by Alicia MacLeay
It's Trailspace's 10th birthday. Celebrate with a hike, ski, cake or all of the above.
Happy 10th Birthday, Trailspace!
Thanks to each of you who has contributed to our outdoor community over the past decade. By being a member, writing a review, joining in the forums, using the gear guide, telling your friends, sporting a Trailspace sticker or hat, or reading this blog, you've helped make Trailspace a success.
Dave and I launched Trailspace on Wednesday, March 14, 2001, without much fanfare. The site launched with two forums (backcountry and climbing) and some soon-to-be-organized gear reviews that had previously been part of Views from the Top.
Trailspace didn't start with a grand plan. It was, and still is, a site about the things we love to do. We worked on it piece by piece in our spare time, and eventually full time. And while the site has grown, the heart of it has stayed the same: helping people get geared up and outdoors, and connecting people who enjoy human-powered backcountry recreation.
In ten years of forum posts, comments, and gear reviews, I've heard a lot of outdoor advice (backpacking stoves alone are an endless topic), stories (through trip reports I've traveled around the backcountry world), and tips (Shamwows apparently make excellent camp towels) .
Listening to a range of outdoor voices has expanded my own ideas and open-mindedness.
A few lessons I've gleaned along the way:
- a community is collectively wiser than any one member
- everybody knows something that you don't
- being a truly good listener can be hard, but it's worthwhile
- be humble and respectful and you'll be respected in return
- civil discourse is possible and worth working toward
Most importantly, I've learned that there are many, many good people out there, people I'm proud to have as fellow members of the Trailspace community. I've witnessed members send others extra gear and parts, spend time researching gear answers for others, welcome beginners to the community and the outdoors, and give support during times of personal difficulties and even tragedies.
While I'm proud of the outdoor resource and community Trailspace has become, I'm even more proud of our members who make it a positive, welcoming place. Thank you all for making Trailspace what it is today!
