Product Description
Rock climbing now claims almost 5 million enthusiasts, supports two major magazines, and is even found--simulated--in health clubs and fitness centers across America. John Long, who wrote the premise of the hit movie Cliffhanger, tells the breathtaking story of this immensely popular daredevil sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Good for climbers and non-climbers both
I read this book from the library and then bought a copy and sent it to my wife's grandmother.It was fun to read for me, as a climber, but my grandmother-in-law loved it.It helped her make sense of what my wife and I were doing when we climbed and the characters and situations kept her entertained.Not every author appeals to young climbers and 80-something grandmothers.

Great
A more entertaining writer you would be hard pressed to find.A climber with a sense of humor and the ability to write stories that will keep you wanting more.I just wish I could find more books by John Long.

Ole Rocker John
can't imagine a better evening than being in an appropriately rowdy spot listening to John Long tell tall stories, improbable stories, and hilarious off-the-wall stories about the great days at Camp 4 in Yosemite.He has a knack of not taking himself seriously, but shining through is his tremendous joy in living to the hilt and exuberant satisfaction of being among the best at what he does.

"What he does" is extreme rock climbing, and these essays peppered with dollops of very good advice tell what it was like in the glory days of the `70s on the big walls.A large part of John's enjoyment was his fellow fanatics, the beauty of the surroundings and, most of all, the burning desire to achieve the status of the coolest guy on the wall.

He starts with his childhood rambles (he had to be a prototype hyperactive child) and some sort of record, never once refers to a deprived misunderstood childhood.He freely admits most of his parents' gray hairs are attributable to him.He and his friends did not know the meaning of "impossible." They decide to learn the techniques of climbing (but nothing of equipment."Equipment!" Who can afford equipment? and the next year they will somehow get to Mt. Everest and give it a go.

This delightful read is just as likely to be of interest to the general reader as the incipient or experienced rock climber.If the author could bottle and sell his self-confidence and joie de vivre, he would make millions.Spend an afternoon with John Long.You won't regret it.

The Best One Out There
Occasionally sentimental, even purple in its prose, this is still a must-read. Primarily an account of the author's experiences climbing in Yosemite in the 70's and 80's, it's one of the only books I know of thatcovers this period.Useful little sidebars give practical climbinginformation,and many of the stories are just plainfall-out-of-your-Portaledge funny.

A Great Vicarious Read
This book had just enough technical information mixed in with stories and philosophy to make it a great read.I am not a rock climber but I am always interested in the extreme lives of others for they give up so muchto get so much.The counter culture John Long describes is hilariouswithout being condescending like you might find in say snowboarding.Theyseemed to have welcomed anyone willing to try.For the price of a movie,this is a better buy. ... Read more

Product Description
Climbers come from all over the world to experience the magic and beauty of climbing at Red Rocks, but they often have only a few days to climb and don't want to invest in a huge guidebook. That's why Todd Swain, author of the popular Rock Climbing Red Rocks, has taken the "best of the best" out of that volume and put it into this smaller book. At less than half the cost, Classic Rock Climbs: Red Rocks is perfectly suited to the traveling climber on a tight budget, providing information on 200 classic climbs at this world-renowned area. From one-pitch clip-ups in The Gallery to multi-pitch routes in Black Velvet Canyon, this book will keep you climbing for days, but leave you with enough cash to hit the casino buffets a few more times. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

One chosspile of a book
I could plan out my climbs better from the plane than by using this guidebook.

Rock climbing red rocks
This book is lame.Possibly would be a resource if already knew the area. Lots of routes - not that great of information.Red rock Canyon - A Climbing Guide,is much better.

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.

It IS your Red Rocks' "Bible" if you are a sport climber.

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

Product Description
Revised and updated, this guide covers the myriad boulders that provide convenient climbing from Santa Barbara to San Diego. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great, But A Little Out of Date
This guide is extremely comprehensive and has excellent information, decent maps and topos. However, new bouldering developments in the last several years have rendered the book a bit dated. A must to own if you plan a visit. ... Read more

Product Description
Want to go vertical? Let Rock Climbing the San Francisco Bay Area point you to the best ascents at twenty-four climbing areas within two hours' drive of the Bay. Scale the rock at Mount St. Helena and The Grotto, jam your way up the cracks at Mount Diablo and Consumnes River Gorge, and traverse the boulders at Mickey's Beach and Skyline Boulevard Slabs.Inside you find information on the best climbing routes and bouldering problems at each area, along with protection information and gear recommendations that will keep you heading to the top. You'll find: complete and up-to-date topos; detailed descriptions of more than 375 routes; descent information on multi-pitch routes; background and historical information on many of the crags; easy-to-follow driving and approach directions to climbing and bouldering destinations; tips on where to find the best coffee, grub and pint near each climbing locale. (6 x 9, 240 pages, b&w photos, maps, charts) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

climbing bay area review
this is currently the best book for the bay area sport, trad and top roping and has some bouldering as well. great info on geography and places to eat and drink near the rocks.

