Reviews (2)

Nice Job!
I have all the ice guides to colorado, and this one is about the only one I trust.Ratings are, in my experience, slightly conservative, which is better than being the other way, particularly for ice climbs where gettingin over your head can be very serious.Route information is, for all theroutes in the book I've done, very accurate.

Excellent
A great overview of the ice climbing available in Colorado. The best book on the market. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Travel - United States    5. United States - Mountain - Colorado    6. Climbing & mountaineering    7. Colorado    8. Travel / United States / West / Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)    9. Ice Climbing    10. Climbing    11. Outdoors   

Subjects:  1. First Aid    2. Mountaineering    3. Outdoor Skills    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (1)

New Version Out
As of May 2006, there is a new version of this out. Not sure why amazon doesn't list it yet. It is available from the Gendarme climbing store at Seneca Rocks, WV. It is a vast improvement - especially photos with routes marked on them along with their descriptions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (7)

It's an additional resource; not "the Bible"
The book is a decent additional resource to Urioste's "Red Book" (see also her 2003 26 trad routes addendum).Combined w/ the Red Rocks' SuperTopos the three will almost give you one good guidebook's worth of beta. Need Improvement
I've been living and climbing at Red Rocks for two years now.Swain's guide book publicizes a number of new routes that are not in the previous guide; however, not all descriptions are adequate, and a few are even dangerous (such asfixed anchors indicated in the book where there are none in reality).You may also tire of the author's rather feeble attempts at humour!Having said this, I do use the guide alot, and when coupled with the older Urioste guide it serves its purpose.I am saddened however, by Swain's decision to not include arelatively large number of very good routes that were in the old guide-- thereby effectively 'erasing' good routes from the public memory.This amounts to a kind of bizarre censorship, as many of the routes he has left out are quite good and worth preserving.I, and many others, hope for a more enlightened guide book in the future; meanwhile, however, Swain's guide will suffice for most occasional visitors.

Total Pile
I do not believe this book can even be considered a guide book. No topos for certain areas. Poor descriptions. I went to Red Rocks with this book and it only got me to where I needed to park. I used the kindness of locals to get me to where I needed to go. Don't waste your time on this book. It's a pile. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Outdoor Skills    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Travel - United States    6. United States - Pacific - Nevada    7. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (6)

The alpine icon
The achievements of Reinhold Messner are legendary. Among them, he is the first man to have ascended Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. He is also the first man to have climbed all fourteen 8000-meter peaks. Mr. Messner could rightfully be quite boastful and egotistic in his writing. Exactly the opposite is true. The book was panned by a number of reviewers for being "dry". This is precisely why I find the book so engaging and interesting. Mr. Messner narrates his achievements in a matter of fact manner leaving the reader to fill in the enormity of his spirit. Personally, I find the single-minded obsession of mountain climbers to be somewhat bizarre. Yet, I find reading about the tales of misery and death to be entertaining. I admire Mr. Messner for his unbridled enthusiam for mountain climbing and also for his restraint in narrating the tales.

Reads like a rapid overview
Messner's account of the early years of a remarkable climbing career skips over each individual ascent so quickly that the reader loses interest. While his writing in itself is not unskilled, the rapid descriptions make the book read like a laundry list. Also, while his puritanical philosophy of mountaineering must have its roots in this early period, he mentions its development only in passing. Despite some gorgeous photographs, this book does not approach the best of its kind.

A rather dry account of one of the world's best mountaineers
Free Spirit could have, potentially, been a incredible account of abrilliant mountaineering career.Instead, during the course of the book,one can picture Messner sitting down 20 years later in an attempt toremember exactly how he felt during his numerous expeditions and bold firstascents.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1944-    2. Austria    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. General    7. Messner, Reinhold,    8. Mountain Climbing    9. Mountaineers    10. Shooting    11. Messner, Reinhold   

Reviews (7)

This is the Kili book to buy.
I climbed Kili in January 2006. In the months preceding the trip, I pored over numerous books on the mountain, including this book by Henry Stedman. This book was head and shoulders above the rest. Stedman's excellent descriptions of the day-to-day trekking are complemented by what I feel is genuine respect for the mountain and the people who live near it. After reading this book, you'll feel that you actually know what to expect; you'll stop worrying about whether you'll make it to the top and start looking forward to all the amazing details of this truly wonderful part of the world.

