Climbing California's Fourteeners: 183 Routes to the Fifteen Highest Peaks

Steve Porcella and Cameron Burns spent at least two summers collecting information from historical figures while putting up newroutes to all fifteen of the >14K foot peaks in California. This book is chockfull of history gathered directly from some of the early <br>climbers of these Sierra peaks. Many of the approaches to these peaks are arrived at by hiking (which is half the fun when in the <br>Sierras). As both authors are world class climbers and besides supplying detailed maps and routes traced onto photos of the peaks, <br>they have included many B & W photos of such points of interest as approach scenery, actual routes, historical contributors, as well <br>as many photos of themselves climbing the routes. Thoroughly enjoyable, this book is as interesting for the armchair climber as <br>for individuals wishing to expand their climbing horizons by exploring these magnificent mountains in California.

Porcella and Burns do an amazing job on describing CA Fourteeners. I don't think I've ever seen a climbing guide of this caliber within the last 10 years. Very insightful historical information and great descriptions. A Must-Buy!

Simply an incredible book. I will never look at California's fourteeners the same way again. The daring ascents, so beautifully mapped and photographed, make for a rock-climber's delight. The lush mountain photography is only one bettered by the incisive and informative route descriptions. Having lived in California for many years, I thought that I knew these peaks well. Not so in the wake of this small gem. I recommend this book for novice and expert alike.

Without a doubt this is one of the best guidebooks written - ever! Anyone who collects guidebooks or climbs mountains should have this book. It is soooooo good! Such detail, such photos, such stories - this is how a guidebook should be written. As with any true climbing guidebook the quality is in the details. This book has everything you would want to know about these big mountains, some of which are the highest in the 48 states. No other book contains this information. The authors spent 10 years crafting this work (such dedication!). They climbed nearly half of all of the routes, cicumnavigated nearly all of the peaks, corrected chronic guidebook errors - some of which are still in print in other high Sierra guide books! Incredible photos, many historic and out of print, excruciating route details, historical anecdotes, all the information you could ever want or need in order to get safely up and down these big mountains is in this book. This book is not a trail guide book! It is a CLIMBING GUIDE. It assumes that if you want to climb these mountains that you have the rudementary knowledge of how to hike a trail, read a topo, or at the very least, how to gain information on these basic fundamentals. The book's primary focus is how to get up and down these 14,000 foot high granite monoliths in one piece! A unique feature not seen in the 1000's of guidebooks published is that information is provided in the form of references to books and articles and maps that provide information too volumous to be placed in this single guidebook. You have to see and read this book to believe how good it is. Read first ascents written in gripping, glorious detail by the original climbers themselves, see their historical photos, read about the latest modern day technical routes, learn the details of the easier routes. What a GREAT BOOK!

Porcella and Burns spent two summers climbing 75 routes on California's 14ers, then hundreds of hours interviewing everyone they could find who had climbed on these peaks, including Jules Eichorn, Doug Robinson, Jon Fisher, Dick Beach, David Brower, Chris Vandiver, Warren Harding, Galen Rowell, Kevin Steele, just to name a few. They corrected MANY errors that had been made by previous guidebook authors, about some of California's most important long, alpine routes. This book just received an outstanding review from Doug Robinson in CLIMBING Magazine. Check it out, then buy the book!!!!