This Book Is Awesome!!!!!!!!
You have to have this book if you climb in the Bay. ... Read more

Product Description
With more than 1,500 routes throughout the state, this new edition of Jeff Smoot's popular guide is completely updated and expanded. Explore the granite cliffs of Index, Leavenworth, Darrington, and Tieton River Canyon; tackle the exposed alpine routes on the spires at Washington Pass; hang from steep sport climbs at North Bend, Frenchman Coulee, and Marcus and China Bend near Spokane. Several sport and traditional areas included have never before been covered in a guidebook.

Detailed maps, topos, and photos complement the route descriptions and star ratings to provide climbers with a complete package. Rock Climbing Washington is the perfect book to take on your next climbing tour of the Evergreen State. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Poor pictures, poor topos, inaccuracies, bad style
My title pretty much sums it up.An explanation of my "bad style" comment:Smoot compiled (poorly) a bunch of info that he gathered from other guidebooks and local climbers.I don't think he did a lot of personal research, becuase many of his topos are very inaccurate, so I don't think it's fair of him to make a bunch of money from putting out a poor product that relies heavily on other people's work.

I recommend "Weekend Climbs" by David Whitelaw (Mountaineers Press) as an alternative.Although it omits most climbs over 5.10, it has accurate beta, excellent pictures and topos, and covers pretty much all of the rock climbing areas in the state.

BTW, I do not get any money from the sales of Weekend Climbs, I just think it's a better book and D.W. is a cooler guy than J.S.

Smoot must hate to do research
There are available sources which give accurate descriptions, and historical/geological information which Smoot could have used, but apparently was too lazy to research... or chose not to document in this *book.*This book contains poor photos, errors and omissionswhich do not occur in REAL guide books.This book reads like a land developer wrote it... and in fact , smootian-sell-the-outdoors-for-money seems to be the only thing this pile-of-pages seems to achieve.Writers like this are the same types who deny the holocaust.

You have to work with what you have
As my title explains, you have to work with what you have. "BeckeyGuides" (rock climbing guides) are hard if not impossible to get aholdof, and to go travelling around to cities that would sell a half way decentlocal climbing guide, can get spendy and frustrating; especially whenyou've done all that travelling for nothing because you can't find a localclimbing guide at those cities. So, unless you know someone that can giveyou some good beta or talk to some of the other climbers at the crags, asit stands, Jeff Smoot's book is my choice as a climbing guide with up todate beta, at best. There's nothing wrong with Onsighting a route. I haveno problem writing notes in my climbing guides when I can get some beta ona crag or route that the climbing guide didn't cover.

Sharp-looking but Shallow
For those seeking a single book with info on all Washington's major climbing areas, this will have to do.But it describes only the most popular areas, and it gives incomplete coverage for most of them.

Smootacknowledges that fact in the introduction with no more justification thana need for an updated state-wide guidebook.He also points out that thisguide omits easier routes (mostly below 5.10) in favor of"better" climbs.As such, the guide is useful mainly foraccomplished climbers who somehow are not already familiar with WA climbsand how to find local guidebooks (which in most cases have better coverage,if less thorough text editing).

There's no coverage of remote orundeveloped areas (particularly in the Olympics).Smoot seems to ignorethe conventions other authors are using to describe descent routes andethical trends at particular areas.As such, it sometimes comes across asdismissive and muddled.

This is a broad, professional guidebook, and itwill be very helpful for experienced climbers that are new to Washington. But most of the information is available elsewhere, provided by climbingorganizations that are directly involved in conserving local areas. Smoot's guide concentratesincome from the book at his publisher (FalconBooks, in Montana).It may also contribute to long waits at popular linesanddegradation fromoveruse.Climbers may want to flip through the bookfirst (it's easily found on special Falcon-only racks at most outdoorshops) before buying it here.

Excellent overview of the finest Washington climbs
This is a fine guidebook, offering an overview of most climbing areas in Washington. If you want to get by with one guide, this is a good one. Several newer areas are detailed, and local ethics are discussed. Topos aregreat. Note that the topos may not present EVERY line on the rock, but Ithink this was Jeff's intent - if you want to know EVERYTHING about a givensection of rock, buy the LOCAL guide. You will see the most popular lineswell explained and displayed, however. The Darrington section should showthe fine "Urban Bypass" line on the Giant Green Buttress, nearDreamer. Jeff does a nice job on Little Si, offering better topos thanBryan Burdo's standard Exit 32 guide, and showing a few new lines. Thanks,Jeff, for putting together this great book! ... Read more

Product Description
This is the authoritative guide to the best climbs at the top rock climbing destinations in Western Europe. The route topos are accompanied by route descriptions, equipment recommendations, and accurate route ratings. This sturdy edition, with sewn binding, kivar covers, and trimmed corners, is intended for rough use at the crags.

