Selected Climbs in the Cascades: Alpine Routes, Sport Climbs, & Crag Climbs (Paperback)

by Jim Nelson (Author), Peter Potterfield (Author) "For the past few years, we have had the enjoyment of seeing dog-eared, well-thumbed copies of Selected Climbs in the Cascades, Volume I, on the..." (more)
Key Phrases: descend the climbing route, current park regulations, low fifth class, Jim Nelson, Difficulty Grade, Special Considerations (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
When the authors of the first volume of Selected Climbs in the Cascades were choosing ascents to include in Vol. II, their criteria was simple: that the routes be fun and aesthetically outstanding. Nearly every climb in the book offers amazing views of snowfields, glacier-carved valleys, or craggy peaks shrouded in mist. And although there are technical climbs involving aids, grade V alpine ascents, and waterfall climbs rated WI5, these are balanced by easier routes that require nothing more than bouldering skills. This is not a collection of the most radical, derring-do challenges in the Cascades but rather climbs that are simply a blast.

Vol. II differs from Vol. I in that it includes not just alpine routes but sport climbs and crag climbs--great for folks who want to take their rock-gym skills outside. The book also rates the approach to each climb from the car, whether it be a 10-minute walk or a grueling, two-day hike to a frozen waterfall. It's a practical consideration, as some of the approaches are more physically demanding than the actual route. Climbs covered begin in the southern Cascades, dominated by volcanoes Hood, Adams, and Rainier, and move northward to Snoqualmie Pass, with its easily accessible sport climbs and occasionally tough alpine routes. The guide finally moves into the North Cascades. Here, the mountains lose their volcanic character and take on the glacial-carved ruggedness of spots like Forbidden Peak and Mount Fury. More than 500 glaciers dot the area, and serious alpinists will find plenty in this section to occupy them.

Anyone who climbs in the Pacific Northwest should find Vol. II useful, whether they prefer rock or ice. It's a good entry-level guide, though it's not a how-to-climb manual; get your climbing fundamentals down, then pick up a copy. --Demian McLean

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898865611
• ISBN-13: 978-0898865615
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #497,964 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could not be a better guidebook., June 27, 2000

By	Eric Franklin "gyring and gimbling in the wabe" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This is one of the most well done guidebooks I have ever seen. Some of my friends refer to the first volume of this book as "The Bible of Northwest Climbing." This one is destined for the same accolades.

The book itself is made of heavy stock paper - something that you can throw around in your car and not worry about too much. The black and white pictures are awesome and the route descriptions are well written. Hardware suggestions appear to be appropriate and the permit information looks good too.

This book describes 96 new routes and includes crag climbs (something which was not covered in the first edition). Perhaps the best thing about this book is that most of the climbs are somewhat off of the beaten track and not the most well known. Every self-respecting climber in the northwest should own both of these books - they're guaranteed to get you excited and help you pick your next trip.