Climbing Books

Whether you are a climber, a hiker, a car traveler, or just an armchair explorer, the Beckey guides are the indispensible resources for your mountain experience. The three volumes are filled with information about the natural and human history of the Washington Cascades, as well as complete route and access data for every significant summit. The photos alone are reason enough to own these books. If you are interested in really "knowing" the Washington Cascades, you MUST have them in your library. Highest possible recommendation.

I have used this Guidebook so many times in the past 12 years that I've had to purchase it three times. The definitive section on the Picket Range alone is worth the price of the book.

For those who want to experience the North Cascades as they were in the 30's and 40's, reading the "Trails and Alpine Hiking Approaches" section will steer you in the right direction. This book is rife with golden kernels of information found nowhere else. Any serious climber should have all three of the Cascade Alpine Guide books.

Mike Quinn

Ed Douglas is superb. He really knows Everest, not just the mountain's climbing lore but the mountain's importance to the unique peoples who inhabit her flanks. A stunning literary achievement!

How can I give this book 10/15/20 stars?

This is the most wonderful book I have read on Chomolungma (Everest). You will discover why he didn't call it by the other Nepalese name, Sagamartha. Douglas is a mountaineer, though he admits he does not really understand the compulsion to climb Everest, and he says towards the end of the book that he never could climb it because he does not want to enough. This book is sensitive, respectful and self-effacing. Its purpose is serious - to really discover something about the cultural impact of the trekking and mountaineering industries on the people and environment of the Everest area.

Along the way, Douglas makes some insightful observations about the role of governments, the impact of non-government organisations and the activities of some of the successful business - people - Nepalese, sometimes Sherpa, all involved in the Everest industry. In all three instances he shows us the sometimes misguided, sometimes successful and sometimes outright fraudulent efforts.

At all times Douglas remains thoroughly respectful of the Nepalese (and in the first chapter Tibetan) people, despite also being able to show us the cultural and political warts. Whilst having a few harsh judgements about some trekkers and some mountaineers, he also manages to treat them fairly and - no mean feat at times. Perhaps, however, he is hardest of all on climbers: "...there are so many other climbers whose photographs of locals punctuated their articles and lectures to break up all those shots showing what heroes they'd been with a little local culture. Anthropologists and environmentalists must have a strong suspicion that most climbers and trekkers see local people as a human backdrop to their adventures. I almost admired the climber who told me that if he could go to the mountain in a bubble to avoid disease and arguments with porters, he would. At least he was being honest."

Douglas writes movingly of the unrecognised and mostly unheard about porters who have been the casualties of the industry - ill-clad and ill-equipped, some have been turned out by expeditions and left to fend for themselves when things have got sticky. There are generally no helicopter rescues for the porters. Douglas calls this "moral squalor". The myriad cut-price trekking companies pay cut-throat rates and fail to equip these workers well. On the other hand, Douglas shows how portering is integral to the local economy, and quotes statistics debunking the view that permanent physical damage is the result of portering.

After you have read Krakauer's 'Into Thin Air', and Boukreev's 'The Climb' and the other expedition journals and diaries, and coffee table books about Everest, turn to this one to find out about the people and the impact on their lives. This book also reads as a travelogue, as it recounts, in the main, Douglas's own trekking experience in the spring of 1996. He encounters along the way many of the groups that became caught up in the storms and tragedies of May 10 1996, including Scott Fisher's group and David Breashear's IMAX film team. Some of the descriptive passages are wonderful word pictures. I had a real sense of what it is like at the top of Kala Patta and Gokyo Ri, for example.

Some passages that particularly spoke to me (you will surely discover others):

"Professional climbers earn their living describing their own achievements, while those with a more long-term or scientific purpose can claim some benefit to mankind other than the realisation of ambition. It was clear, however, that they were prone to the same jealousies and quarrels."

"The truth has to be faced that guides have treated the mountain as a resource, just as the Nepalese authorities have. It's a way to cash in on the regular flow of books and films about Everest, a package deal to the roof of the world for anyone with enough money and an excess of self-confidence. As for the motivation of people who are prepared to spend a small fortune for a chance to be pulled up Everest, I can only guess. If it is to impress, then the huge resources and assistance required to get them to the top should temper their sense of achievement. If it is for a love of adventure, then they probably ger more than they bargain for. But then why climb Everest at all? That's the hardest thing to explain. That's the sixty-four thousand dollar question."

This book is very informative and easy to read. Gives great route descriptions; and the topos make finding your way around the area and locating the different routes a breeze. This is a "must have" book for climbing in the Sam's Throne area.

As climbing becomes more poplular, more guide books are being writen. I have found that most of these books give less than adequate descriptions of the area of interest. This book does not fit this catagory. Instead Clay Frisbee gives very informative route descriptions and provides good topos to add to finding a specific route. His description of the history and specifics of the route also make the book more interesting to read than most climbing guidebooks.

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.

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 all climbs and written descriptions on most, staying on the correct climb is not hard. But beware the musical chairs handholds at Pinnacles. With descriptions 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 by rating and two full indexes for cross referencing first ascentionists with page numbers and climbs alphabetically.