Other books in the Rock Climbing series include Arizona, Boulder Canyon, Colorado, Colorado's San Luis Valley, Connecticut, Desert Rock, Flatirons, Eldorado Canyon, Joshua Tree, Lake Tahoe, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Montana, New England, New Jersey, New Mexico and Texas, Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain National Park, San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Barbara & Ventura, Shelf Road, Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, Wasatch Range, Washington, and Yosemite's Select.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Overview and more...
Provides a detail overview of all the best climbing spots that Europe has to offer. Usefull for the 1st time climbing visitor, with good crag maps and topos thrown in on the best areas and routes in each spot.

you might want something more detailed at the crag, but provides a great overview with lots of handy detail. ... Read more

Product Description
Climbing - Philosophy for Everyone presents a collection of intellectually stimulating new essays that address the philosophical issues relating to risk, ethics, and other aspects of climbing that are of interest to everyone from novice climbers to seasoned mountaineers.

• Represents the first collection of essays to exclusively address the many philosophical aspects of climbing
• Includes essays that challenge commonly accepted views of climbing and climbing ethics
• Written accessibly, this book will appeal to everyone from novice climbers to seasoned mountaineers
• Includes a foreword written by Hans Florine

Customer Reviews (10)

Excellent condition
The book was delivered earlier than expected and it was in great condition. I highly recommend purchases from this seller.

very basic guide
This guide is not very good. We bought during our trip to Seneca rocks and quickly discovered that it was totaly useless. It only covers major areas and descriptions and directions are preety bad. If you are looking for good climbing guide for Maryland get 'Climb Maryland' by Indy Kochte

Good guidebook
This is a comprehensive guidebook.It includes pretty much every major climbing area in WV, VA, and MD.Its got a good detailed chapter on Old Rag mountain in Shenandoah that other guides don't cover nearly as well.On the other hand, you should get the guidebooks for a specific area (like New River Gorge or Seneca Rocks) if you'll be doing a lot of climbing at a particular spot, because of its broad scope this guidebook won't include all routes for those areas, nor the smaller crags scattered around the region.There's a great guidebook called Climb Maryland! that treats all the central MD spots really well.

Very good MD/VA guide book
Eric's book is all encompassing for the DC metro area climber. It is well written and covers all of the popular climbs. I gave it 4 stars, because I would have liked to have seen just a hair more beta and info about individual climbs, but all-in-all this is a "must have."

In-depth? No. Comprehensive overview? Yes.
This FalconGuide is one of the better ones available, and for the travelling climber, or the DC-centric climber, probably THE book to have (there are non-Falcon guides that specifically cover Virginia and Maryland in more detail, but are only really useful if you primarily climb in those specific states). Eric Horst worked long and hard, contacting a plethora of local climbers at the various crags noted within these pages to get route information, do photo shoots, and be given tours of the area to get a general feel of the land. He covers some of the more or most popular areas in Maryland/DC/Virginia (Sugarloaf, Rocks State Park, Great Falls, Crescent Rocks) as well as *the* two big weekend destinations in West Virginia (Seneca Rocks, New River Gorge), but interspersed are numerous "local" crags that you might never have known about otherwise (short of locating one of the state-specific or crag-specific books that might or might not exist). This serves to give you options to go elsewhere when you can't make it to one of the more popular climbing spots, or if the weather is entirely TOO nice and hordes of people have descended on the main crags, alternate places to go and get vertical. Also, the number of small climbing areas gives the travelling climber options for places to go when they simply cannot get out to, say, Seneca when on the road down around, say, Charlottesville. Crack open Eric's guide and see what's nearby!

The route descriptions are pretty good, and nicely supplemented with a mix of topo photos and drawings (if you're not an artist and you've tried to draw a topo to a crag, you can appreciate how difficult it can be to get it just right!).

Eric successfully treaded the fine balancing act to not reinvent the wheel for places that already havae extensive guidebooks (e.g., Great Falls, et al), but at the same time, adequately cover crags that have or had absolutely no guidebook at all.

More than just a simple guide, Eric's book also gives you a little bit of climbing history to many of the crags, details travel/trip information, has nice readable maps. He spends 18 pages on a general introduction, then devotes the next 380 pages to the various crags.

Even if you only climb in Virginia, Maryland, or West Virginia, and already have one of the state-specific or area-specific guides, this is still an excellent book to have for the day when you might want to step across the border. :-) ... Read more

Product Description
Clinging to rocky outcroppings amidst jagged peaks, these determined climbers ascend to dangerous and challenging heights to reach the ultimate goal: a glorious summit. This Rock Climbing wall calendar takes a close look at this amazing sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Bought as a gift
for my brother-in-law who is a climbing fan. The pictures were beautiful.If you are a true fan of rock climbing this is for you.

Just what I wanted
This calendar is all that it looked to be.Great colorful pictures.Very happy with my selection!

Beautiful pictures, poor graphical design
The picture are fantastic and inspiring. Unfortunately I find that the layout, the almost-square dimension, and the white backgrounds severely diminish the beauty and impact of the pictures.

