Good Eldo GB?

Hey, I'm heading to Eldo with some friends in August and I'm looking for a good guide book. I found Sharp End Book's Eldo Guidebook by Steve Levin. Opinions? Does anyone have (or has anyone used) this book? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Joe

Go for the new guide by Levin. It is WAY better then the old Rossiter guide.

Get Steve Levin's book. It might be the best climbing guide ever written.

Levin's guide also has much improved approach/descent info than the Rossiter guide IMO.

I agree...the lack of topos is the only thing missing from the Levin guide. Rossiter's topos are great.

Joe C wrote:Any other suggestions?

It'll be hot. Climb super early in the morning, climb in the shade. Maybe think about RMNP or Mt. Evans, too.

-Scott

I've got an extra Rossiter guide for sale in good condition, $20 obo . let me know if you are interested.

Shumin Wu wrote:I have to ask, what makes the new guide book better than the older Rossiter guide besides being a good coffee table book? Don't get me wrong, it's the new one so it's more complete, has superb historical facts and pretty pictures (the latter quickly becomes a lot less useful when you are at the base of the route), but lacks the great topo drawings in Rossiter's guides.

The Rossiter guide seemed to do a good job *IF* you already knew the area. Like "oh, this is the crack to the right of blah..."

I found Rossiter's descriptions of how to get to routes lacking or confusing. I found too many description like "start by the tree by the corner..." Great... there are 50 trees near corners around here.

I remember racking up once to start Ruper, and some kids came up looking for Rewritten. They had the Rossiter guide.

Once you know your way around the Rossiter is fine, but especially if you are coming from out of town, I would go with the Levin book. Although some people are saying the pictures are useless, I find them far more helpful than the topos.

Shumin Wu wrote: but lacks the great topo drawings in Rossiter's guides.

I agree with Shumin on this point. Rossiters hand drawn topos were masterpieces.

Joe C wrote:Hey, I'm heading to Eldo with some friends in August and I'm looking for a good guide book. I found Sharp End Book's Eldo Guidebook by Steve Levin. Opinions? Does anyone have (or has anyone used) this book? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance, Joe

I really like and use Rossiter's guide; the topos are priceless. But some of the descent info is out-of-date. A descent after dark could quickly become the crux of your day, even with a good description. I also get the impression that it might be easier to find routes with the Levin guide, but I've always had an easier time finding routes from topos and descriptions than from photos.

Shumin Wu wrote:I have to ask, what makes the new guide book better than the older Rossiter guide besides being a good coffee table book? Don't get me wrong, it's the new one so it's more complete, has superb historical facts and pretty pictures (the latter quickly becomes a lot less useful when you are at the base of the route), but lacks the great topo drawings in Rossiter's guides.

You answered your own question

Julius Beres wrote:Once you know your way around the Rossiter is fine, but especially if you are coming from out of town, I would go with the Levin book. Although some people are saying the pictures are useless, I find them far more helpful than the topos.

+1

Also agree w/ Scott, if you're here in August Eldo is best to hit early or very late. And certainly look into doing something at elevation to escape the heat. If you're not into a bivy or long walk Hallets in RMNP has some great climbing.

Rossiters Eldo book was a definitive period piece... Not many books in its day and age were better. But desktop publishing, digital photography, and modern color printing costs have changed the way we see and expect guides to be. Rossiter's was more than good enough to get you around, I used it through 2 editions (Boulder Climbs South + Eldorado Climbs) and 15 years without problems.

But new routes go in, situtions change, and so do our expectations. Steve has written an AWESOME guide, standing on the shoulders of those before him and their guides. He's reached a long way back for some lost history and stories, and created a new standard for the current period. I think his book and the Harden Red Rocks book are stand-outs.