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I would like to give thanks to Katie, Steve and all the members of Yourclimbing.com. I will explain.
I have been in the Infantry for over 17yrs, so you may or may not understand that making friends is not really difficult but almost pointless. I have moved every 3 years all my career. I have had some Army friends but NEVER any civilian friends. Or even hung out, climbed or anything with civilians. I’m not an ass or anything it was just not in the cards.
Anyway about a month ago Pludos and i decided to make a change. I love to climb and since I am done moving I really wanted to become a part of the climbing community, so we joined some climbing web sites to try and get to know people. Well the sites we joined were full of rude people that did nothing but flame post people were making, some people were nice but the majorities were just very adolescent. YourClimbing.com is just what it says, your stories, your photos, your climbing. By far my the best climbing site i have ever seen.
Ok my point: We joined Yourclimbing.com about 3 weeks ago and I was very impressed by the fact that if you have a question about the site steve answers it in less than 2 hours. AND the fact that this is KATIE BROWNS website and she is actually a part of it. If you ask her a question you get a real honest answer. Katie my not think much of it but the bottom line is she is a PRO Climber, which in the climbing world makes her famous and basicly a super start that still takes care of all of us still on belay so to speak.
So Monday me and Pludos decided to have some people meet at Red Rock Canyone Open Space for my birthday. We figured it was a long shot but worth a try. Well I must say I had the best Birthday an old army guys could ask for, the plan was to meet at the canyon Saturday morning and then do a BBQ at my house.
Including my wife and 2 kids, we had 12 people show up on Saturday morning to climb yes I said 12 people. It was totally amazing. Everyone was nice and kind and just there to meet new climbers and have a good time. Well I must say we had an awesome time. We didn’t climb multi pich or 5.12’s we just set up 4 top ropes and climbed together as new friends. It was to me Totally Amazing that all these people showed up. AND they all came to the BBQ afterwards. People I have never met, came to my house to celibrate my 38th birthday and even brought me beer and stuff for presents. How friggin amazing is it that this community is so fantastic we can do stuff like that with out questioning the fact that we are hanging out with complete strangers.
B-Day Highlights:
1. Pludos let his first climb
2. My wife finally lead a climb again
3. MY DAUGHTER LEAD HER FIRST CLIMB EVER 5.6 YOU GO GIRL WOOOOT.
4. And I must say second to that was I got to climb with his majesty himself , yes people I got to climb with the KING, the honorable, ClimbingWall (amazing I know but it really happened)
So I say once again Thank you Katie, Steve and all the YourClimbing staff. For the best Birthday ever.
P.S All the people that showed up have joined Colorado Springs Rockrats Group, If your new to colorado springs new to climbing or new to the site don’t be afraid to get out and meet people. I promise you wont regret it.
katie says:
Thank you for all the very kind comments. So glad that you enjoy the site and that it is providing community!
climbingwall says:
Hey, I second the motion. I joined to meet new people to climb with, because even though my fiancee doesn't mind belaying me, it helps to get out with people who will help me push my levels. I on-sited a 10b, as a first climb, and believe me I wouldn't have climbed so much, or belayed so much if it was only Charity and I. Rockratz, I am grateful you invited me, I had a great time, and I got to rag on one of the largest people I've ever met, and most importantly, I was treated like part of the family, and that is why I love the people on this site; MY SUBJECTS!
Cheers!
woodchuck07 says:
I love this post. Says alot about the kind of people that came here, probably as me, attracted to the straight forward, honest face and smile of Katie Brown. How could awful people even think of posting up here?
Well this 'thank you' above just gives me one more reason to move out to the Springs instead of being a 2 week visitor every now and then. I joined for much the same purposes. I see dozens of people near me as 'members' yet most of them have zero posts, no ID, no profile, no photos, nothing. Much like their climbing interest and the climbing life in general around here in Illinois. I will hold the claim to be the longest living serious climber in the state by now.( as I have no 'health club' or other affiliation to gain climbers). Keep the site going as it is my first check in every day.
Erica44 says:
Great post Cliff. I happend to be one of those 12 people and I also had a great time. I have been lucky that everywhere I went in the military I found people to climb with, and Colorado Springs was no different. I can't wait to do it again. Wednesday at Peterson in fact. And I promise to post more once I get used to the site.
Thanks yourclimbing.com and Cliff for the opportunity to meet and make new friends.
Erica
Vegas says:
Glad to hear that you all had a good time! Bummed that I had to fly back so early, but I'll be back in about three weeks and will definitely catch the next RockRatz Climbing events. Thanks again for letting me climb with you guys last week. It was a lot of fun and look forward to more climbing adventures.
And well put Cliff. I think that once you find a good climbing community, it's hard to leave. The people that I've climbed with while in DC is what I will miss the most about this place. And that will hold true for Colorado as well. I'm glad that I got to climb with you guys last week, and I wouldn't have hooked up with you guys if it wasn't for this site. Thanks to Katie, Steve, and everyone else for making this possible, and for all the beta you've given me on this site.
woodchuck07 says:
Erica 44, ..climbing at Peterson? the indoor wall are you? I got to enjoy that lunch time pleasure while there taking classes on SBIR's through the Academy back in 98'. I think it was a pretty new wall at that time. If I find an old photo of it, I'll post it up on the site.
gonzobeer says:
Cheers RR! It was a pleasure climbing with the King wasn't it? pfft! Happy belated birthday man. Wish I was still in Colorado so I could've joined ya. HOOAH!
Licentia Haud Vestigium
woodchuck07 says:
Best part of my upcoming road trip is that CW will be overthrown as ruler by the time I get back online!/;-) Cheers to Pludos and RR for continued success.
Rockratz says:
Thanks guys, i wish you guys could have been hear too. Maybe KATIE can make an YourCLimbing.com climbing event, gathering or something. Wouldnt that be awsome a climbing event for all yourclimbing members. Just think of the cool shwag :). But seriously it was great fun and a huge step for me and Pludos in our venture toward retirement.
Anykineclimb says:
Awww.. you didn't have to thank me also! ;) Again, I'm real sorry I missed this day. Sounds like you guys had a blast. Climbers (for the most part) are a BLAST to be around and its so much fun meeting new climbers.
Rockratz says:
Dood, we had so much fun, and thanks for the phone call saturday night. As well as the invite sorry i could not make it sunday.
Pludos says:
Well flying out from Florida tomorrow and popped on my Dad's Computer check out what was posted by my bud RockRatz, man couldn't have said it better! So all I can add is right on! And I look forward to climbing with you all again, beach was fun but ready to hit the rock, and ready to have some new found friends rag on me, It was an awesome time so to all THANKS!!! You have all help re-new a 40-year-old single dad, words cannot say enough praise of a community that has made me feel so welcomed!!
climbingtrash says:
Florida huh...did you get some good pics of any Drag Queens??? (I hear Florida is crawling with 'em!)
Pludos says:
nope no where near that end, spent it in Cocoa hung out at Ron Jon's, disney, Space Center good times.
climbingtrash says:
Oh well...maybe next time. ;) Sounds like a fun trip, hope your travels home are a safe one.
Pludos says:
thanks back now and all ready been back on the rock with my bud RR, thanks, and yes it was fun!!
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