I definitively preferred my "Climbing" calendar from last year. ... Read more

Product Description
Rock 'n' Road is the fundamental reference guide to climbing areas in North America. The rock climber's atlas, this completely revised and updated edition provides details on more than 2,400 climbing locales in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.Tim Toula, who has been driving around the continent climbing rocks for more than two decades, provides information for climbing areas including common names, descriptions, rock types, and the best times to climb.Each climbing site is rated to indicate where you will find the best climbs and where you will find the black holes.Look inside for: locator maps; directions to the climbing areas; star ratings; access issues; classic routes; camping information; the type of climbing and rock encountered. (8 1/2 x 11, 552 pages, b&w photos, maps) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Huge resource
This is a great resource for finding out what is out there in Mexico, Canada, and everything in between. Finding out how to get to the actual climbs and knowing what you're getting on is different. However, if you're really into adventure and onsighting, what do you need lengthy route descriptions for?

The best guide for dirtbagging roadtrippers
Easily the definitive road trip guide for the country. With the growth of the climbing community since its last printing it could use an update, access issues are such a constantly changing thing that there cold be a national update every year.. Anyway, great book, worth it for any climber anywhere in the country!

Rock Climbing Book
I purchased this book for my son as a Christmas gift.He's been reading it intermittantly to reference our next journey.Great detail to describe & locate places to climb throughout North America. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you’re a beginner bouldering a low-angled face or an experienced climber flashing a route on-sight, Rock Climbing will help you explore one of the world’s fastest growing activities safely and successfully.

Rock Climbing covers the basic techniques in four styles of free rock climbing: bouldering, top-roping, traditional leading, and sport leading. The book contains 47 full-color photos that demonstrate correct techniques for moving over rock faces, cracks, and overhangs. The book also provides photos and descriptions of the world’s best rock climbing destinations.

Like all the books in the Outdoor Pursuits Series, Rock Climbing emphasizes safety, environmental responsibility, and—most of all—the fun of outdoor activity! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Perfect for Beginners
A picture is worth 1000 words and this book uses color pictures well.The book is fairly short, but covers the subject with concise grace.I am a rank beginner.My first climb was 3 days ago, my second was yesterday (both indoors).I took my 3 year old and 10 year old yesterday and they loved it!In the past 2 days I've read 5 books on climbing, and so far this has been the best.

I read a 250 page "textbook" on climbing, and only saw about 10% that I cared about right now.At this point I really don't want to know 75 different ways to wrap a rope around my body to rappel. (you know what I mean?)Teach me something fast, show me some good graphics.Get me started on the right foot!That's what this book does in spades.

The author's best use of pictures are to show both the right way and the wrong way to do something (like run rope through a 'biner).Also, I have done alot of equipment pricing over the past few days, and this book is DEAD ON when it comes to costs of climbing equipment and accessories.

This book is everything the beginner needs to start crawling up walls, just make sure you have a belay partner so you don't kill yourself. :-)

This book is great for beginning courses.
Rock Climbing is an excellent resource for beginning courses offered through high school and university programs.The text is full color and includes many exciting photographs by noted climbing photographers and very nice artist renderings of gear and techniques.All the basics for getting started are covered.The text describes techniques and methods for Traditional and Sport Leading as well as for Top-roping routes.Information on specific training for climbing is provided and one chapter even presents a mini-guide to some of the best areas around the world.Of course, I am a bit biased since I wrote the book ... Read more

Product Description
Smart, instructive, and beautifully designed, every book in the Trailside Guide series contains the essential information readers need to master outdoor activities and have fun in the process.

Norton proudly reissues these best-selling guides with fully revised "Sources & Resources" sections (including where to find the Web sites, gear, services, books, clubs, and organizations that make for foolproof outings); updates to reflect the latest in gear technology, wilderness medicine, and first aid; and advances in techniques.

You can take it with you: Trailside Guides are designed to be used on the trail. Their handy size makes them easy to take along on outdoor adventures.
Picture this: Trailside Guides show you how it's done. Each book has more than 100 color photographs and dozens of informative, full-color technical illustrations you'll refer to again and again.
Buying Guide: Each Guide has all the information readers need to make informed decisions about what gear is available, and what they should buy.
Step-by-step: Tutorials take readers through every aspect of a given outdoor activity. Each Guide covers planning and preparing for a trip, getting in shape, technique, safety, and first-aid tips, and how to have more fun along the way!
Easy to use: Trailside Guides provide information quickly. Every book contains detailed illustrations, information-packed sidebars, and a complete index and bibliography.
Technique tips: Any physical activity is more fun when it's done right. Trailside Guides are written by experts and contain lucid explanations that help the reader quickly achieve proficiency.

It's a big world out there. Get into it with the Trailside Guides. Color photographs and drawings throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great book for the beginner!
This is a great book for someone looking to improve their basic rock climbing skills. I think this book would be best for someone who has just taken a 1 day orientation at scout camp or the gym or whatever and wants to learn what it takes to climb on their own. It's a great beginnger book full of clear color diagrams and photos.

It's like Climbing 101
I've only just started doing indoor climbing, but am verry interested in the sport.I bought this book as it didn't seem to intense or technical and it had a lot of pictures :)

The pictures actually help, as I was able to put a face to a name, so to speak, for some of the things I've heard people talk about.The book gives a really brought and comprehensive over-view of climbing, from gym to multi-pitch long hauls.

