RECOMMENDED READING:
The following books are some of many we would recommend for reading before coming to the Canadian Rockies.
Some are what we would call 'background' reading, some are specific to the trip you will be doing, and all are excellent preparation and fun to read, counting the days before your holiday begins..
Athabhasca, Snow & Ice Course
| GUIDE BOOKS & MAPS |
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American Alpine Club / Alpine Club of Canada:
Rocky Mountains of Canada: South
A complete guide to the Southern Canadian Rockies, although the book is older (1979), it includes a tremendous amount of information for anyone wanting to venture to the Rockies, be it for skiing, climbing, or mountaineering. |
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Sean Dougherty:
Selected alpine climbs in the Canadian Rockies
"This is pretty much the current and standard guide to the Canadian Rockies. More complete guides exist, though they are rare and out of print. This guide presents 200 of the best climbs, eliminating overdrawn discussions of the obscure and focusing nicely on routes that have become legendary in the mountaineering world. The book itself is well made and suitable for the top of your pack." (reader review, amazon) |
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Alan Kane:
Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies
"This book is gold. Alan has made a guidebook, that has everything you need to know about a route, right in front of your eyes. From Elevation gain, approximate round trip time, difficulty, the map needed, route photos for every peak and a completely detailed description of the route. Also he has a colored mini photo album at the beginning of the book that shows some pictures of what you will encounter. He has included over 150 mountains that range from tiny hills that I could take my pet hampster up(jokingly), to glaciated masses of rock that can take a rope and multiple days. This book should be in every climbers pack. I urge you to buy it. It's well worth it." (reader review, amazon)
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| Jasper National Park Map by International Travel Maps |
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| 'HOW TO' BOOKS |
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Mark Houston, Kathy Cosley:
Alpine Climbing
Mark and Kathy are both IFMGA certified mountain guides from the USA. The couple now lives in Chamonix, France, running their own mountaineering company.
They have extensive experience climbing and skiing all over the planet, and the book shows it. From nutrition, equipment, navigation, decision finding, it has it all.
One needs to have some prior experience in mountaineering and climbing to be able to make the most of the book. |
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The Mountaineers Club:
Mountaineering - Freedom of the hills
"... I've been reading "Freedom" since its early editions; in addition to being an excellent and entertaining course in general mountaineering, it's also a fabulous ready-reference. I've lost track of how many times I've looked up a particular knot, rappel technique, belay menthod, etc.etc.etc. Excellent sections on rock, ice, snow, and just about everything else. I can't imagine any mountaineering library being without it
You might want to pick up two copies; one is bound to be covered with dirt and water from use in the field!..." (reader's review, amazon) |
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Andrew Selters:
Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue
"This superb primer is now larger and sports new photos and excellent drawings that illustrate the technical aspects of travel in glacier country." (Back Country Magazine)
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David Seidman, Paul Cleveland:
The Essential Wilderness Navigator
This book has the best ratings by far for all orienteering/navigating books. All skills are explained in a language everybody can understand, and covers meticously all assetts of orientieering with a compass/map. The book does talk about GPS and how to use it, but is not a specific book for navigating with a GPS. |
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Bruce Tremper:
Staying alive in avalanche terrain
"...I own 6 of the most popular books on avalanche safety; this is by far the best. The core information needed to assess avalanche risk is given in some detail but the explanations are presented in "everyday" terms and are quite easy to understand. None-the-less,Tremper never talks down to his readers and the full level of complexity inherent in the subject matter is maintained. This is simply a very well written book by an author who appearantly is able to write well naturally. He would probably do very well writing about any subject..." (reader's review, amazon) |
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P.A. Schaerer, Peter Schaerer:
The avalanche handbook
"For backcountry enthusiasts with a science background, this book provides a thorough introduction to avalanche theory. The book is divided into chapters which build a solid foundation (weather systems, snow structure) through snowpack basics (snow strength and deformation, snowpack structure) and well into more advanced concepts (snowpack analysis, avalanche prediction, search and rescue, and even control with explosives, etc.) It is an excellent, if heavy, read and I found it a valuable resource in the development of an intro avalanche course." (reader review, amazon)
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Bruce Jamieson:
Backcountry Avalanche Awareness
This book has been published by the Canadian Avalanche Association, and covers every aspect and detail one needs to know in regards to avalanche safety before heading out to the backcountry, be it for skiing or climbing.
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| OTHER REGIONAL TITLES |
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William L. Putnam:
Canadian Mountain Place Names
The towering peaks of the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains rival the European Alps in fame. When travelling or climbing, hiking or skiing in these areas, have you ever wondered where the names of the peaks, rivers and lakes came from, or who named them and why? In "Canadian Mountain Place Names", the authors have used their scope of knowledge and expertise, along with many outside sources, to compile an entertaining and informative treatise on the toponymy of this increasingly popular alpine region. Originally published as "Place Names of the Canadian Alps", this new edition is completely revised and updated. (Synopsis, Amazon)
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Chic Scott:
Powder Pioneers
"...Discover the rich ski history of the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains with award-winning author and historian Chic Scott. He covers all aspects of the sport, ranging from the ski jumpers at Revelstoke in the 1920s to the birth of ski lodges and ski resorts to the heli-skiers, loppet racers and snowboarders of today. This is the perfect book to dip into on cold winter nights..." (Rocky Mountain Books. For more books on the Canadian Rockies: www.rmbooks.com) |
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Chic Scott:
Pushing the limits
"...Begin the trek through Canada's climbing history…
Learn about Swiss guides hired by CPR hotels who ushered in the glory years of first ascents. Continue through to the turn of the twentieth century when British and American climbers of leisure found themselves hampered by the difficulties of travel through the Canadian wilderness. Learn about the European immigrants of the 1950s who pushed the limits on the rock walls, and the American superstars who led the search for frightening new routes on the big north faces. Be there when British expatriates pioneer an exciting new trend in world mountaineering—waterfall ice climbing... Finally, enjoy the story of home-grown climbers..." (Rocky Mountain Books: For more books on the Canadian Rockies: www.rmbooks.com)
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Mary Schaffer:
Old Indian Trails in the Canadian Rockies
"...Mary T.S. Schäffer was an avid explorer and one of the first non-Native women to venture into the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where few women - or men - had gone before[]Full of daring adventure and romantic depictions of camp life, set against the grand backdrop of Canada’s mountain landscapes, the book introduces readers to various characters from the annals of Canadian mountaineering history, including Arthur Philemon Coleman, Billy Warren, Sid Unwin, Bill Peyto and Jimmy Simpson..."(Rocky Mountain Books: For more books on the Canadian Rockies: www.rmbooks.com)
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Jack Bennett:
Not won in a day
"...An adventure story and guidebook in one, this is the tale of Jack Bennett's extraordinary effort to become the first person to climb all the high points of Canada's provinces and territories. From a fire tower in New Brunswick to a remote mountain in Nunavut, this is a story of hardship, triumph and sheer singlemindedness. Bennett provides accurate and up-to-date information for anyone wishing to follow in his footsteps..." (Rocky Mountain Books: For more books on the Canadian Rockies: www.rmbooks.com)
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