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The Choss Boss is an honor bestowed upon those who win social media glory from one of our promotions.
Current Contest Status: Contest Closed for the Summer. Check Out All the Photos on Facebook
Read below the break to see who has wrested this prestigious honor from the chossy stones of the mountain.
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Chossiest of the Choss Bosses—Summer 2011 Winner
Jon Lundquist (Choss Boss of Week 10) Was Voted Grand Prize Winner By Our Facebook Fans for This Photo:
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Week 10—Best Choss Photo Choss Boss: Jon Lundquist
Name: Jon Lundquist
Location: Iowa City, IA
AAC Member: No, but hopefully soon! I’m still a poor college student...
Preferred Type of Climbing: Rock or mountaineering; however, there's not much of either in Iowa….
Years Climbing: 3 years
I ♥ the AAC: Because of the support they give to climbers. I haven't been climbing for that long, yet I was blown away how supportive the climbing community is.
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: Motto: "Whatever It Takes"
Check out Jon's winning photo.
Some of The American Alpine Club's Grants support young climbers like Jon. The Mountain Fellowship Program awards funds to climbers under 26 to help them go into remote areas and seek out climbs more difficult than they might ordinarily be able to do. Other Club Grants support conservation, research, and pushing the limits of the sport.
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Week 9—Best Climbing Sufferfest Photo Choss Boss: Brian Glenn
Name: Brian J. Glenn
Location: Middletown, CT
AAC Member: Yes, and I always will be.
Preferred Type of Climbing: I love a tall cold one!
Years Climbing: Just like Mr. Denver sings, I was born in the summer of my 27th year, and since then my life has been full of wonder.
I ♥ the AAC: Because they encourage people to climb higher. I met my best friends on the mountains, and I'm eternally for that.
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: With great respect! I love to push myself to bigger and harder, but I always remember that you haven't climbed a mountain until you've made it back down.
Check out Brian's sweet winning photo.
We're glad that Brian (and everyone else that sent us a Sufferfest Photo) returned safely. Occasionally, however, we need help. AAC Members all get $10,000 in Rescue Benefits.
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Week 8—Best Summit Celebration Photo Choss Boss: Phil Watts
Name: Phil Watts
Location: Michigan
AAC Member: Yes
Preferred Type of Climbing: Hard to say … sport rock, trad rock, alpine mountaineering, a little ice …
Years Climbing: About 33 years … got started late in life.
I ♥ the AAC: The community of climbing is grand … common bonds yet vast diversity. Many of my best friendships were generated through climbing. The AAC is a great promoter of this community.
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: I try to remember that there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The gold is scattered in nuggets along the way. Keep climbing regardless of the grade … and smile!
Check out Phil's rad winning photo from Devil's Lake Wisconsin.
The American Alpine Club's Sections and Chapters connect local climbers. Find your Section site and see what's happening.
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Week 7—Best Climbing Paradise Photo Choss Boss: Noah McKelvin
Name: Noah McKelvin
Location: Arvada, Colorado
AAC Member? : Yes!
Preferred Type of Climbing: Alpine ice/mixed.....the higher the better!
Years Climbing: Since I was 13, so about 6 years now.
I ♥ the AAC: Because they share the same passion as I do, the outdoors! The AAC library as well has made me fall even more in love with the AAC. Overall, amazing people and a great community to surround myself around.
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: Climb carefully, get scared, enjoy the experience afterwards, forget all the negatives, get excited about the next time, and repeat process.
Check out Noah's rad winning photo.
Many regard Nepal as a Climbing Paradise...and The AAC has partnered with the Mountain Fund to offer AAC Members lodging in the new Kathmandu Clubhouse for only $15 a night.
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Week 7—Best Climbing Paradise Photo Choss Boss: Karsten Delap
Week 2's Choss Boss was a guy named Karsten Delap. Technically, Karsten won Week 7 as well, but since he already won the prize package, we decided to give it to Noah. We're sending Karsten some more, different prizes. We asked him if he's been Bossing any Choss in recent weeks, and he told us: "As far as Bossing the Choss; I have been in the Northwest for the past month trying not to pull any Cascadian size boulders on my belayers!"
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Week 6—Best Worst Bivy Photo Choss Boss: Micah Morgan
Name: Micah Morgan
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
AAC Member? : Not yet. (Im a pretty poor Dirtbag but it is in my plan to be a member)
Preferred Type of Climbing: Alpine Trad
Years Climbing: 4
I ♥ the AAC: Absolutely
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: Being outdoors as much as possible. Most times we just don't have a camera. I love alpine climbing and actually sickly love some chossy climbs. Come join me in Garden of the Gods some day and I'll show you a little route called Peterson Crack (among others). Lead that and you can be a choss monkey too.
Check out Micah's awesome winning photo.
Not everyone wants to sleep on horrid, cramped, dangerous ledges or spooning with their loudly snoring partner. Some of us actually PLAN our vacations—and take advantage of the lodging discounts around the world that are available to AAC members.
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Week 5—Best Winter Climbing Photo Choss Boss: Andrew Holman
Name: Andrew Holman
Location: Portland, OR (born and raised in the sprawling mountain ranges of Tampa, FL)
AAC Member: Not yet! (no one is perfect, see place of birth)
Preferred Type of Climbing: Mountaineering – preferably something with high-angle snow and preferably nearing the summit as the sun is rising. Glaciers are also a plus.
Years Climbing: 1 (Watch this space...)
I ♥ the AAC: Because I’m obsessed/addicted with/to all things alpine, it doesn’t hurt that the AAC facebook page’s posts encourage my “next big climb” week-day-dreaming. It also doesn't hurt that they have photo contests!