It was pretty good, can't think of anything bad about it.Only thing I'd say is that it's not really very deep any any one thing, like, I totally wouldn't say I know how to set up an anchor now, but I'd be able to understand someone who was telling me about an anchor they set up kinda thing.

Written right
The old "textbook" model of learning is obsolete.This book does it right:Short, well illustrated articles that cover topics concisely; Sidebars that reinforce; Well marked sections that are self-contained.

I started climbing last week and I bought half a dozen books.I have two that I consider priceless.This one and: Rock Climbing (Outdoor Pursuits Series).

Call me a Gen. X, MTV, schitzoid; but these books both work the way I think!

CLIMB INTO A NEW ACTIVITY
Ever wanted to learn how to rock climb?Well this book is an excellent starting point.Everything from grips to gear to knots to terminology to training is covered.The illustrations are excellent and Don Mellon keeps the writing swift (for a guide) while really pouring on the information.My only gripe is that the guide is filled with lots of information that won't be necessary to most begining and intermediate climbers.Still, if you ever find yourself heading towards a rock climbing adventure, this is the one book I'd want to have with me.

Great exercise, great excitement, and a great read...don't delay start your climbing adventures today!

A comprehensive and well-illustrated source of information
This is absolutely the best beginner's guide to hiking that I have seen.It briefly covers every aspect of the sport, from gear to technique (and even some philosophy.)It is concisely written and well illustrated withcolor diagrams and stunning photography.The information is presented inthe perfect level of detail, which keeps the reader from feeling boggeddown with useless information.If I had to recommend one single source ofinformation for the beginning climber, this would be it. ... Read more

Product Description
The most comprehensive look at the subject yet. AdvancedRock Climbing picks up where John Long's How to Rock Climb leaves off,describing the climbing techniques and rope tricks of the modern rockclimber. The guide covers both sport and traditional climbing, andself-rescue techniques, in Long's easy-to-read, entertaining style. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

You should know what you don't know after reading this book
As other reviews have mentioned, you get a little bit of everything in this book, and I think that's what it is good for.

I picked this book up when I was moving from a beginning top rope/gym climber to a more advanced multi-pitch trad climber. This booked helped me know what concepts I had a strong grasp on, and what concepts I needed to study further.

If you are already comfortable with your climbing technique then there are many better books such as those published by "The Mountaineers Outdoor Experts Series".

If you know you still have a few things to learn, then by all means, pick up this book and you will get a good idea of what you do and don't know.

very good
These books (how to climb series)are a must for the climber who doesn't allways have a lot of experienced people around.Many great tips.good for referencing back to.Good explanations.And even enjoyable to read.

well worth the money if you want to get into the sport
Long has done it again. A.R.C. goes through the more advanced maneuvers of climbing. It is a must have for climbers who want to be more than a indoor or weekend climber, and who want to be able to climb more than 5.9 TR's.

Excellent book on this sport
I get acrophobia just from standing on a deep-pile carpet, so this isn't something I'm ever going to do myself, but I still found it interesting to read about it. I think the people who do this are some of the bravest people I know (as well as probably being completely nuts. :-)). Just looking at some of the pictures showing climbers going up almost featureless, smooth, sheer walls along a little crack set my heart to pounding a little bit.

The book contains a wealth of detail and information on rock climbing and much space is devoted to climbing techniques and strategies. I didn't know there were so many different kinds of grips and holds one could perform, and how they'd been adapted to specific situations and needs, but it was very interesting reading about that, and I discuss some of that further below.

The book is divided into seven chapters: Face Climbing, Crack Climbing, Rapelling, Sport Climbing, Adventure Climbing (this was one of the most interesting chapters), Training, and Self-Rescue.

Each outdoor sport has its own special vernacular and and special skills and techniques and rock climbing is no different. As I said, there's so much info here it would be hard to pick and choose a topic, but I did want to mention one thing I found interesting, which was the crack climbing and crack skills. The authors say you have to become "crack fluent" and must develop at least some competence in this since they point out that historical big walls and free routes invariably follow crack systems. To become a true "crack-master" requires patience, practice, and technique. Cracks vary greatly. Some cracks are so small that all you can do is use fingers jams. Other cracks are bigger and you can get your whole hand in the crack and use a hand or a fist jam, and several of those are discussed too.

Cracks are noted for requiring "an even combination of applied technique and physical enfurance." One of the special techniques for very narrow cracks is the "finger stack" and "butterfly jam." In the former you put your hand into the crack and stack the index. middle, and ring fingers against one another and vigorously twist downward. The butterfly jam involves placing the thumb into the crack and stacking the fingers against it. These are just a few of the dozens of special techniques that were discussed and that I learned about in this book. All of the different finger and hand jams and other techniques are fully illustrated so you can see exactly what's going on.

The authors also spend some time discussing the dangers of free-soloing and climbing in general. One author (C.L.) said he knows 14 climbers who had died in the last 6 years alone. This sobering statistic certainly points up the dangers of rock climbing, and yet the authors say that more and more people are being attracted into the sport. So as I said, while I doubt I'll ever try this myself, I found itinteresting to read about and learn something about what's involved.

