Dear Readers,

Even though this headline sounds inflammatory, histrionic, some would even say blasphemous if not whole heresy; this headline could be true in the very near future.

Even though over the last two years Routesetter.com’s visitors have grown to a high average of 450 a day it has now plateaued to around 200 a day.

Some might say that it is a seasonal thing or just the fickle nature of websites. I have another hypothesis: Routesetter.com is not meeting it’s full potential and people are bored. In fact it’s starting to slide back into the black cyber space from whence it came.

Most will find this surprising. In fact when I told Luke Bertelsen from Contact Holds, our first and longest financial supporter, that the site might close he told me, “The site is a valuable educational and networking tool. I think it has even given confidence to many setters to value their trade/ skill and has helped people learn how to convey what setters do to gym members, gym owners, and non climbers.”

I agree with Luke and I’m sure others would too. In a way we met our goal of bring setters together and building up the profession. But is that it, should we stop there?

I believe Routesetter.com has a greater purpose and greater potential that is not being met as things now stand. It has been very difficult convincing advertisers to spend their budgets in the shadowy world of the route setter. And even though people are psyched to help it has been very difficult to capitalize on the energy of our readers.

Currently we do not have video how-to’s, we don’t do a good job of covering the entire indoor climbing industry, our reviews have ceased to exist and that’s just the start.

One Man Show

I should correct myself. When I say we, I mean me.

The casual reader to the site probably does not know that this website is run by a single person in his house, all while trying to build a pro-setting career of his own.

It’s been fun researching articles, writing reviews and covering comps. But it’s also a lot of work and a lot of time that I’m running short on.

I do want to thank the handful of people that have stepped up to write articles. Luminaries like Chris Danielson and Louie Anderson were two of the first people to support the site with articles.

Others have come along as well to offer up words of wisdom: Kyle Mrohs, Jeremy Hardin, Dave Chancellor, Joe Czerwinski, Molly Beard and the dozens of setters that dispense advise in the forums.

What to do?

So dear readers what should we do? Close the site? Or work together to meet the awesome potential of Routesetter.com?

What do you want the site to look like? What sorts of articles do you want to read? Would you like to be the one to write gear reviews, how-to’s or profile a gym? Do you want to cover comps and write about it or just give us a nice essay?

I know we all have “regular” jobs and writing articles and making videos is very time consuming. But if we all chip in WE can meet Routesetter.com’s awesome potential and make it a true community.

Thanks,

Mike Helt
Founder and Editor
Routesetter.com