I think this book will help out the beginner in climbing from indoor to ice climbing. This book covers indoor, sport, traditional, mountin, and ice climbing or glacer climbing. It also covers the equipment needed for every type of climbing,as well as knoting rope,hand grips and foot grips.this book explains on how to place the equipment in cracks and in the ice.also there is a section on first aid and reading maps. The drawings are good for illustration on techneiques. the photos are all in color. this book has help me understand what to expect in rock climbing and i have never done rock climbing. the only thing is that the glossery wasnt big and it did help but not much only because information was all in the book. so if you have no idea on what is rock climbing i defitnitly suggest you get this book.

This handbook is exceptionally readable. It contains a comprehensive dictionary of terms, tools, and techniques. The format is easy to follow. The graphics for tying knots and using the various climbing aids are clear and understandable. The photographs are excellent.

"Unputdownable" :-)
If you are jaded by religious/philosophical literature, this book will refresh you.
If you are not interested in religion at all, you will find Climbing Chamundi Hill incredibly entertaining.

Mr. Glucklich, when is the next one coming?

Reading this book was like reading no other I book I have ever read-you need to really think as you read, expand your mind and way of seeing the world. It is very rewarding and I recommend it to people who like a challenge, who like to change their way of thinking, who like to think philosophically and deeply.

The title, Climbing for Causes, caught my attention, but I must say reading the tale of this firefighter humanitarian captured my heart. It replaced a belief in mankind, a belief that there is genuine good left in this world. There are people left that actually do amazing acts of kindness in an effort to bring attention to worthy causes, such as diabetes and cancer. The play by play of the mountain climbing of a man, with no prior experience but overloads of determination and passion, grasped my attention and interest - just as if I were climbing those mountains along side him. His icy details of the environment, the scarey and realistic aspects of harsh weather and nature is riveting. You find yourself cheering for him when he reaches a summit and also saddened when weather and illness take the accomplishment away. It is a true tale of mankind going up against the largest combatants in the world - fate, humanity itself and most of all Mother Nature. It is well worth your time to read and see how the tale plays out. You may find yourself a changed person for it - changed for the better.

After browsing through a travel brochure Nick B Comande, a firefighter, from Racine,WI, decides on the spur of the moment to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro,in Tanzania, Africa. Without any formal training or experience he climbs the highest peaks on four of the seven continents.
This is a very personal journal of an extraordinary human being! For Nick B Comande does not climb for the thrill of victory. While that element is there, the reason for his climbs is fundraising - to benefit charities such as the American Diabetes Association, The American Cancer Society and The Muscular Dystrophy Association. For every meter Nick climbs, someone back home has signed a monetary pledge.
It's an adventure "of far away places with strange sounding names" !
As I read I found myself climbing beside him. Agonizing with him at his defeats and cheering him on with the thrill of victory! I could visualize the vast emptiness of Antarctica or the magnificent sunset near the top of Mt. Aconcagua on the border of Argentina and Chile.
Climbing for causes is a page turner for any age. It would make a wonderful final reading for this hot summer

July,28,2006

A father and his son discover that Kansas does have mountains, and many other wonderful things, as they spend a Sunday afternoon bonding on the plains of Kansas. The charming story by George Shannon is beautifully illustrated by Thomas B. Allen. Gorgeous pastels of the wheat fields, grain elevators and sleepy main streets will be quickly recognizable to anyone from the midwest. The twist is - the words and illustrations will make you see your surroundings in a new way, just like the little boy in the book!

Hey--Kansas isn't flat-there are many hills, and this book is an awesome read---and sooooooo funny. You don't have to be from Kansas to enjoy the midwest humor---everyone from Kansas doesn't not have a dog named Toto! You will also find little tidbits of history.

I have read this book in bits and pieces and small amounts here and there, but as it is now combined in this book Joan Price has brought it to us like never before. I really appreciate the collection of profound insights, and spiritual understandings that Joan Price takes us up through. Is most definitely a ladder of sorts.

This is a wonderful resource for those seeking a higher spiritual understanding. I immediately read it a second time as it was so pleasurable and I wanted to be sure to remember the most thought provoking passages. With her well chosen quotes, she brings the the great teachers right into our every day lives and leaves us with excellent ideas for further reading. I sincerely hope there will be more books from Dr. Price.

This is the definitive history of the Alamogordo/Sacramento Mountain Railway. The steepest standard gauge railroad in the world. I am the chaiman of the foundation dedicated to preserving the memory of the famous historic railroad. The A/SMR was the first railroad to use switchbacks to gain altitude, the first excursion tourist railroad (1898-1947), the steepest, 4300' to 9600' in 30 miles of track.
thanks to AMAZON for helping us raise funds to continue our work.

Richard Haskell

This is an excellent source of information about a long lost piece of American History. I have personally visited many of the sights contained in the book during time stationed at nearby Holoman AFB. in the middle 1980's. The book has been a great resource in modeling the branch line with my son in HO scale. Much of the old road bed still remains in the forest near Cloudcroft, and can very easily be followed during hiking trips. There is even some remnants of old tressels deep in the woods today.