Rhythm.
For me climbing is all about rhythm, not just while actually climbing, but with regard to everything that being a climber encompasses. Without regular practice, it is hard to keep your climbing game sharp, so for me it is really important to maintain that regular rhythm of going to the gym or climbing outside multiple times per week. Any deviation from that throws me out of my rhythm and it can be hard to get back into the flow of things.
Writing this blog is much the same.
I’m sure many of you have noticed my prolonged absence from posting on this site.1. It has been a struggle to pinpoint why I haven’t been posting lately, but then I realized… it was all about rhythm.
If there is one thing that allowed me to post on this site almost daily for 8 years, it was maintaining a consistent rhythm of posts2. Work, my climbing, real life, vacations, I didn’t allow any of it to throw me out of my rhythm. I got up most every morning and put something up on this site3. For a long time, it was smooth sailing.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing though. The rhythm I once enjoyed started to falter the past couple of years, especially during my two year stint in Boulder4. I thought that when I returned to life in Wisconsin three months ago the rhythm would return, and for a few weeks around ABS Nationals it did. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a fleeting moment.
I came to a realization: I don’t have the same passion I once did for staying in the necessary rhythm to update this site on a daily basis.
What does this mean going forward? Well, I’m not really sure. The one thing I’m fairly certain about is that I don’t foresee posting about climbing news as much as I once did. The reasons for this are many: it seems like pretty much everyone is climbing 5.14d+ or V14+ these days, social media has made it much easier to follow the climbers you care about than when I started this site in 2007, and there are a lot of good media sources out there today doing a better job than I want to or could do right now.
This is not the end, though. I expect I will keep this site up for many years to come, and I suspect I will get the itch to return to writing about climbing, just not as frequently as I once did.
As always, a massive thank you to everyone who has read and supported the site these 8+ years. I could never have imagined all the positive things that would have come out of this experience when it first began, nor could I have foreseen all the great people that would come into my life as a part of it, so thank you.
- Thanks to those of you who reached out wondering if I was still alive ↩
- Over 2600 posts to date! ↩
- Or in the case of vacations, I got up one morning and pre-wrote a bunch of content to last through the time I would be gone ↩
- It turns out there is a lot to do there. And it’s really expensive. So I had to prioritize, and activities and making money came before this site. ↩
That’s unfortunate. This has been my only climbing news site for ages, so I don’t know what else is out there. What site(s) would you recommend for similar coverage?
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My routine: UKC News, Planet Mountain, Alpinist and Mountain Project for local news 🙂
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Same here! You’ll be missed Climbing Narc
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Everyone needs a break, and you’re right. Honestly, the climbing scene doesn’t have many incredible breakthroughs as much as it used to. People got strong and are staying strong. Woot.
Psyched for you to take some time for yourself as much as I enjoy the reading. Good luck!
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Nice update, my own frequency of visits to this site has also dwindled in past months and I seemed to have missed that you moved back to Wisc! As a fellow midwesterner, with dreams of moving to rockier areas of the country, I was wondering what brought you back?
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I think I mentioned it in passing at some point, but in any event I moved back to WI so that Mrs. Narc and I could live under the same roof again (it’s a long story).
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I have the same long story- love climbing but moving from CO Front Range & building a house in Ohio for the guy I recently married & his child with another woman.
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If the passion isn’t there why force it? everyone (including myself) will survive without our daily climbing narc fix, and as you say there are countless other resources where we can find climbing videos and articles. take time to focus on you, and your climbing!!
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🙁 I started visiting in 2010 when I first started climbing, and the Narc has been my go-to for climbing news ever since. I can’t deny that the social media landscape has changed signficantly since then, and personal passions and drives change. At least we know you left it all on the field. Thanks Narc.
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I can’t lie. I saw you were planning a post for today and i’ve been checking in whenever I got a minute. All day i was a little anxious whenever the site would load. Would you laugh and say you’ve been busy?A little extra swamped with work? I hoped something like that would be the answer. It felt like those days in school when you had this haunting feeling like you performed poorly on a test, and as the teacher came to your exam, and slid it forward, you just sort of know… Today was one of those days. The site loaded, the story was there, and I just sort of knew. It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye for now, but I understand.
-One of your many daily readers
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Support ya man, thanks for keeping my productivity in rhythm over the years!
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Thanks Phil, hope you are well!
