All I really want from Rodale is..

“1) To publish one of us one day.

2) To cover a TrailTalk event.

3) To admit that we are better.

hehe.. ya.. well.. that's enough dreaming.”

“LOL TD, never ever will # 2 ever happen.”

“Yeah, why would they follow a backpacking event or something backpacking related? They're more interested in showing their asses inside the pages.”

“I just wish they’d keep all the nuts in the asylum and quit dumping them off on us.

BTW – Some of us have been published in BP.”

“For what it's worth, when I first started bping, I used to buy that mag every month. Thought it was pretty good. I guess I just didn't know any better back then. I haven't bought a copy, save the "Gear Guide" in years, nor do I plan on it. Jon Dorn can kiss my fat hairy ass!”

“I bought a copy at the airport a few months ago.

I left the sorry piece of #&%!$ on the plane when I got to my destination.”

“aflac!”

“I did not renew my subscription at the end of the year. I got a gear guide in the mail anyway.”

“AFLAC!”

“cool violin.. didnt realize.”

“when I first started this hobby the mag was fairly helpful - didn't have any friends that bp'd. Once I got comfortable and fairly confident in my skills though I started realizing there was no real content in the mag.”

“And there is no good reason at all why they shouldn't cover the Titanium Chef event!”

“jihad rodale!”

“BP'er is become less relevant to me. I'm not ready to give it up. But I would like to read an article that starts something like this:

Listen, we're sorry. We've been trying to convince you for years that you need a bunch of expensive gear to participate in this sport. That's how we make our money. We should have - at some point - just said that all you need is abut $100 worth of stuff from Wal-mart to at least get out there. That's the most important thing - get out there.”

“Right ON, Coop!”

“LOL @ Coop!

I still read it, more outta habit now. I do enjoy some of it. Some of it is down right stupid.”

“All I want from Rodale is for Organic Gardening to be as good as it once was. Down the tubes.”

“Maybe they could call us TTers terorists, eh?”

“Or teach you to spell....”

“Had to bring this one back up.”

“Rodale sold Bp”

“Rodale Publications has sold Backpacker Magazine to Boulder, CO-based Active Interest Media, a private-equity backed enthusiast media company led by former Times Mirror Magazines CEO Skip Zimbalist that publishes Yoga Journal, Yachts Magazine and American Cowboy to name a few. Folio is quoting a price of $14 million.

From Folio:

"A source familiar with the deal told Folio: Alert that there was no auction, that Zimbalist approached Rodale with an offer. The source indicated that, as a special-interest magazine, Backpacker, while in good shape, does not perform at the level of Rodale’s larger titles such as Men’s Health."

There’s a joke in there somewhere about ‘performance’ and Men’s Health…something to do with crunches, virility etc…

Word is that while the Backpacker Mag staff is sad to leave the warm embrace of the Rodale family (and they are leaving), their grief has been alleviated by the realization that they’re moving from Emmaus, PA to Boulder, CO. Marc Peruzzi will be conducting Boulder Sensitivity Training Clinics for the new residents.

For our freelance friends:

"Active Interest Media is a company actively acquiring and building market-leading enthusiast publications and other media platforms. We offer a competitive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, long and short term disability, FSA and 401k. Please send résumé with salary requirements to hr@aimmedia.com or fax to 310-356-4109, along with a cover letter explaining why you think you are a good fit for the position."

hMmmmmm.. very interesting.”

“Maybe they will make it into a pub worth reading.”