This is an excellent book on the subject which will be of use mainly to already experienced and skilled participants in this interesting and exciting but very risky sport.

A little bit about a lot of topics
This book gives a little bit of information about a lot of different topics. Therefore, you may find a tidbit here or there that adds to your knowledge. However, because the book covers so many topics, the amount of in depth detail is very limited. For this reason, rather than getting this book, I would prefer to spend my money getting more specialized books on specific climbing topics rather than trying to get a little bit about everything from this book. If this is the only advanced climbing book you are going to buy and your experienced friends can fill in the blanks, then it would be a good introductory book for you. ... Read more

Product Description
Rock Climbing will help you explore one of the world's fastest-growing activities safely and successfully. The experts at the Wilderness Education Association ensure you learn proper technique essential to a safe and enjoyable experience. They prepare you for your adventure with information on fitness and conditioning, equipment and gear selection, and nutrition. Safety skills are integrated throughout the book, ensuring safety is never overlooked. You'll learn how you can use indoor climbing to practice basic skills before moving on to refine and build on those skills in the outdoors. You'll find easy-to-follow instruction of climbing fundamentals, including knots, belaying, building anchor systems, moving on rock, descending, and lead climbing, giving you all the skills and knowledge you need to be a capable beginning climber.

Throughout the book the authors share consumer, technique, and safety tips collected from their years of experience as both climbers and instructors. They also list Web sites to help you find climbing clubs and organizations, shop for equipment and gear, and plan outdoor climbing trips.

Rock Climbing is part of the Outdoor Adventure series. This practical series provides you with the essential information so you can get ready and go. The Outdoor Adventures series will prepare you with instruction in the basic techniques and skills so you can be on your way to an adventure in no time. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

a Good Review
If you have read Long and Gaines full length books about anchors then this book is a good reminder of setups and principle of anchor building.Don't grab some gear and this book and think that you build safe anchors, you've got to learn the basics first. ... Read more

Product Description
Wonderful routes, both classic and new, are describedwith maps, written descriptions, topos, and photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Best climbing guide I know
The title says it, "best climbing guide I know."I'm not being paid to say this; don't know David Rubine.Why is it the best climbing guide I know?BECAUSE IT HAS ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS!The topos are accurate, and often backed up with excellent annotated black&white photos.

I'm basically a novice lead climber.I want 5.4's.Most guidebooks, should they lower themselves to include these "wimpy" routes, give little to no written or pictorial guidance.Rubine devotes equal energy to easy and hard climbs.As the previous reviewer notes, he even covers class 3/4 scrambles to interesting summits.

Best Bay Area Rock Climbing Guide
Dave Rubine's collection of recorded rock climbs for Pinnacles National Monument is comprehensive and fun to read for avid rock climbers.Whether you are looking for sport climbs or more traditional climbing, nothing is omitted.Even 3rd and 4th Class climbs are listed.With ratings on allclimbs and written descriptions on most, staying on the correct climb isnot hard.But beware the musical chairs handholds at Pinnacles.Withdescriptions like the "Know what you are getting into category"you can stay out of trouble.The construction of the spine is sturdy. Most of all, for you number tickers, there is a checklist of climbs byrating and two full indexes for cross referencing first ascentionists withpage numbers and climbs alphabetically. ... Read more

Product Description
The comprehensive rock climbing guidebook to the Adirondack Park, that documents all technical rock climbing routes and boulder problems from all known crags and boulders located on public land within the boundary of the Adirondack Park in New York State. Includes 242 cliffs, 1,938 routes and variations (1,122 new routes), and 6 bouldering areas with 350 boulder problems. 672 pages, 2-color with a 19-page full color gallery, full route descriptions in an easy-to-read, comprehensive format, 59 aerial photos with route lines, 90 approach maps, 115 cliff topos, 168 actions black-and-white photos, 24 drawings and paintings, 21 essays written by prominent Adirondack climbers, and a foreword written by Don Mellor, the previous guidebook author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great guide book
I own about 20 climbing guidebooks and this baby tops them all. I dragged one of the authors around the Southern Adirondacks to locate some of the more obscure crags for the book, during that time I could tell by the attention to detail and enthusiasm that the quality of this guide would be superb. Get a copy if you plan on visiting the area, it will help make your visit a true joy, especially if you like getting off the beaten path for some solitude and unspoiled beauty. The guide will point the way to some pretty incredible places.

exceptional
I bought the book at my gym yesterday,ant it is awesome, jermy and jim, put on a slide show last night and it is incredible how much work went into it. I live right in the middle of all of it. this is THE best guidebook i have ever seen, and it covers everything.

This guidebook ROCKS!
I'm not much of one for wordy reviews, and so, having gotten my hands on a copy of the new rock climbing guide, Adirondack Rock by Jim Lawyer and Jeremy Haas, rather than maunder on about what a monumental task it was to take on writing a guide for a six million acre park and so on, I'm going to try to just stick to the points pertinent to the book as a guide. Don't get me wrong, however: the amount of time, care and thought that was put into the book is evident on every page.