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Are you going to keep commentating climbing comps?
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As long as LT11 doesn’t fire me I plan to keep doing them
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Life comes first man!
Any thoughts about having guest contributors/reporters? There’s a pretty large community here, and I’m sure a lot of us would love to keep the Narc name going strong.
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Possibly. My fear is that coordinating guest posts would take quite a bit of time. If anyone reading has a compelling idea around this I’ll certainly entertain it. Email me climbingnarc at gmail.com
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I wondered the same thing as Dan C. This site has always had the feel of being bigger than just one guy –you’ve done such an impressive job from design to content to consistency. If somehow it could grow into a collaboration, an actual media endeavor that makes you money. Though I’m sure that’s far easier said than done. And then there is that time element, especially when considering it *is* just you. But maybe something via a kickstarter, social media campaign. Your followers might surprise you.
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Tell the truth… ClimbingSnark was too much competition, right? 🙂
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Busted
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maybe after all this you could end up with a job working for climbing dot com, gripped or some other source that would love your insight? you have a good brand here!
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I’m not sure they can afford me 😉
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this was the best damn site on the web. you’re thoughtful, informed and respectful in a way that puts you in a league of your own.
NARC FOR PRESIDENT!
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First time in these forums I’m at a loss for words . . . just bummed. But much thanks for the work and great site Narc, love to see you get reinvigorated about it the not so distant future.
-j
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Thank you! May God bless you and your family!
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When what you love becomes a chore it’s time to find another passion. We are very grateful, it’s been awesome having this site but it’s better knowing that a creative and interesting person is looking to new avenues to exploit their talents!
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All your good work and time are greatly appreciated. Best of luck in your future endeavors and adventures.
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Thank you for all your hard work and contributions. Wish you the best.
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Plenty of controversy in WI to write about:
http://mountainproject.com/v/the-monster-in-the-mirror/110382203
http://mountainproject.com/v/baby-burmese/107546370
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I’ve been keeping up with your posts since about 2011-12 when I was really getting serious about climbing. I honestly didn’t realize it until about a six months ago that this was a one-man gig. I knew you were known as “Climbingnarc” from the LT11 comp broadcasts, but I just assumed you were the guy in charge of this page, not the only one running it! In that sense, congrats on all the hard work over the years, it’s really been one of the best, most-consistent climbing sites I’ve ever followed–and seems like something that would normally take a team of people to run!
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This was a common misconception. Thanks for the kind words!
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I’ve been missing you Narc 🙁 Love this site!
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I am disappoint. But thanks for all the effort over the years, Narc, it was much appreciated! If you’re ever in Cape Town, I’d love to buy you a beer.
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Hopeing fore a comback in rythem here! Not continuing is like leaving the sheep to a dark world of 8a.nu
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there are three tabs that open automatically when i start my browser: google, pandora, and climbingnarc. I don’t think i’m going to change that either.
Great job with the site. I look forward to updates, whenever they come.
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I like your style
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Thanks for all of the joy over the years! It’s really been a pleasure. Good luck in all of your endeavors! Your direct online presence will certainly be missed, but I think it’s awesome that you’re being honest with yourself (and us) about it all. If you ever come back, I’m sure we’ll all still be here.
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Also, any idea what will come of the Hard Boulders list? Seems like a great opportunity for a guest setter!
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I believe it’s relatively up to date (need to add Matt Fultz’s new one). I’m ok with keeping it up to date myself if people can email me relevant updates or leave comment.
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Nice!! Obviously, and seriously, no pressure or worries if it falls out of date. Just thanks for creating that super cool resource!
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Don’t stop the video uploads!
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well, there’s always http://www.hardclimbs.info/. That’s a real historical gem.
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Guess who maintains that site
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Narc,
Thank you for your years of climbing news and updates. I think I have been reading your blog for over 5 years now. This page has been my favorite place to stay updated on climbings current events. Although it is sad to hear that you will not be continuining to post daily, I understand how the time, money and effort can be a bit of a drain. Everyone has to stay passionate about what they do and I am glad to get some resolution about why my favorite page went dormant.
I really hope that this isn’t the end of your site or editorials forever. Maybe just a change in format is what you need. Maybe you get the opportunity to write thoughful articles on a more infrequent basis instead of providing updates on everything that is happening.
