2 Years (but who's counting?)

[Kevin]

It kinda snuck up on me this time.

ADK Forum celebrates 2 years today. In those 2 years we've had many members come and go. I'd like to say a special thanks to all of you who were around in those first 6 months, when I was a moody bitch and ready to battle everyone on topics I knew very little (if anything) about.

From my perspective this forum has been a major, life-transforming event. I've grown very attached to several new friends. I even found unexpected romance! What started as a harmless idea has developed into its own.

So, I dedicate year 2 to all the members who stayed the course through the choppy seas in a tumultuous storm. All I can promise is that I'll keep the boat afloat. Where we go is up to you.

Thanks for being such a moving force in my life.

[Hakuna Matada]

Happy Birthday ADK Forum
Happy Birthday ADK Forum
Happy Birthday Dear ADK Forum
Happy Birthday to all of us

Thank You for letting me be there when I'm not able to be there.

[windsong781]

Happy Birthday ADK Forum. I wasn't around two years ago, but I appreciate being a part of this group. Keep up the good work Kevin. As for it sneaking up on you, don't worry, that kind of stuff comes with "age". I've forgetten my wedding anniversary two out of the last ten years, and girls aren't suppose to forget those kind of things. Like you said, it just kind of snuck up on me in the middle of that thing that we call "life".
Windsong

[Mavs00]

I just went on the "member list" and sorted by join date. Apparently I joined on 11/12/03.......... Wow, that was a long time ago. I didn't really know much back then. Come to think of it, I still don't

Much to YOUR chagrin, I'll likely still be here in 11/07 too. Look at it this way, someone has to be here to cause you guys grief, otherwise moderating here would be a pretty boring job. Might as well be me.

Happy B-day to the forum

[Kevin]

Much to YOUR chagrin, I'll likely still be here in 11/07 too. Look at it this way, someone has to be to cause you guys grief, might as well be me.

A man couldn't ask for a kinder nemesis .

[redhawk]

Look at it this way, someone has to be here to cause you guys grief, otherwise moderating here would be a pretty boring job. Might as well be me.

Happy B-day to the forum

Sorry Pal, I'm the official resident pain in the A**.

[Judgeh]

Sorry Pal, I'm the official resident pain in the A**.

After all this time I have yet to disagree with the Hawkman!

Happy Birthday to the Forum.

[dog]

Happy BD , ADKFORUM !
Is it possible to know history of the forum creation ?
Thank you very much anyway .

[lumberzac]

2 years ago this day, work productivity significantly dropped.

Happy Birthday ADKForum

[Kevin]

Is it possible to know history of the forum creation ?

Sure, but it isn't that interesting.

In September or October 2003 something occurred to me - there was no forum for the adirondacks! I was a regular computer forum member, and was even on staff with a few of those forums. One day in 2003 I wanted to get some feedback on a hike I was planning in the 5 Pond Wilderness, only to get a ranger's phone number and no call back. Had similar issues planning a possible overnight trip around Blue Mountain lake earlier that same year. Something had to be done.

Having already had the experience of starting a forum, the technical side of vbulletin was cake. The only problem was getting the word out. Because I was a relatively new hiker I didn't know many hikers or organizations that could help with advertising. On that first day I spammed every outdoors forum I could find. Shortly after a few of the new members told me about www.viewsfromthetop.com, a site that covers the entire northeast. There was some doubt in adkforum's future at that time, because what I was looking for and couldn't find was there after all.

Thanks to some controversy on views from the top we were able to start growing rather quickly. Many members were starting to find adkforum a warmer place to post. ADK Forum, at that time, also had very few restrictions on post content, so it was a welcome change from participating on other forums that were heavily censored.

We went through many web hosts in our first year. Many members came and went. Many of the old timer adk forum members still lurk and surprise us with a post when least expected ( cheers to our first staff members Adam (Morrell) and Mike (rondak100)). In the early days we had about the same number of disagreements as we have seen more recently (which lead to the new forum posting policies). I've been very public about the fact that the most vocal of the departed members were also long time members at views from the top. I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

But while many left many stayed and friendships developed. We had out first local gathering, at Jullian's in downtown Albany, winter 2003/2004. I met Ron (ronandjohn), Mike Becker (mike1889), and several others. All good people, very curious to find out who the hell I was. Later that spring we organized our first ADK Forum dayhike. This is when many of today's regulars, and most of the current forum staff, came into the picture. Gary (wildernessphoto), redhawk, and Zac (lumberzac) were in attendence. Since then we've hung out to varying degrees on canoe/paddling trips, trail work, hiking, and camping. Right around that time Dick, Valerie (fvrwld), and countless others registered and became very active.

The whole time revenue for the forum has been generated by the single google ad at the top right corner. We make just enough in an average month from that single banner to pay for the hosting of this site. The forum software was purchased with a lifetime license, so we're good there indefinitely.

During this brief history lesson I intentionally left out a key ingredient and player in all of this - Jeff. Because of personal issues (a situation between him and myself off the forums) that came up, Jeff ceased all involvement here. I think I speak for everyone who knew Jeff: "You are missed." The original plan for the forums were to be a gift to Jeff, the man who introduced me to backpacking, my first outdoors 'sponsor' if you will. He had taken me up my first high peak, and handed me my 46er patch on Phelps October 2004. In time he was supposed to take the ownership of the forums from me (once he felt comfortable with running them). Because he left this placed me in a peculiar spot.

While I love most of the people on the forum, I don't always like being in the limelight. People tend to focus on figures of power, real or perceived. While admin I've had to tolerate a lot of things, some justified but some very unfair. It was a position I was willing to surrender. So for a 6 month stretch in 2005 Redhawk took over as sole owner of ADK Forum. That ended with some controversy and personal issues that he felt could spill into these forums. He then resigned and I was handed the keys (by default) again.

So there you have it. This forum is a dream that came to fruition. Its grown into a wonderful resource and has even sparked some fellowship among its members. I hope it success for years to come.

[Mavs00]

After all this time I have yet to disagree with the Hawkman!

Happy Birthday to the Forum.

Funny, I've never met him, and I regularly disagree with him, and would fully concede to his proclaimed title of Head PITA................... Yet, I still like him immensely.

Odd, huh............ You can just imagine the conflict and turmoil within. Fear not, I have an army of therapists working on it.

[AdkWiley]

Happy belated b-day forum! this is a great place and even though im fairly new to the page i've grown to love it. Great features and even better people. One of these days ill have to join in on a hike! cheers forum!
and cheer to kevin for creating it!

[mike1889]

Happy Birthday to the Forum!

[Neil]

So, the forum is entering the "terrible twos". Watch out!
Congratulations on staying the course.

[Kevin]

So, the forum is entering the "terrible twos". Watch out!

I'm hoping we grew up real fast and have already grown past that stage.