As far as climbing guidebooks go, the bare necessities that should be covered are:

- An introduction with local practices/ethics, rules/regulations, and the grading system used in the book

- Directions to the climbing

- The climbing:
The routes/grades
Approaches/descents
What to rack
Maps/topos
Lodging/camping/food options
Rainy/rest day options

These, at the very least, will ensure that visitors will have the tools the need to get to climbing of some sort of another. Adirondack Rock certainly covers these basics, and then some. A lot more some. For example, some highlights from the introduction that even veteran 'Dacks climbers might find helpful:

- Directions on accessing the park from various major cities, and more importantly, how to travel within the park (has anyone else every tried to go east-west through it? Because I have, and it can really stink!)

- Where to try climbing when it's buggy (and what time of year there's a possibility that it might not be buggy, but let's be honest here. It's the Adirondacks. It's always buggy. Seen those springtails on the snow in the winter? At least we don't have chiggers!)

- The geology of the park (I am definitely going to ask a question about the Grenville Orogeny the next time I host a pubquiz night)

- A chronology of major events in climbing in the area

Of course, the real core of the book is its route descriptions. Consider the size of the park, and consider the size of the previous rock guide to the park (Mellor's Climbing in the Adirondacks). Now consider that this new guide has over twice as many routes as the previous guide (including a whole bunch of bouldering areas). No mean feat, fitting it into a one inch thick book of 672 pages!

The climbing is divided into 11 distinct regions (Lake Champlain, Chapel Pond Pass, Keene, Wilmington Notch, High Peaks, Lake George, Indian Lake, Southern Mountains, Old Forge, Cranberry Lake and Northern
Mountains) making it easy to flip to the appropriate section of the book to find the climbs you want. Each of the regions has as introductory paragraph or two and specific information regarding its season, access, directions, amenities and diversions (swimming holes, anyone?). With each region, each cliff has its own description, with a sometimes quite lengthy history preceding the topos and route descriptions, the latter of which have short descriptions offering additional insight and a human element to the routes. For example, the description of the route Air Male at Poke-O's Luther Wall offers: "It may be short, but it packs a punch; another difficult, crimpy face climb. Named for the hidden 'mail' slot, and for the airtime taken by all the male climbers at the crux clip. Once a toprope problem called Wounded Knee." Each cliff is given a star rating denoting quality, and each climb within a cliff is given a star rating, making it easier to plan a classic trip.

The route topos are all clearly labeled and easy to understand (which is not always easy; consider, for example, the tangled mess of routes that Pitchoff Chimney Cliff comprises), and the accompanying cliff photos are outstanding. Unfortunately, as beautiful as the topos and route descriptions are, the book is a slightly heavy to carry up on multi-pitch climbs. Fortunately, Jim and Jeremy considered this, and have made topos of all of the multi-pitch routes freely available on their website (http://www.AdirondackRock.com/goodies.htm). Print them out and take them with you. Genius!

Further evidence of their genius comes in the form of a table listing the distribution of routes by grade at each cliffat the beginning of each cliff description; for example, by noting that at the King Wall there are only five routes graded 5.9 and below while there are ten routes 5.10 and above, as a Dacks 5.9 leader, I can see that I might have more fun tackling the Creature Wall (ten routes 5.9 and below, four routes 5.10 and above) without having to thumb through all the route descriptions at the cliffs and tallying the grades myself.

The descriptions for accessing the cliffs are quite concise and helpful, offering estimated approach times and difficulty, good descriptions including driving distances from major intersections in the area and landmarks to look for on the approaches, and for the technologically inclined, GPS coordinates. The nature of the Adirondacks is that apart from some of the popular roadside locations, a lot of the cliffs are not necessarily climbed too often. Therefore, descriptions of the sort that one might find in guides to other areas do not necessarily work, since rocks fall, trees blow over, rap slings rot and herd paths may change or even disappear entirely from year to year. As a result, though one of the frequent concerns voiced by climbers prior to the publication of the book was that detailed approach instructions would ruin the sense of adventure so integral to the Adirondack experience, ultimately, even armed with GPS coordinates and a topographical map of the region surrounding the cliff, climbers venturing beyond the Beer Walls or the Spiders Web are likely to experience plenty of adventure (or difficulties, whatever you wish to call them!)

Finally, the guide will absolutely get you psyched to climb new rock every time you go out. There are beautiful black and white photos (168 of them!) throughout the book that provide inspiring visual clues as to the type of climbing to expect at each area. There is also a color photo gallery in the middle of the book, and essays by various Adirondack climbers scattered throughout. Not least of all are the area and route descriptions themselves: often offering stories highlighting the efforts of first ascentionists and frequently mentioning when areas have potential for more route development (and with so many routes being put up so recently), there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to complain that the Adirondacks are getting too crowded and climbed out. Get yourself a copy of the book, grab yourself some bug spray, and get out there! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Very Completel List of Routes, Descriptions of Some Need Improvement
This is a great book for listing out the many climbs at the Gunks.Excellent for someone who has climbed there a few times.If it is your first time there the book will take a little getting used to as the descriptions are not as detailed as other climbing guides... but then again that adds to the adventure a little to find the right route.And certainly at the Gunks any adventure is nice since so much of the Gunks is setup for the masses.
Lucas Hartford
Evergreen
[...]

