5280 article on Bill Middlebrook

[peterkfes]

Wonderful article. I think of 14ers.com as a life accomplishment of Bill's that extends beyond family and career. His Opus that the rest of us get to adventure into and enjoy.
Sir...thank you, sir.

[Ed_Groves]

Piling on with another "great article" comment! Very nice to read about Bill's journey and the site's origins.

Without the information here I would probably be using the "hunt and peck" method to climbing mountains in Colorado and would be missing out on a lot. Bill, you have created the best informational source for climbing Colorado mountains, bar none. And all for free. Your labor of love has benefitted countless hikers and there is no doubt that some lives have been saved due to the information on this site. You deserve all of the accolades and a very huge "thank you" from all of us.

[lodgling]

Now this is more like it ... there was a time a couple weeks ago where two threads had Mr. Roach in the title (blasphemy ). Thanks Bill!

[434stonemill]

I moved to Colorado from Ohio in 2005 and found 14ers.com a few years later, must have been about the time the forum feature had been added. It has been an amazing resource and I have definitely wasted a few hours at work following so many different speed attempts. Having gone to college right about the time the wide world web was just beginning to take off, I have seen many websites grow from their simple coding to today's more lavish looks. So many sites that were fun in the early days, either disappeared, become overly toxic, or as they grew, lost their community feel and become corporate. I have always appreciated how 14ers.com, while becoming more technologically advanced, never lost its sense of what it was in the beginning. Reading the article in 5280, helped me understand why that is. It's because one man runs the operation and shares the same ideals that I have. Thank you Bill for all your efforts.

I don't post much, but I will take this moment to share a pet peeve I have seen over the years on the forum. A person will ask a question like "What is the best beginner 14er?" or "I am camping in Colorado, what mountain should I climb?", etc.
When you look at the post, you noticed the person just registered and its their first use of the forum. Of course, the wonderful people on this site quickly respond with ideas and suggestions (sometimes ignoring the little info the poster did include), but I am always annoyed. And wish no one responded. Here is a repository of information, that before this site existed, you would need to buy 3 to 4 different books, go to a library, buy multiple maps, know people and still not be exactly sure what you were doing. All this info at your fingertips....for free! A basic search of the site would help answer a number of the poster's questions, and then they could use the forum to get clarification on a specific point or concern. The laziness of the person asking these generic questions bugs me even more, seeing how much time, effort, and money Bill has put into this site over the past 25 years. Still it is the community that this site has created, even for those of us like me, who visit frequently, but not necessarily post, that (usually) answer these posters with no snark or meanness, but with valuable insight. All of this because of their passion for the Colorado mountains, which Bill has helped instill in all of us, through this site.

[d_baker]

^ that's the community part. Don't be peeved at your neighbors!

[dubsho3000]

My favorite quote from a Bill post to a user who had given him some lip… “Look here dummy…”

It was such a simple, appropriate, and perfect intro to the rest of what he had to say.

Thanks for the site, Bill, and all you’ve put into it. We’ve gotten a LOT out of your efforts.

One time when someone posted "there aren't any serious climbers on this site anyway" Bill responded "what do you mean serious climbers? like they don't tell jokes?" Been a fan ever since.

[nyker]

Did we ever figure out who the Baron was??

[Skimo95]

Thank you Bill. Just under 6 years ago, moving to Colorado I never knew what a 14er or summit ski descent was. Your community and wealth of information on this site has changed my life for the better. I may have become more anti-social over the years, but I’ve became a better person in part. The article kicks ass and you’re even more impressive I look forward to many more years of reports, meeting new friends, and sharing what little knowledge I can on my end. Cheers!

[Trotter]

A nice article, and while I knew Bill put in a ton of work on the website, I didn't know it was costing so much also. Thanks 14er.com sugar daddy!

[Chicago Transplant]

Finally had a free moment to read the article, was cool to learn a bit of your history Bill! I spent some years between my Chicago stints in the northeast, including the Albany area where I spend many days skiing at Jiminy Peak myself, you may have even slung me a chair way back in the day

Has been great getting to hike and ski with you on the few occasions we have gotten out together, thanks for your continued heartfelt dedication to all of us site users and thanks for deciding to create this website all those years ago. I moved here in 2004 and have been a registered user since I think September of that year? Seen lots of people come and go over the years! Thanks again, and hope to get out with you again some time!

[Dobsons]

Loved reading the article! Thx Bill for all you have done!
Corey

[MountainHiker]

Wow, 25 years! It doesn't seem that long ago I was photocoping Quad maps along with a page from the Roach book! Before Roach, I read the Borneman & Lampert book from front to back learning history of the mountains along with less detailed route descriptions. Climbing fourteeners was an adventure in those days! Pre CFI the routes themselves were often - follow the old pack trail until it ends at a tailings pile. Head uphill until you gain the saddle or a ridge. Follow ridge to summit! When 14ers.com came along, with photos added to the route descriptions, complicated routes became much easier to follow. But don't let your guard down. There will always be sucker trails to lead you astray and weather can totally change your spatial perception. Thanks Bill, not just for this site, but also for your work with CFI.