An unconventional request to keep YourClimbing.com alive

I've been pretty open about what's going on with YourClimbing.com and our efforts to keep it going. (I think it will, one way or another -- though I can't make any guarantees.) We could really use your help.

As I mentioned in an earlier note, the Enthusiast Group, publisher of the site, is going out of business soon. We want to hand over YourClimbing.com to another company that can not only keep it alive, but grow it.

The site is fantastic (in my humble opinion); the community is fantastic; the passion that everyone shares through their photos, videos and blog posts is fantastic.

It makes the most sense for a climbing magazine publisher to take over YourClimbing.com. (There are other logical candidates -- climbing and outdoor brand companies -- but frankly I've had trouble convincing them.)

Alas, I've struck out so far with the climbing magazines. They appear to be so focused on print publishing that they don't have time for some newfangled Internet thing. Their lack of interest baffles me (I'm a new media pioneer and have spent much of the last decade-plus helping publishers figure out how to transition to digital publishing).

So, I could really use your help if you'd like to see YourClimbing.com live long and prosper.

Here's a perhaps-crazy idea. It might piss off the magazine publishers, or (I hope) maybe it'll get their attention.

Write to the publishers and tell them how important YourClimbing.com is to you, and urge them to contact us about taking over the site.

I don't know if a grassroots campaign like this will work, but what's to lose by trying?

Here are names and e-mail addresses for publishers of the principal US climbing magazines:

Climbing and Urban Climbing - Mark Crowther - mark.crowther@skrammedia.com
Rock and Ice - Duane Raleigh - draleigh@bigstonepub.com
Alpinist - Marc Ewing - http://www.alpinist.com/contact/?dept=marc

(Please send me a copy, too; I'd love to know what you're sending them. steve@yourclimbing.com)

If you want to see YourClimbing.com live on, give these guys a shout.

And please don't let this situation stop you from participating in the site. Active participation by the community is the thing that will keep it alive -- and make folks who have the wherewithal to take it over and keep it running recognize that it's a good opportunity for them. So keep talking; keep posting.

Thanks, everyone!

Steve
Founder and publisher
YourClimbing.com / Enthusiast Group LLC
Boulder, CO