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: In the NW, very very gingerly. You have to tell the chickenheads that everything is going to be fine and to just stay cool; no one likes a rock with breakage issues. This doesn’t always work so it helps to be operant-conditioned to hit the deck at the sound of “ROCK!”
Check out Andrew's awesome winning photo.
Not everyone wants to brave the elements to get their winter fix. Some of us spend our winters in the gym—of course some of us either spend our summers in the gym. Either way, AAC Members can receive discounts on Gym Memberships.
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This guy—Los Angeles' Spencer Balliet—made this video because he thinks he's better than us. Well, he may not be better than us, but his video was pretty funny, so we posted it here with his permission AND sent him a Choss Boss T-shirt. Hey, why not?
BOSS CHOSS from Boss Choss on Vimeo.
Name: Spencer Balliet
Location: Los Angeles, CA
AAC Member: Not Yet
Preferred Type of Climbing: I love to climb anything you come home safely from. Got my start rock climbing on clean, short routes in the midwest, but keep drawing closer to big, long, miserable, lonely routes high up in the mountains.
Years Climbing: I've been on the rocks since I was a young, so about 12 years or so.
I ♥ the AAC Because...: I love the AAC because It's an entire group of people who truly understand the church-like moment you get standing amongst the mountains. People who would rather be 30 ft above their last piece of pro in the cutting wind than on the couch in front of the 'new fall line-up'.
Week 4—Best Gear Photo Choss Boss: Bob A. Schelhout Aubertijn
Name: Bob A. Schelfhout Aubertijn [aka The Qwrk]
Location: Texel Island, Netherlands—but with very strong ties to VIC, Australia.
AAC Member: I've been a member of an alpine club for well over 30 years, here as well as in Australia, the UK, and South Korea. In a way we're all family through the bonds of the UIAA.
Preferred Type of Climbing: Any type that gets you high in more than just one way.
Years Climbing: Since the age of 16, so close to 34 years now.
I ♥ the AAC: Because their long and rich history is beyond compare.
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: I tread carefully and ever since day One I cherish a famous quote from Edward Whymper. "There have been joys too great to be described in words, and there have been griefs upon which I have not dared to dwell; and with these in mind I say: Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end."
Check out Bob's awesome winning photo.
Be sure that you've got the gear you need next we ask for photos of it. AAC Members get discounts on all kinds of things—with more discounts added all the time.
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Week 3—Best Ridgeline Photo Choss Boss: Alexandre Buisse
Name: Alexandre Buisse
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark, but on the move to Chamonix, France.
AAC Member: For only two months (in my defense, I live on the wrong continent).
Preferred Type of Climbing: Alpine and trad
Years Climbing: 5
I ♥ the AAC: For the International Climbers Meet (went in 2009 and going again next month!), for the advocacy but mostly for all the awesome people I've found through it. [Ed: Check out the 2011 International Climbers' Meet.]
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: Responsibly: I pretend it's all Yosemite granite.
Check out Alexandre's Winning Photo of a fantastic Peruvian ridgeline.
Members of The American Alpine Club can take advantage of a multitude of discounts worldwide. Want to take a trip to Peru and take a look at Alexandre's ridgeline yourself? Get a discount on a guided trip and skip the logistics hassles.
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Week 2—Best Climbing Sunset Photo Choss Boss: Karsten Delap
Name: Karsten Delap
Location: Brevard, NC
AAC Member: Since 2004
Preferred Type of Climbing: Whatever trip I am going on next
Years Climbing: 12
I ♥ the AAC: Because of the sense of community and the preservation of our history.
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: Pinch it, crimp it, swing into it…
Check out Karsten's winning photo.
Members of the American Alpine Club and Friends of the American Alpine Club Library have circulation privileges. You can borrow up to ten books and five videos for 28 days. For members outside the Golden area, library staff will send material you request. Shipping is free; borrowers pay return postage and insurance.
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Week 1—Best Roadtrip Photo Choss Boss: Issac Tait
Name: Isaac M. Tait
Location: Pasadena, CA
AAC Member: YES!
Preferred Type of Climbing: Alpine & Trad
Years Climbing: 21
I ♥ the AAC Because they have a long history of supporting climbers of all disciplines and actively supporting conservation. I also love being a member of a large community of people who have the same passions and drive that I do.
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: I wear a helmet and get PSYCHED (oh yeah I sew er' up too)!
Check out Issac's winning photo.
Members can login to the website and post reports of their own trips, from Patagonia to Paris—or Atlanta to Atlantic City.
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Honorary Choss Boss—Kelly Cordes
After creating the position, there was no way NOT to make American Alpine Journal Senior Editor Kelly Cordes an Honorary Choss Boss for Life. I mean, really. Look at the guy!
Name: Kelly Cordes
Location: Estes Park, CO
AAC Member: Yes
Preferred Type of Climbing: Clean alpine granite. Not choss. I only get myself into the chossy-ness due to my low IQ and susceptibility to my partners' shady tactics ("Kellyman, I swear it's sooooo good up there!" "Uh, OK!"). [Editor's Note: Kelly is lying. See Alpinist 27.]
Years Climbing: 17
I ♥ the AAC Because...: I ♥ climbing.
How do YOU Boss the Choss?: "Very, very carefully, and with a short memory."
Every year, Members get the fruit of Kelly's labors: exclusive copies of the print edition of The American Alpine Journal. Everyone else has to look at it online.
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Hale Melnick, our former Intern, actually came up with the term Choss Boss—purportedly during some sort of camping antics with his buddies. As soon as he tells us the story, we'll post him here. We gave him a shirt in honor of his creativity.
Name: Hale "Shredder" Melnick
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The video that started it all!