Guidebooks

[ZimZam]

Besides FWB's guides, what other books would you recommend for OR, WA, and BC.

[wayne]

There are many selects that may be more useful. They have more specific beta. If you just moved here there is no reason to do anything but the classics anyways. They are a bit overcrowded though.

[ericb]

Maybe this is what wayne's referring to, but Nelsons Selected climbs in the cascades Volume I and II are really good.

[DRep]

sky valley rock is pretty rad if you like to trad!

[kurthicks]

**Not an exhaustive list, but plenty to get you started**

 

BC

Alpine Select, McLane

West Coast Ice, Serl

Island Alpine, Serl?

Squamish Select or Climber's Guide to Squamish

 

Washington

Selected Climbs in the Cascades I & II, Nelson

Sky Valley Rock, Cramer

Leavenworth Rock, Kramer

Washington Ice, Martin/Krawarik

Cascade Alpine Guide 1-3, Beckey

Classic Climbs in the Cascades, Kearney

 

Oregon

Oregon High, Thomas

Climber's Guide to Smith Rocks

Trout Creek

Edited February 19, 2008 by kurthicks

[spotly]

Rock Climbs of Central Washington

Climber's Guide to North Idaho and the Cabinet Wilderness ...this one's not in WA obviously, but close enough to warrant looking at.

[Off_White]

Kurt, Sky Valley is Darryl Cramer, while Leavenworth is Viktor Kramer.

 

David Whitelaw's Rattle and Slime is a pretty comprehensive Darrington guide, available on disc. I do wish the topos were a little higher res though.

 

Banks Lake, while still relatively obscure, curiously requires three guides to cover all the bases: Inland NW Rock by Marty Bland, Rock Climbs of Central Washington Rock by Rick LaBelle, and Whitelaw's Weekend Rock which covers boat accessible climbs overlooked by the other tomes.

[dbb]

Off- Try printing out the Rattle & Slime topos individually. Those pdfs can print to 22" long. The ones embedded in the "whole guide" were shrunken down.

 

ZZ- I think kurt hit the nail on the head for what a local climber would want. If I had to choose a single one, I'd say Selected Climbs Volume I. You could also add David Whitelaw's "Weekend Rock" book for a good survey of rock climbs around the state's major areas.

[wayne]

There should be an alpine winter book out too, soon?

[mattp]

You might also consider Smoot's book, Rock Climbing Washington, but I'd look at the list above and second the recommendation of Weekend Rock.

 

Weekend only goes up to 5.10, by design, but it will get you oriented all around the state (I don't think it covers anything east of Banks Lake and it doesn't include Beacon Rock). Weekend Rock is both more up-to-date and accurate than Smoot's book because David was able to actually visit all the areas presented as he was in the process of writing the book. Smoot covers more climbing areas but the "better" areas are largely served by their own local guides (for the comprehensive information) or Weekend Rock for the introduction.

 

In addition to those listed above, area-specific guides for places like Erie, Little Si and Exit 38, Tieton and Vantage are very helpful. For Darrington, my site will get you started: new URL. For the more in depth Darrington (Whitelaw) CD, select "about" and "resources" and send David an e-mail.

 

The Leavenworth guide is by Viktor Kramer.

[dbb]

Matt- I put the Rattle & Slime info page (Whitelaw Darrington CD guide) back up on my website: http://www.alpinedave.com/darrington/rock/index.htm

 

wayne- I hope this fall!

[Skeezix]

Routes and Rocks in the Mt. Challenger Quadrangle, by Tabor & Crowder