olyclimber Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Some might be crowded, but there is some good stuff in there. I finally ran across a copy of this book in a used bookstore this past weekend. So lets hear some chest beat, how many of the 50 Crowded Classics have you ticked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wastral Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Which used book store??? Is it still there? Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 I bought it. Used, at William Bookseller in Port Townsend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 Wow...i got a great deal on it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0871568845/ref=dp_olp_2/104-3433187-1423910 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 FUUUUUUUUUCK!!!1 I let my hardcover edition go for a freakin' song, then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 perhaps remind us of the peaks on there? i seem to recall forbidden and stuart are on there, what else in the nw? liberty ridge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denalidave Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Castleton Tower in Moab, UT; Sir Donald, Selkirks, BC; Maybe doing Mt. Stuart Labor Day weekend if I can get the hall pass. Not sure if I have done any others since I have not read the whole book. Sure wish I could find a cheap copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Alaska and the Yukon Mount Saint Elias Abruzzi Ridge Mount Fairweather Carpe Ridge Mount Hunter West Ridge Mount McKinley Cassin Ridge Moose's Tooth West Ridge Mount Huntington West Face Mount Logan Hummingbird Ridge Middle Triple Peak East Buttress Western Canada Mount Sir Donald Northwest Arete Bugaboo Spire East Ridge South Howser Tower West Buttress Mount Robson Wishbone Arete Mount Edith Cavell North Face Mount Alberta Japanese Route Mount Temple East Ridge Mount Waddington South Face Devil's Thumb East Ridge Lotus Flower Tower The Pacific Northwest Mount Rainier Liberty Ridge Forbidden Peak West Ridge Mount Shuksan Price Glacier Slesse Mountain Northeast Buttress Mount Stuart North Ridge Liberty Bell Mountain Liberty Crack Wyoming Devil's Tower Durrance Route Grand Teton North Ridge Grand Teton Direct Exum Ridge Grand Teton North Face Mount Moran Direct South Buttress Pingora Northeast Face Wolf's Head East Ridge Colorado Crestone Needle Ellingwood Ledges Hallett Peak Northcutt-Carter Route Petit Grepon South Face Longs Peak The Diamond The Southwest Shiprock Castleton Tower Kor-Ingalls Route The Titan California The Royal Arches Lost Arrow Spire Sentinel Rock Steck-Salathe Route Middle Cathedral Rock East Buttress Half Dome Northwest Face El Capitan Nose Route El Capitan Salathe Wall Mount Whitney East Face Fairview Dome North Face Clyde Minaret Southeast Face Charlotte Dome South Face Lover's Leap Traveler Buttress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Frieh Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Dont bother... it is worthless as a guidebook. Original list: http://www.geocities.com/misofranko/tick_50cc.html "Updated" http://lamountaineers.org/NAC/browserf/other/misc/index.htm I see them @ powells all the time... set up an account and they will email next time they have one in stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 well, pretty much done w/ the pnw at least... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 Dont bother... it is worthless as a guidebook. i don't see it as a guide book, jut a recommended list of climbs and stories to go along with them. It looks like this is basically what Kearney copied with "Classic Climbs of the Northwest", another book I really enjoyed. It has route info, but I certainly wouldn't use it to prepare for a climb (other than to get psyched about it). i think it is worth the bother if you like books about climbing. Cool about Powells having it from time to time. Chessler charges about the same as the amazon link above (and up to 1000 bucks), but with some guys writing their names in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Frieh Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Werd. Checking prices I should consider selling mine though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 Get fred to sign it and double the value he (of course) seems to be the central element of almost 1/2 the stories in the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Frieh Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 And speaking of... I think one of my all time (if not) favorite Alpinist pieces ever published was (partially) about the 50 classic climbs book. 12 p17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowell_Skoog Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 i don't see it as a guide book, jut a recommended list of climbs and stories to go along with them. It looks like this is basically what Kearney copied with "Classic Climbs of the Northwest", another book I really enjoyed. One thing that makes Alan Kearney's book unique (and that he felt was important in writing it) is that he climbed every route listed in his book, so you can count on a consistent degree of accuracy. That's not true of most "selected climbs" books. (Disclaimer: Alan is a friend.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 Nice tie in to the town where I picked up the book! They have a nice dedicated climbing section there, even some consignments. My friend who I was visiting there is friends with J. Whittaker (who makes his home there) and told him about our modest jaunt up to Mt. Stone this past weekend in the lightening storm, and Jim related some nasty tales about people getting zapped and killed or with alum. water bottles getting fused together, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 i don't see it as a guide book, jut a recommended list of climbs and stories to go along with them. It looks like this is basically what Kearney copied with "Classic Climbs of the Northwest", another book I really enjoyed. One thing that makes Alan Kearney's book unique (and that he felt was important in writing it) is that he climbed every route listed in his book, so you can count on a consistent degree of accuracy. That's not true of most "selected climbs" books. (Disclaimer: Alan is a friend.) yes, apologies to Mr. Kearney for accidentally insinuating that his book might not contain accurate climbing information! I love that book, I've read it several times. Certainly can't say I've read many guidebooks cover to cover (I usually just read a route here or a route there, so maybe i've read several...but Kearney's book you can read like a collection of short stories). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 I'm not surprised nolse has such a bad attitude about the book. Is it the best guidebook ever... no What it does do is provide some information and a little history about climbing in North America. I've found it good as a starting point any time I go into a new region. It helps you get to know an area and inspires you to look around when you get there for other cool routes. I've done a bunch of em, and then I return to do other climbs I see while doing those in the book. Looking at my book I've done 28 out of the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wfinley Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 I have a torn and tattered copy that I've thumbed through for years. It's a wonderful book! I just climbed Wolf's Head a couple weeks ago and thought it was an excellent route well worthy of classic status. What's interesting is the new Cirque guidebook author (Bechtel) goes out of his way to criticize the route brushing it off as and saying it attributes to a "myopic" view of Wolf's Head. Likewise I never saw the book as a guide... just good stories and great photos of places I'd love to visit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScaredSilly Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 As some have said 50 Crowded Climbs can be a blessing or a bane. But either way it is a classic in that it gives people a pointer to at least one climb in particular area. I have done 20+ of the routes, a few friends are well into the 30+ routes. Of those on the list my highlights both came in 2000 when that spring I did Castleton with Allen Steck who was 79 at the time and then two months later did the Cassin. My most recent was Slesse. All good fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken4ord Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Bugaboo Spire East Ridge Mount Rainier Liberty Ridge Forbidden Peak West Ridge Mount Stuart North Ridge Grand Teton Direct Exum Ridge The Royal Arches Is what I have done from the list, but not with the intention of climbing the climbs because they are on the list. All of them I have climbed because they are brillant looking lines and quite accessible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el jefe Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 "noise"? -- ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 so far feck is leading with 28 out of 50. Which ones kurt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texplorer Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Damn Feck, I thought I was doing well at 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigchampion Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Some might be crowded, but there is some good stuff in there. I finally ran across a copy of this book in a used bookstore this past weekend. So lets hear some chest beat, how many of the 50 Crowded Classics have you ticked? are porter and RuMR the same person Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.