Either way I hope this isn’t the end of Narc, just a move in a new direction and new beginnings. Thank you again for providing hours of entertainment. I really appreciate what you have done and wanted to express my gratitude.
-T
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I’ll echo some of what Taylor said. Thanks providing my go-to climbing site for the past 4 or 5 years. It’s the bomb! I’m really going to miss it, but I get where you’re coming from, and wish you the best!
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The most important think is to live your life as happy as you can, and no to get burned out because of something that used to be a passion…
Enjoy, as we’ve been enjoying your videos and comments every week, and obviously, Thanks
A spanish reader and climber
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Mate, you’ve been a global phenomenon! As an Aussie, Climbing Narc has been my essential link to the US view of things. But everything has its time. Cheers.
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Life changes and you have to roll w/ the punches. Thank you a million times for all the hard core, concise reporting and killer videos. I for one am missing your daily coverage already.
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Narc,
Beautifully written post. Climbing and writing do share many similarities; a climber goes through seasons of hard training and relaxed enjoyment as inspiration for writing can also ebb and flow. It takes quite some mindfulness and honesty with yourself to recognize that you love something but just don’t want to sink as much time into it as before.
I agree with Taylor C; you aptly note that the times are changing so perhaps Climbing Narc could use a change in approach to match the times. No matter what you decide, I’m excited for you!
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Good to you man, enjoy the new rhythm
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Narc,
I hear ya. Follow your motivation otherwise it will feel like work. For what it’s worth, this was my main source of climbing news. I knew that if it was posted here it had to be good.
Ray
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Thanks, Ray. Really appreciate that.
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I disagree that there are (other) better sources of climbing news. CN has the best curated climbing stories and editorial content — kind of like the New York Times of climbing news. Hate to see you scale back because you have a true gift for publishing/journalism and I look/looked forward to visiting CN every morning to get inspiration for the day!
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Narc, I have gotten almost all my climbing news and video-junkie fix from you for the last few years. I am sad to see you go, and I’m starting to panic at the thought of missing some sick video because I simply didn’t check in the right place at the right time. To avoid this horrible FOMO, maybe you could list some of the sites where you find your videos/stories?
Thanks for all you’ve done over the years!
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Places I checked each day: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, long list of blogs and so on
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Just like everyone above, I understand the choice you have made. And like everyone, you have been my main news outlet for climbing. If I may pose a solution, have you thought about having someone take over the Narc and continue what you have done? Pass the buck off to someone who can continue the passion you have had for the blog. Pass the Narc!
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My main source too. The mags and sponsors have their own climbers and agendas they want to push. You do a good job of filtering the relevant stuff and give good insight. maybe find a way to get paid doing it? Best of luck
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I totally respect your brave and humble downgrade of this blog.
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i’m pretty sure that phrase is trademarked.
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You will be missed, Narc. Job well done.
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Being based in the UK your site has still always been the first climbing site i loaded every day!
Its a sad day that you wont be funnelling all your climbing post through the site but all the best for the future and thank you from England Brian!
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Thanks for all your hard work. You’ve been my only source for all climbing news and I really appreciated your balanced perspective on controversial issues. I hope you find another avenue where you can pour your passion and talent.
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Week 3, withdrawls becoming more severe. *starting slow clap for Narc to come back
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invite some guest writers! there are others who are also so obsessed that it hurts!
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Yeah, I am sure RRG FGI would be a perfect successor! 😉
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I really appreciate all the kind words from everyone. It means a lot.
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I read this when it was first posted and thought “bummer! I’m gonna miss that site!”
Today, I found myself (trying to navigate the webs to figure out what the IFSC is actually streaming live during the world cups) thinking “man, where’s Climbing Narc when you need him?!”
Sad day.
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I’ve been following and enjoying this blog for the past four or so years, I am now 22 years old. While I can sympathize with not wanting to do something where there’s no motivation, I don’t like that you stated “it seems like pretty much everyone is climbing 5.14d+ or V14+ these days” as one of the reasons for losing interest.
Climbing may have grown to where it’s at because of the ratings which make it tangibly competitive. It is a large draw and addicting force for a lot of people, myself included. But it’s only a matter of time before climbing reaches for it’s roots again: pure esthetics. In a time where everyone climbs hard people start to climb for themselves, for the routes, and not for the numbers. Aside from that even it’s an extremely exciting time for climbing: gyms going up everywhere and number of climbers increasingly constantly, big wall climbing reaching mainstream media, environmentally ethical questions being asked about the state of our parks. I’m sad to hear that we won’t necessarily get your perspective on the matter, and that you’ve potentially been turned off by what climbing has become. I hope you find new inspiration!