Excellent
My first time in Africa and trekking up Kili!! And everything I needed to know was in this great book. If you are planning to climb Kili, do not hesitate and get this book.

kilimanjaro Guide
An awesome book. There is a lot of information that answered a lot of my questions I had. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Mountaineering    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Tanzania    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Africa    8. Walking, hiking, trekking   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. General    3. History    4. History: World    5. Mountaineering    6. Mountaineering expeditions    7. Mountaineers    8. Sports & Recreation    9. World - General    10. Travel   

Reviews (1)

COMPELLING, INSPIRING AND A FITTING TRIBUTE TO JOHN DENVER
When I learned of this dramatic account of the recent expeditions to track the planet's northernmost point of land, I knew that it was a must-read. Not only is it an exciting story about adventurers who succeeded in their goal, it brings a fitting tribute to John Denver to the outdoor community. John Jancik, Javana Richardson and Steve Gardiner have offered a book here that parallels Jon Krakauer's bestselling "Into Thin Air." Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Mountaineering    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (1)

A glimpse into the very heart of the Sierra Nevada.
This collection of Norman Clyde short topics from the 1920's and 1930's captures, in Clyde's refreshingly unassuming style, the very essence of life in the Siera Nevada- through the eyes of the man who spent more of hislife there, made more first ascents, and knew the high country better thanany man before or since.While modestly illustrated by modern standards,the work covers many aspects of the region which can not be foundelsewhere.A must-have for all who have felt the almost spiritual draw ofthis rugged and beautiful mountain range. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1885-1972    2. Clyde, Norman,    3. Essays    4. Guidebooks    5. Mountaineering    6. Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev    7. Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.)    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Travel    11. United States - West - Pacific (General)    12. Clyde, Norman    13. Clyde, Norman, 1885-1972    14. Whitney, Mount (Calif.)    15. Yosemite National Park (Calif.)   

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Safety    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Ambulance & rescue services    6. Canada    7. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (1)

Climb on!
Learning the Basic's is a must. This should be in everyones library. Keep these tips, that are writting in Turlough's book, and you will be always saying, "climb on!" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountain Climbing    2. Mountaineering    3. Rock climbing    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (2)

Wilderness Search and Rescue: A Complete Handbook
Agreed that some of the information is a bit outdated, however, having said that, it's nothing terribly major.PACKED full of alot of information.This book covers a wide array of Search and Rescue issues which are related through stories and re-told accounts of various rescue situations encountered by the author and others.Overall, a great reference book worth reading.Not something you're going to keep in your pack and haul around the hills though.

Still a winner
This is a somewhat dated, but still excellent text for wilderness SAR training. Setnicka did an excellent job that has survived well over the years, with only a few techniques and technologies requiringupdating.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Mountain Climbing    3. Safety    4. Search and rescue operations    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Wilderness survival    7. Ambulance & rescue services   

Reviews (3)

Good material, presentation problematic
This is one of the latest guides on ice climbing.It therefore covers the most modern techniques, is up to date with equipment, and has great color photos.Written by Will Gadd it definitely has the flair of an individual author, reads more like a pro's guide than a technical reference.The type of material covered and order is great.However, the editing of this guide is severely lacking.It suffers from incorrect captions, bad figure references, transposed terms (convex vs concave) and complex procedures described in steps that tend to get you lost in confusion rather than clarify.
Great for Beginner / Intermediates
Written in thoughtful and lively fashion, Gadd distills his 20 years of collected wisdom into 230 pages. Discussions on tools, technique, nutrition, training are all useful - this is a book for the aspiring ice warrior as well as the climber with a few seasons under his / her belt. The constant Red Bull pimping gets a bit distracting but a guy has to pay the bills, afterall. Highly recommended.

Improve Your Ice Climbing Technique
This is simply the best book on ice climbing technique you will find.That's a broad statement, but you'll agree that Will Gadd has done an outstanding job presenting the information in this book. He starts out at a very basic level and proceeds to cover everything from climbing easy ice to mixed climbing. The book offers many tips and tricks as well as stresses the need for safety.There are even a few "war stories" thrown in for your reading enjoyment.The material is presented in an easy-to-read and enjoyable fashion.This book is destined to become the "Bible" of ice climbing technique.From beginner to expert you'll probably find something in this book that will help you improve your technique.A MUST addition to your collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Outdoor Skills    3. Snow and ice climbing    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Winter Sports    7. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (1)

Good things come in small packages!
I've been to Aconcagua before but didn't have this pocket book with me.Most authors seem to write quantity not quality.This little book is written with a climber in mind and does not sacrifice quality even though it is a small climber friendly guide.How much info do you really need to go up the mountain anyway?This book covers all and is packed with usefull information minus any fluff.Do yourself a favor and head to Argentina with this book rather than any of the library size climbing guides out there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hiking    2. Mountaineering    3. South America    4. Special Interest - Adventure    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (2)

Break it down
As a beginner climber, I was hoping for more detailed breakdowns and more diagrams related to the technique of climbing. At times, moves such as locking-off are introduced and never explained. The section on equipment and hand grips is adequate. Many of the photos are small and lacking detail. Overall for the price the book, you are getting what you pay for. I'm hoping Comp Guide to Rock Climbing, which I have on order is more rewarding.

