But every job I had was temporary, and I wanted to do something more permanent. When the internet came along, I was so excited, and that is what started Bivouac. In the next couple of years I spent most of my savings on operating a money losing company to make internet databases. But eventually I stumbled on a practical technology, and that became Bivouac.com. Bivouac became something because of volunteers. It wasn't just a guidebook written by one person, it became a guidebook written by dozens. Through the website, I met numerous new contacts, and some pretty talented programmers. I try to get to know something about each of the key contributors personally. Between 1995 and 2000, we tried various ideas with Bivouac, but things really started working in 2000 when it turned into an Encyclopedia. Don't ever believe that MBA stuff about the need for formal "business plans". The real way small businesses work is by evolution. You never really know how events will unfold. My own trip reports soon faded into the background of the great guidebook like collections you see today. But I still keep writing new stories, every time I go somewhere new. I'll look in bivouac, and find a peak or area for which there is very little information, and that will be my motivation to go there. I always wanted to be a reporter. | |
Trips Insert 54 2020.07.25 Seed and Gilespie Peaks from Mamquam Roads 63 2020.09.06 Griswold Pass, Wolverine Pass, Slim Creek Loop 70 2020.09.14 Revisit Mcgillivrary Pass and climb of Whitecap 20 1998.06.30 Stoltmann Wilderness Trail from the South 48 1997.05.24 Overseer Mountain and Harrison Hut 28 1995.09.21 Free Will Peak via Stoltmann Wilderness Trail North 44 1976.08.20 West Coast Trail in the muddy old days 53 1976.12.19 Whirlpool Expedition - A Christmas Story 45 1981.04.15 The Endless Skies of Spring - Manatee Peak 52 1992.08.01 Judge Howay - First Attempt 29 1998.04.19 Snowspider Hut via Cerise Ck and Vantage Col ..more | Photo Essays Insert 13 1976.05.24 South Twin from Columbia Trench 11 1992.05.20 Mount Lyell from Camp on Lyell Icefield 11 1992.05.11 Mount Forbes and North Glacier from Lyell Icefield 6 1992.08.02 Tom Zarzecki Looking for the Judge Howay Hanging Valley 6 1978.10.08 Mount Hector Final Peak 6 2000.09.05 Solitary Alpine Paintbrush below Taseko Mountain 8 2001.09.01 Along Simon Creek 9 2001.08.28 Beacon Lake in Jasper Park 12 2002.08.20 Approaching Cocoa Crater 11 2002.08.22 Approaching Tsekone Peak (Black Knight Cone) 16 2002.08.22 Mount Edziza From the Northwest ..more |
Road Bulletins | |
Equipment Reviews Insert 2018.11.16 Meindl Himalaya Hiking Boots 2018.11.15 Arcteryx Alpha FL 45 Alpine Backpack 2018.02.22 Noco GB40 Lithium Jump Starter 2017.10.25 Thule Podium Fixpoint Foot Pack - Roof Racks 460 2017.01.10 Arcteryx Theta AR Jacket 2016.04.04 G3 Targa Telemark Bindings 2015.11.01 Petzl Tikka RXP Headlamp 2015.10.30 Coghlans 21" Folding Handsaw 2014.10.15 Delorme InReach SE 2014.01.23 Rossignol bcx5 Nordic Norm Ski boots 2013.10.04 MSR Hubba Hubba HP Tent ..more General Articles Insert Discussions Insert |