The Gunks Guide
Simple concise, covers a lot of territory for it's size.Gives background on the different climbing areas, but again the descriptions are brief.An excellent guide for those who don't want much fluff. ... Read more

Product Description
This book compiles the results of 70 years of rock climbing in Utah's Wasatch Range, including Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Lone Peak, and other climbing locales near Salt Lake City. It features detailed topos, route descriptions, difficulty and quality ratings, and accurate location maps. Indexes by route name and rating allow quick access to over 1,500 routes described in this authoritative volume.
... Read more

Customer 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.

The guide is twice as thick as previous editions and covers almost twice as many routes. It is a little bit more expensive, but it is worth it if you want to find the areas like the Shore Line Crag, Broads Fork and a plethora of new routes throughout the Wasatch. The only shortcoming of the guide is its short mention of the bouldering areas. The guide des! cribes the locations of the bouldering areas but it does not describe any of the routes. This was probably done in order to save space and money but it would be nice for the Ruckmans to pass on some bouldering beta. Overall impression, the guide is an excellent investment and a good excuse to replace your old torn up guide. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

I'm ambivalent about this guide.
This may be the best rock climbing guide book on the area, but it has both some good qualities and some flaws.The pictures and the maps, both large scale and small scale are adequate. However, he leaves out too much in the narrative description of the climbs.Sometimes he doesn't even say if the route is trad or sport.I was certainly happy to have the book on a recent trip to the COR, but sometimes I felt I needed more beta on the climbs before starting out. I was able to find out some details on many routes on line, including a list of the best sport routes. I don't know who provides the ratings, perhaps not Bingham, but we thought they were pretty stiff.Climbs listed as 5.7 seemed more like 5.8 and so on. This review covers the 2006 edition.

Too bad it is the only guide for the area.
The author clearly has put a minimal amount of effort into this guide.The trail maps are good which makes it easy to find your way around, but info on specific climbs and descents is scant.I don't need it all spelled out for me but more info would make for a safer visit.Check out The Mountain Project online to supplement the guide, especially if you are new to climbing.

City of Rocks Idaho--A Climber's Guide
There is confusion here as to what book is being reviewed, viz., the 2006 version of"City of Rocks Idaho--A Climber's Guide" or some earlier edition. This is caused, in part, by Mr. David Bingham's listing all editions by the exact same name and not having an ISBN associated with the book. Further, the book being sold here is listed as "7th". Looking at the title page of the 2006 edition, there is no mention of what edition it is.

Being an occasional visitor to the City, 4 trips since 1988, I owned 2 earlier versions of the book. On the basis of the reviews here, I hesitated to buy the current (2006) edition until I was able to see it. Simply put, it is a vast improvement over the earlier versions. The challenging topographics have been replaced by photographs, which clarify the location of the crags and of the routes. The illustrations have been supplemented by useful verbal descriptions. Many new areas have been added, e.g., Tahitian Wall. The worst aspects of the index have been corrected. For example, "The Anteater" is now listed under "A" and not under "T". The book is sturdily bound although it would hold up better as a field guide if the corners had been rounded.

I recommend this book as a fine, useful guide to the area. The earlier guidebooks by Davis and by Calderone were quite decent and helpful when they were published but are outmoded by the 2006 edition of "City of Rocks Idaho--A Climber's Guide."

Since I'm a professional publisher and indexer, take the following nit-picking with a grain of salt. The index would be easier to use if different font styles were used for route names and for all other objects. This lack of difference contributes to omissions, e.g., "Private Idaho" refers to a route and to a crag, but the route gets omitted from the index. Also, the rating of the route should follow its name in the index. The author should either forgo using "5." before a rating or use it all the time. The confusion this causes is such that not even the author can follow his own usage, e.g., Delay of Game is listed as 5.8, whereas Skyline is listed as 8. Many routes have a generic name such as "Chimney." They should be given unique names, even something like "Chimney of the Spire" would be an improvement. Occasional inset photographs of the starts of routes on some of the larger crags, e.g., The Breadloaves, would make it easier to figure out where the climbs are on a crag. And some of the washed out photographs, e.g., Lost World, need reworking.

David, thanks for yours series of guidebooks to the City. They've provided me with a lot of pleasure (and some adventure now and then) over the years.

City of Rocks Idaho, 7th A climber's Guide
Updated version of a popular guide to a popular place

climbing is an adventure what did you expect
Dave's book is the most up to date info available next to phony
tony's recalled book. The pictures are great in tony's if you know where and what your looking for. Dave's book has mistakes like any guide book. There is a new Bingham book as of April 04 and most likely there are few mistakes, with black and white photos, new routes, and never before shown crags. Next thing you know people will want handicap ramps for every scramble and street signs on every route and trail. Until them swallow some form of adventure and climb whatever you can find. ... Read more