10 Year Anniversary

[esagas]

You're the best, Bill!

[Mel McKinney]

It's all your fault. Damn you Bill Middlebrook!

Seriously, thank you a million times over for providing this site. It's been a wonderful resource for me for planning hikes and climbs. Not just the route descriptions, but also photos, weather info, trailhead info and the suggestions/advice of others. I've also made friends, acquaintances and hiking partners through this site.

Again, thank you!

[scott goldberg]

Thanks Bill! To another 10 years!!!

[XPLSV]

Wow...time flies when one starts getting old...

[TheOtherIndian]

10 years of stealing thousands of man hours from corporate America! Way to go! DYBM

Seriously though, 10 years is great! Thanks!!

[fleetmack]

Wow, I've been registered on this site for over 10 years?! That is crazy. Since I've only made time to climb like two 14ers in the past 3 years, I had to find something to post about. In other news, fleetwife is pregnant, so I am soon to be the fleetmack daddy.

[EVEREST DREAMS]

Thanks Bill, It's Been Great To Be With You Since You Started. I Have Always Treasured This Site And The Great People And Info Obtained From It. Great To Climb With You As We'll And hope To Again Someday.

[DArcyS]

I suppose if this is the 10-year anniversary of the emergence of 14ers.com, this would also mark the 10-year anniversary of the decline of 14erWorld.

Somebody mentioned Bill's vision, but I think Steve Hoffmeyer should be noted for his vision (Steve was first, afterall). Although given the prevalence of bulletin boards, perhaps the emergence was inevitable. (And marked a vast improvement over list servers, if anybody remembers those.)

One difference I noted between Bill and Steve concerns CFI. Hoffmeyer seemed -- if my recollection is correct -- to have an antagnostic relationship with CFI because of these monster cairns. In contrast, Bill is on CFI's board of directors. I tip my hat to the guy who does things to make positive contributions.

Second, this is the legacy of 14erWorld. The success of any forum depends upon the contributions of the community. Many people contributed trip reports to 14erWorld, and now Hoffmeyer has elected to keep these reports to himself. It's a purely selfish act -- people contributed much to help Hoffmeyer, and this is how he says thanks to the climbing community.

Between the webmasters of 14ers.com and 14erWorld, I have no doubt the right guy won the war. To be clear, I don't wish ill-will upon Hoffmeyer, but I think the right guy won the war.

I just read this again, and it does have a negative tone towards Hoffmeyer. I thought it was selfish for Steve to keep all of those trip reports to himself. Apparently Steve has had a change of heart and is now allowing access to trip reports and even to post on the forum at 14erWorld. Huh, go figure, but I'm willing to bet this allowed Steve to feel better about himself and the end of 14erWorld, as sometimes it is better to give than receive.

[ctlee]

I'm psyched that my 10 year anniversary in Colorado coincides with 14ers.com's!!! I joined the site in 2007- how did I ever make it up Bierstadt I'm '06 without it? I never dreamed I would have accomplished what I have in mountains and I'm grateful to the members of this site and especially Bill Middlebrook- representing for the home state Connecticut-for his tireless effort to keep this incredible site updated and classy!