! I ended up missing not one but two semesters, and caught a world of sh!t for that. But I just didn’t want to leave. And in the end, especially at this distance, who cares?
Bless your remarkable heart, Michael – a Patron saint of the mediocre like me. To this day, I still have candles lit just for you. The time you took to listen to my prattle and then write a letter changed my world, and for the better. I met Jello on that trip – and as you would surely know, that also changed my world for the better and forever.
~~~
I still have at least 8 issues of Alpinist due me -- now all I need is an address that lasts for more than 2 or 3 weeks at a time (yup, still a dirtbag)
I’m absolutely jazzed you will be close to the center of this Resurrection. but do reassure me, it will still be _Alpinist_ right? no indoor plastic or celebrity hairdoos -- i know where to find that kind of stuff.
^,,^ (aka pip -- another, lesser, michael)
(fwiw, the sherpanis were and are doing just fine. they’re even studlier than even their high altitude boys. ummm, well there is the article i once promised… pretty terse, huh? and i am not at all known for terse. as i have just now demonstrated.)
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Mar 18, 2009 - 06:02pm PT
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Now that Alpinist is "back", I hope that it gets the support from the climbing community that has been lacking. The bitching I heard from climbers has been deafening, but many of those same climbers, when questioned, also complain about the cover price. It simply doesn't pencil out that you can have a coffee table quality publication with minimal advertising that also has a low price. If you posted about the horrible demise of Alpinist, put your money where your mouth is and get a subscription.
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WanderlustMD
Trad climber
New England
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Mar 18, 2009 - 06:40pm PT
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Nice. He will do a good job.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Mar 18, 2009 - 06:53pm PT
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Now that Alpinist is "back", I hope that it gets the support from the climbing community that has been lacking.
What Jim said. It never made sense to me that something that good had a paid subscription list of just 9,000. I know that the US isn't exactly overrun with alpine climbers, but when you consider that Alpinists' coverage was really worldwide, you have to wonder why only 9,000 of us saw it as worth subscribing to.
So bug all your friends to pony up and get the resurrected version off to a good start.
D
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Mar 18, 2009 - 06:57pm PT
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And I meant to add, a damn good writer.
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Dolomite
climber
Anchorage
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Mar 18, 2009 - 07:37pm PT
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Yes, exactly what Jim said.
And Pip: sweet post, thanks.
Michael, right the ship and steer true. Best wishes to you and Alpinist.
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Mar 19, 2009 - 06:24pm PT
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"Bottom line is if people demand more climbing sh#t, they'll bump it."
bump
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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Mar 19, 2009 - 09:12pm PT
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Congratulations Michael,
The mag has always been in your image and now that you're no longer several degrees removed, Alpinist will only get great.
Cheers,
Mal
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DJMac
Big Wall climber
Bonedale, CO
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Mar 27, 2009 - 03:55pm PT
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I know you've got your work cut out for you ... But it's going to be sooo much fun!
Can't wait to get my hands on a copy.
All my best to the entire staff, and congrats MK!
 John McMullen, Carbondale CO
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Conrad
climber
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Mar 27, 2009 - 04:29pm PT
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Great news. Your knowledge of climbing , its history and the potential of the future will be reflected in your work.
Best,
Conrad
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