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BOOK REVIEWS
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Walk of the Week, 52 Walks Around Scotland
By Peter Evans & James McDonald.
Illustrated by Glen McBeth
Published by The Mercat Press. 2004. Paperback. 128 pages. ISBN 1841830747
 Those of you familiar with Scotland on Sunday's “Walk of the Week” newspaper articles will recognize the content of this pocket sized book selection from that series. Each walk is outlined over two pages with background themes, short route descriptions and an illustrated map/drawing. The walks tend towards the gentle end of the spectrum and range from a stroll around the centre of St Andrews to a coastal hike to St Abb's head but also extend to an ascent of Beinn Eighe, Torridon or Ben Nevis. Covering all of Scotland with 52 walks is a tricky task and the writers appear to have selected the majority of these walks to be within a day trip from the central belt. Thus the islands and the far North West are almost ignored but there is plenty here around Lothian's, Fife, the Trossachs and the Borders.
The book is at its best on the shorter hikes providing interesting historic and folklore anecdotes to motivate on even the dullest weather day. Make sure you take a relevant OS sheet map with you on the longer hikes though as the walk descriptions and maps provide general directions rather than detailed accounts. With the fun illustrations and the gentle nature of the walks this book is well suited to family excursions and might well take its place in many a car glove compartment!
Brian Dickson
Of Big Hills and Wee Men by Peter Kemp
Published by Luath Press Ltd. Paper Back. 220 pages. b/w illustrations ISBN9 781842 820520
 This is the sort of book that you can dip into as each chapter is an anecdotal story in its own right. As a Govan man, Peter Kemp, has an affinity with those who took to the hills in the thirties, and at some point in his story suffers a similar fate of redundancy and despair. His tales of the long drives north, the big hill days, and treks, the bothies, and the bevy are related in that rough style, and humour, known to those who have known these “Men of the Clyde”. Those who frequented the bothies in the 60's and 70's will have met characters such as Kemp's companions Rab and Stukky and can relate to the tramps to many of the bothies - Tarf, Kinbreack, Ben Alder Cottage and many more. Hints of Alistair Borthwick and the old “get up and do it” philosophy, and a nostalgic read for those of us who remember the pre-Gortex days. And none the worse for that - a wee book to dip into to help recapture some of your own memories.
Irvine Butterfield
The Backpacker's Handbook (3rd Edition)
by Chris Townsend
Published by McGraw-Hill. 2004. Paperback. 400 pages. ISBN 0071423206
 This is the 3rd edition of an award winning handbook by Chris Townsend, whose credentials as a backpacker are impressive with many long distance hikes to his credit including an epic 1,600 mile first continuous walk along the length of the Canadian Rockies.
A first scan revealed that this is a detailed work crammed with advice. The author adds anecdotes of personal experiences, which add 'colour' to the text, relating his own recommendations for gear and one supposes that if it works for him then there is a good chance it works!
There was a bit too much emphasis on gear though and whilst important, it is only a small part of the experience. The handbook's advice on skills/techniques is rather brief in comparison. For instance, the book's ice axe and crampon sections could have been expanded to elaborate more on the actual skills required to use them rather than the tools themselves.
The book appears to be aimed at the American market rather than a UK one with coverage of bear avoidance and water treatment. On the downside, all measures are quoted in imperial units. This shouldn't be much of a problem except that weights in particular appear throughout the book and I found myself continually converting pounds/ounces to kilograms/grams.
So, the book excels as a reference for North American backpacking (where there is some of the best hiking in the world!) but would also be useful for UK backpackers especially if you want to lighten your load.
Brian Dickson
Devil in the Mountain –
A search for the origin of the Andes.
by Simon Lamb
Princeton University Press 2004. 335 pages. ISBN 0-691-11596-6
 In 1989, Oxford geologist, Simon Lamb began more than ten years' association with the Bolivian Andes. This fascinating book is a summary of his researches, but is also a tale of adventure travel combined with scientific detective work.
The first part draws the background to the conflicting theories of mountain building, which originated during the nineteenth century. This ranges from early geological mapping in northwest Scotland, to Darwin's experiences of volcanoes and the aftermath of an earthquake in South America. It then deals with the difficulties of travelling and working at high altitude in remote regions.
The book's core describes the search through disparate strands of evidence, which include the sandy sediments of ancient rivers, fossils, climate change over the millennia, and the dating of rocks using their natural radioactivity. A coherent theory emerges from this to explain the height, location and distinctive shape of the Andes. The more speculative final section reaches out to other mountain ranges, suggesting that the Earth might be considered as an organic whole, in which climate is a factor in the growth as well as decay of mountains.
The author writes with humour and a light touch, and displays a rare ability to explain scientific ideas concisely, yet with great clarity. Ease of reading is enhanced by the subdivision of each chapter into shorter sections, and many end with anecdotes that could stand alone as excellent travel essays.