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Haha, funny joke Narc you got us all but it’s about time to get this thing going again.
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So, I’ve been forced to look at 8a.nu at least once a day to see if anything interested has happened. Please save me from the utter horribleness and black despair of complete and total clusterfuckertude that is that site. Please, for the love of the interweb.
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I feel your pain
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RIP Narc.
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I didn’t die 🙂
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Sadly, though Brian may still be among the living, The Climbing Narc seems to have left us.
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Narc, this site was and still is the best. I feel that a large part of what attracted me is the clean look, the easy read, the one stop shop for climbing news. I don’t care if I catch a snippet elsewhere this was (and hopefully, to some degree, still can be) the place for climbing news. Thanks for all the work you’ve put in, and good luck with whatever aspects of life are inspiring you these days. 🙂
P.S. I’ll still be rocking the “So obsessed with climbing, it hurts…” t-shirt
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Thanks!
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rock climbing sucks anyway.
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ok so… This has been my deal for over five years now and I’ve never once felt obliged to comment or even fill that part out. I do however feel it to be appropriate that I just now start to comment. Could you not sell it? yeah that would be lame. Couldn’t you hire a couple dirtbag nerds with nothing better to do than to keep up with all this shit? NAh, they would just drink beer and forget about it. hmmm? shit.
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Still checking if you might have changed your mind. 🙂 Cannot find a better commentary/aggregator for climbing related news than this site was.
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So just found this site and learn that it is “dead”. This sucks, I have just got in to climbing and the content on this site is great. To bad you can not find a way to monetize this to have more time to do it, then you do not have to “Work”. More time for the site. Oh well, looks like I have a lot to read on here for right now. Thanks for the collection as it is right now.
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Baby come back, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong, and I just can’t live without you!
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Narc 4 Life
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Knock knock . . .
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who’s there?
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I hope all is going well in the life of Narc! Just wanted to comment on my opinion that this was the best blog/website for climbing related news, videos, and commentary!
If anyone who used to frequent this site has found a replacement (although we can never fully replace climbingnarc) please let a brother know.
Thanks
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I eventually realized it would be easier to quit following climbing news and in fact to quit climbing altogether. Plus now there’s one less person crowding the local crags.
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Same here
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This goes to show how out of rhythm I am. I started reading this site when I began climbing three years ago. The site always had the best commentary and kept me motivated in the beginning when I didn’t have a climbing community to call home yet. Thanks for your years of hard work Narc. Hopefully you find rhythm in what you’re doing now back in WI. ?
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Thanks!
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When I wasn’t selling crabcake sandwiches out of the back of my van, I used to watch climbing movies here for inspiration on bummer days. I don’t climb but crabcake videos are boring. Anyway, people are saying my crabcakes taste like crap since you stopped adding climbing movies. Thanks a million, Narc. 🙁
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Merry Christmas and a happy new year Narc.
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still holding out hope this site will return one day
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You never know, but I wouldn’t bet on it…
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There is nowhere to go anymore. Ukclimbing just doesn’t tickle my fancy
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Me too my friend. Me too.
http://i.imgur.com/Uu1BfAA.jpg
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I speak for myself, but I followed this site because it provided insight into climbing news, not because you were the one posting. You really got it going and reached a gigantic amount of people–that certainly being commendable. Though I understand you have personal issues with continuing the site yourself, perhaps the work could be delegated or assigned so that it may go on? It might involve significant restructuring (IE, ads, etc.), but it would preserve a substantial contribution to a sport that continues to develop.
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Still missing this site.
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Hope you’ll find your rhythm soon…it was absolute pleasure reading your blog.
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The muscle memory from typing this URL will never go away, and so I find myself here once again, checking to see if – against all odds – theres an update by the Narc. We miss you man, hope you’re out there somewhere climbing hard (and drafting a comeback post)
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I’m still here! Not so much climbing hard, but still climbing. Always climbing…
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Still have any of those Climbing Narc stickers? Feeling nostalgic…
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I’m pretty sure I do actually. Send your address to climbingnarc @ gmail and I’ll drop one in the mail.
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any chance I could get some too?
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I miss Climbing Narc.
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