Best Enlgish Language guidebooks for Chamonix?

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emppeng27

 
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Best Enlgish Language guidebooks for Chamonix?

by emppeng27 » Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:40 pm

So I'm wondering what is the best up-to-date english language guidebook (or guidebooks)for alpine routes in the Chamonix/Mont Blanc area. I only know of the Damilano guides - which I hear are comprehesive but only include mixed snow and ice climbs, no pure alpine rock routes - and the new The Mont Blanc Range: Classic Snow, Ice, and Mixed Climbs - which I hear is geared toward easier stuff. Are there others?

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Charles

 
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by Charles » Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:51 pm

In times gone by these were written by Rob Colomb I think. The were then good, I can only think that they still are

http://www.mapsworldwide.com/alpine_club_guide_books_2515pub0.htm

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by signorellil » Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:16 pm

charles wrote:In times gone by these were written by Rob Colomb I think. The were then good, I can only think that they still are

http://www.mapsworldwide.com/alpine_club_guide_books_2515pub0.htm


These were written by Lindsay Griffin. Still good (in the updated edition), but not state of art anymore.

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Diego Sahagún

 
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by Diego Sahagún » Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:28 am

I have both Mont Blanc books and an old version of this one too, wich is good for hiking routes. BTW, Lindsay Griffin's books are still in www.amazon.com

If you want a good and big book look for The Mont Blanc Massif: The 100 Finest Routes by Gaston Rebuffat

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Charles

 
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by Charles » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:34 am

Diego Sahagún wrote:I have both Mont Blanc books and an old version of this one too, wich is good for hiking routes. BTW, Lindsay Griffin's books are still in www.amazon.com

If you want a good and big book look for The Mont Blanc Massif: The 100 Finest Routes by Gaston Rebuffat


Is Gaston rebuffat in print again? That was a classic indeed!

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Diego Sahagún

 
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by Diego Sahagún » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:46 am

I don't know. You can find it in www.amazon.com

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Charles

 
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by Charles » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:43 am

Diego Sahagún wrote:I don't know. You can find it in www.amazon.com

I would take it carefully though. It was written a while ago now (he´s been dead a while) and if it´s not been updated some of those routes will be totally different now.

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alexey

 
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by alexey » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:52 pm

Griffin is the best allround option, enough for a lifetime of good climbing. Piola's rock guides are good and show plenty of newer routes, but of 2 volumes I've only seen one in English and I'm not sure they are still in print. Last summer I've seen more specialised multipitch guides in stores in Chamonix, but for alpine climbing Griffin is obviously the best. I can also testify to topos of harder rock routes in Griffin being easier to read and follow than Piola's.

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Diego Sahagún

 
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by Diego Sahagún » Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:08 am

charles wrote:
Diego Sahagún wrote:I don't know. You can find it in www.amazon.com

I would take it carefully though. It was written a while ago now (he´s been dead a while) and if it´s not been updated some of those routes will be totally different now.


In 2005 Desnivel updated it, in Spanish:

http://desnivel.com/editorial/novedades ... hp?o=13874


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