Cascade Alpine Guide: Climbing and High Routes: Vol 1- Columbia River to Stevens Pass (3rd Ed.) (Paperback)

by Fred Beckey (Author), Fred W. Beckey (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
[Beckey's] encyclopedic, three-volume guidebook, Cascade Alpine Guide, is mandatory reading for anyone aspiring to [these] summits. -- Backpacker

Product Description
The long-awaited revision of Fred Beckey’s comprehensive and indispensable climbing guide is here at last. The first volume in the classic Cascade Alpine Guide series, Columbia River to Stevens Pass features expert information on more than 300 climbing and high routes, including Mount Rainier. Here you’ll find geographical, historical, and geological overviews of the majestic North Cascades region, plus important tips on safety and backcountry usage and enough technical and grade information to make clear exactly what type of route you are embarking upon. The new, third edition is thoroughly revised and updated with new maps and photos, plus all the most recent resource materials. Without a doubt, this exhaustive resource should be a staple in every serious mountaineer’s collection.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books; 3 edition (August 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898865778
• ISBN-13: 978-0898865776
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7 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: #272,425 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full beta for the Northwest!, June 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cascade Alpine Guide: Climbing and High Routes : Columbia River to Stevens Pass (Paperback)

Fred Becky has been know in producing the most comprehensive mountaineering guide books for the Northwest. This particular book covers all peaks from the Columbia River (south) to Stevens Pass (north) and from Yakima (east) to Seattle (west). Within this area, routes for over three hundred peaks are described by Becky. This Becky guide also has an excellent introduction that includes Cascade Weather, Special Dangers, Geographic Aspects, and Winter Travel and Climbing to name a few. You will be given enough technical and grade information to fully understand exactly what type situation you are getting into. Please note that although easy peaks are listed, this is not a beginners "how to" guide

Each peak is listed with the exact height and the first ascent history. Since most every peak have more than one way to the summit, this guide explains each alternate route. While most of the routes are classic mountaineering, there are many technical climbing routes detailed. Almost every peak is photographed and accompanied with some other type of drawing to give the reader more detailed instruction. With over 300 pages, this one of the most comprehensive guide books for this particular region.

For example, on popular peaks such as Mt. Rainier, a 9 page history and geological study is given along with backpacking and climbing regulations. 15 pages of route description along with 16 b/w photographs of the Mt. Rainier gives the reader excellent beta that will necessary on summit day.

After reading through the guide, the reader gets an idea how enduring Fred Becky has been over the years. About the author states, " His intimate knowledge of the topography has been gained through many years of personal experience, including the ascent of hundreds of peaks - many of them first ascents - in all parts of the range". Well worth the price tag, this book will pay for itself weekend after weekend. Hell, you may even end up quitting your job and bagging peaks! full time.