A must for anyone interested in indoor rock gym climbing.
There are only two books that focus on this exciting new activity, this one and "Mock Rock: Guide to Indoor Climbing."I have them both and have read them both.There is no comparison, considering both cost and content.John's book is half the price and covers this very enjoyable form of climbing in a thorough easily read manner."Mock Rock" spends the last half on interviews with people who climb in gyms.It is mostly fluff.If I ran an indoor climbing gym, I'd stock Long's $6 book.It's all you need to learn about this great new sport ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indoor rock climbing    2. Mountaineering    3. Outdoor Skills    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Climbing & mountaineering    7. Outdoor survival skills    8. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (1)

Great Beta, throw your old guide away and find new climbs.
It has finally arrived. The bible that everyone in the Salt Lake valley has been waiting for. No, it's not another religious doctrine. It is the guide to the diverse canyons of the Wasatch Range surrounding Salt Lake City, Utah. It's bigger and a whole lot better than the Ruckman's old guide. The guidebook covers all of the canyons that were in the previous guide, plus it covers new developments such as City Creek and Neffs Canyon. The Ruckmans follow the same format they used in their old guide, so don't expect many changes in that department. However, to say that this is only a revised edition is an understatement.Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Travel - United States    5. United States - Mountain - Utah    6. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Mountain climate    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Outdoor Skills    6. Outdoor recreation    7. Safety measures    8. Weather    9. Outdoor survival skills   

Reviews (3)

Delivers You to the Wolves
I am an experienced world traveler and mountain climber who used this book in 1999.I must say, I have never been so disappointed with a travel book in all my life.A few points:in the little town of Tlachichuca, Secor leads you to ONE person for climbing assistance.Knowing that, they take FULL advantage of climbers, grossly overcharging for services.Two: Secor's route descriptions are seemingly detailed but upon use are revealed as painfully inadequate.For instance, at Citalt�petl, Secor makes not one word of mention regarding "la lengua", the tongue of the glacier, which turns out to be the most difficult part of the whole ascent.Finally, and this is the most personal and non-important point to a casual reader, I don't like Secor's decision to follow the poor precedent set by the Mountaineers of favoring non-indigenous peak names.Thus as Tahoma and Koma Kulshan became Rainier and Baker, the majestic Citalt�petl is reduced to Pico de Orizaba.All in all, this is a good start (given the lack of anything better) but definitely make sure that every piece of information used from this book is followed up by a second source to avoid certain rip off and/or disappointment.

Very good
The book has a comprehensive list of routes for each mountain, it also provides good advice for begineers. However, there are two things I don't like form this book: 1) Need an update to reflect latest changes (Popo for example) 2) The book looks too simplistic, the format is ver bad for the type of information. The book has very few quality photos and the routes are difficult to follow. Superb
RJ did a great job with this book. I used it way back in 1988 to climb the 3 big ones and found it absolutely accurate. He's got some great tips in there too! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Mexico    3. Mountaineering    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Volcanoes    8. Climbing & mountaineering   

Reviews (2)

A must read if you want to start big-walls
I read this book...did a lot of practicing, (got spanked a few times) and then climbed the Washinton Column's Southern Route & Prow along with the regular route on Half Dome and Zodiac on El Cap! Good reference
The best way to learn to aid and climb big walls with the exception of going out there and doing it. A good reference for beginners. The illustrations are a little corny. Looked like a throw back to the 1970's. Illustrations probably lifted from "Climbing Big Walls," edited by Mike Strassman. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Mountaineering    2. Rock climbing    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Climbing & mountaineering    6. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (2)

Skip it.
Not a very comprehensive guide to climbing, found much of the information dated.

Decent Local Knowledge
Yossi's knowledge of the area, routes and local contacts is as good as guide books of the area are.Better route descriptions are always a plus, but with changing conditions these are as decent as you can get.Worth the price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ecuador    2. Guidebooks    3. Mountaineering    4. Outdoor Skills    5. South America    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Climbing & mountaineering    9. Travel & holiday guides