Recommended Guidebooks
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My guidebook covers Scrambles
in the Canadian Rockies. It begins in Waterton Park near the American Border, and works
its way north through Crowsnest Pass, Kananaskis Country, Kootenay, Banff and Yoho Parks,
to finally finish at Jasper National Park. Over 155 scrambles are described, most of which
can be done in a day with little or no technical equipment. It is available online at Rocky Mountain Books. Click cover to order. Click here to see what critics at Amazon.com are saying...
Some Rockies routes on
my web site are described in this book by Sean Dougherty. (Rocky Mtn Books)
Chic Scott's
excellent guide to Rocky/Selkirk/Purcell Mountain ski ascents and tours. (Rocky Mtn Books)
Another good guidebook
by Chic Scott. (Rocky Mtn Books)
For more mellow trips: Trails, not summits.
Before specialized climbing books appeared, climbers
used two books almost exclusively: Rocky Mountains of Canada North and Rocky Mountains of Canada South,
published by the American Alpine Club. (Do I sense irony here?) What they lack in
detail, they more than compensate for in scope. Ironically, many peak baggers today don't
know these volumes exist. I'd start looking in used bookstores. They won't ever be re-published again and they are a gold mine of info. Example: Just where is Mount Somervell? And who did make the first ascent of Mount Smuts?
Hiking guidebooks for Kananaskis area by Gillean Daffern (Rocky Mtn Books). Useful
for approaches (and hiking!). So complete, copycat authors have stolen the
material for their own guidebooks because they lack originality and ethics. I say, don't waste your time on copycats...
This guidebook touches on approaches (and
hikes) to a few areas in the southern Rockies, notably areas near Mount Assiniboine and
Height of the Rockies Provincial Park. (Rocky Mtn Books)
Another favorite
guidebook is The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide by Patton and Robinson,
which covers hiking trails in the National Parks of the Canadian Rockies. This book was my early inspiration. A timeless classic, the original, great for approach info too. Available at local bookstores in
Banff, Jasper, Canmore, Calgary, Lake Louise... Like publications by Rocky Mtn Books, this
reference book, too, has been plagiarized by more recent guidebook authors.
Introduction Climbs Home Ski ascents Photo Tour Links Guidebooks Book Corrections