We at the Mountain Shop love our town – we’ve been here for nearly 40 years and plan on sticking around for at least 40 more.

While we love Fort Collins, we’re also interested in spreading our brand to a wider audience and at Themountainshop.com we’re featuring bloggers from all around the country.

We’re planning to bring on board a local FC blogger in the next month. Keep your eyes open for the new blog to come online sometime in January.

Happy holidays!

I don’t begrudge you this, you’re just taking advantage of an opportunity. It just blows my mind in a town full of world class climbers that they are doing this.

Best of luck in your adventures in Montana. Hyalite holds a special place in my heart. If we can learn anything from Guy’s life it is support our fellow climbers and embrace the sport that gives us so much, so I wish you the best.

I remain unsure what, exactly, I said that you find so upsetting. If you read the sentence you quoted as critical of Guy somehow — suggesting, perhaps, that he had been an irresponsible climber — I assure you that is not what I intended. In fact, the point of the post was to say that activities like ice climbing that may appear reckless and dangerous are often products of very careful and discerning preparation. Further, I was not suggesting that Guy climbs at his absolute limit every time out; rather that he routinely climbs — often solo — routes that 95% of the ice climbing world couldn’t finish on their best days. I’m sorry if that was unclear.

I think the idea of “control” in the mountains is illusory, at best. The fact that Guy felt in control on grade 6 solos is further testament to his brilliance as a climber, but that doesn’t make it not dangerous. He knew better than anyone what it takes to excel under those conditions, and that knowledge took years of experience and assessment of potential consequences. Again, I’m not sure what is offensive about that; climbing solo is, empirically, a dangerous practice. I get it, I’ve done it, and I’ll probably do it again; but I have no delusions about its relative safety.

I appreciate and welcome any comments, questions, or concerns regarding my posts. I would prefer a more charitable tone in the future.

Also, for the record, I’ve never been to Ft. Collins, and I certainly don’t claim to represent the town or any of its people. I appreciate that The Mountain Shop offers this space for me to share my thoughts, but they are my thoughts and should be considered as such and nothing more.

This so incorrect about Guy it’s almostoffensive. Guy didn’t consider a solo successful unless he was in control. Were you not there when JoJo read Scott Semple’s letter?

It’s kind of sad that there were people up there from Fort Collins competing in the Icebreaker and this is the voice that The Mountain Shop chooses to represent our town.