The Rumor Mill

Michael Kennedy is going to edit the new Alpinist. Wow.

(Not a rumor. Fact.)

Kennedy edited and published Climbing magazine for more than two decades before selling the magazine in 1997. Along with being one of America's top alpine climbers of the 1970s and ’80s, he created a magazine with authoritative articles and elegant design, and he was rewarded with the largest circulation climbing magazine in the world. Kennedy and the much-admired Alpinist senior editor Katie Ives will make a formidable team.

Informed speculation: The new Alpinist, now slated to relaunch in April, is likely to be more like the old Climbing magazine than the old Alpinist. It may have a smaller trim size than the old Alpinist and definitely will have more ad space, and it will seek to appeal to a broader spectrum of climbers, yet it won't be as ad-packed or as broad-focused as the mainstream mags. It also likely will be considerably cheaper than the old Alpinist's $12.95 cover price.

Update: Announcement made.