Climbing guidebook

Climbing guidebook
Consulting the guidebook

Climbing guidebooks are used by rock climbers to find the location of climbing routes at crags or on mountains. Guidebooks also offer condensed information about local restaurants, bars and camping areas; often include sections on geology and local climbing history; and may contain many pictures to inspire climbers. In addition to the location, most guidebooks tell what gear is needed to do the route, and how difficult the route is. When this information is very detailed it is collectively known as "The Beta."

Descriptions versus diagrams

Guidebooks can indicate locations by verbal descriptions (for example" start in the third left-facing corner below the large, orange roof, left of the route "Something Interesting").

Starting in the 1980s, a diagram-style was developed, with the detailed diagrams of the routes, called "topos" (probably from French).

Guidebooks are often self-published by the author, and may be available mainly in the local climbing shops near the area described.

Climbing guidebooks are important to the culture of climbing, transmitting history and stories down through the ages, and delineating what is considered good style in a particular area. The upcoming publication of a new guidebook of the area often leads to a flurry of climbers establishing new routes there (because one can clearly see the parts of rock terrain which are still unclimbed).