Devil in the Mountains should do for plate tectonics and the Andes what S. J. Gould's classic Wonderful Life did for palaeontology and the Burgess Shales. It will be appreciated by anyone with even the slightest interest in mountains and where they come from.
Anthony Toole
The Alpine 4000m Peaks by the Classic Routes
By Richard Goedeke
Published by Baton Wicks. Paperback. 240pages. 78 colour photos. 47 maps/diagrams. ISBN 1-898573-56-5
 This book admirably achieves its objective – to be a convenient, information intense guide to peak bagging in the European Alps. The 1991 edition is one of the most well thumbed books in my collection and I thoroughly recommend this revised edition to anyone aspiring to “collect” at least some of the icy and enjoyable Viertausanders.
The peaks are grouped into 12 main logistical areas. Each mountain entry has a similar format; a general overview and history of ascent, indications of difficulties, effort and “pleasures”, the maps required, travel suggestions, hut details, brief [ie leaving you to find the surprises yourself] ascent details and a generally good route topo. Route descriptions have been refined by comparison with the original with input from Martin Moran and others. The photos are superb and well chosen in reflecting the character of individual peaks. This translation is very readable.
These summits were first catalogued as long ago as 1923. In 1994 the UIAA arbitrated on various inconsistencies and the 1989 tally of 61 summits was elevated to 82. This book incorporates all the UIAA “promoted” peaks and notes 9 additional summits Goedeke considers deserve accreditation. Some of his new targets pose considerable challenges for aspiring 4KM baggers! There are, however, many easy Viertausanders that do not involve extreme technical abilities but merely require some acclimatisation, fitness and good alpine skills. Buy a copy, plan your trip and enjoy!
Beryl Leatherland
Hot Aches DVD
directed by Kevin Neal
On the basis of Hot Aches alone, Kevin Neal has firmly established himself as a genius of climbing film. In what may be the greatest debut since Leo Dickinson, Hot Aches chronicles a season of Scottish winter climbing. It travels the length of the country and penetrates beneath the surface gloss. Hot Aches is all about why we indulge in this strange sport. It is almost poetic in the way Hot Aches unfolds, with footage from remote corries in the North West and Cairngorms, Ben Nevis and the Central Highlands.
The cinematography is impressive at with the lead roles being played by the talented Gareth Hughes and Andy McIntyre. There are also some priceless supporting characters, including Iain 'Cheese' Rudkin, Dave Hollinger and his photogenic female friends.
It's funny. The film remains true to the characters and lets the humour flow. The interaction between the scenes is complex, but it isn't until the movie is over that one realizes how much went into it and, more importantly, how effectively the story elements work together as a study of the film's theme.
It is plausible and believable because it's purely character-driven. Its subtleties are so thought provoking. The action shots are as tense as any thriller. I've seldom been as uneasy, as when I saw Iain Rudkin pioneering a new line up a hollow Grade VI icefall.
The characters really struggle when things get tough. They climb hard routes on-sight in bitter conditions: there are no bolts or sport-climbing ethics on this film. It took guts to tackle such a difficult subject for the camera and the risks they took paid off in spades.
Hot Aches falters in just two areas. There are occasional digital glitches, and the on-route soundtrack isn't perfect. However, when you consider that it was filmed on a single £550 camera, in a poor season, and that Neal travelled from Dover every weekend in hideous weather, then making Hot Aches can only be described as heroic. Is this film worth seeing? Definitely.
Oliver Metherell
Twice Upon a Time in Bolivia DVD
A film by Alastair Lee
A Posing Productions Film. 15 minute Feature. Subtitles. Price £14.99
 Three 'Burnley Boys' set out in search of 6000m glory in the Cordillera Real of Bolivia. There are bandits, donkeys, people being ill with altitude sickness and going stir crazy in tents. There's also some mountaineering that captures the pain of slogging up big peaks combined with science fiction and computer graphics. It also includes a short additional film of climbing in Utah and bouldering in Canada. Wholly tongue-in-cheek with dark 'northern' humour, it won the 'Peoples Choice' at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival in 2004 and is an admirable second film from Alastair (after climbing goats in Morocco) that will again appeal to the whole family.
Kevin Howett
Others Received:
Weather
by Storm Dunlop
A Collins Gem 2004. Paperback.256 pages. Full Colour. ISBN 0-00-719022-0
A surprisingly good wee general guide to weather, without science-speak and with some of the best images of the various cloud formations I have ever seen.
Walking in the Dordogne
by Janette Norton
Published by Cicerone 2004. Paperback. 239 pages. Full Colour. ISBN 1-85284-415-9
Describing 31 walks in the pastoral Bergerac region of southwest France. No big hills but lots of stunning countryside, ancient villages and cliff top panoramas.
Lucky to Be Alive, A First Expedition to the Himalaya
by Angela Benham
Published by Northern Liberties Press 2003. Paperback. 164 pages.17 colour plates. ISBN 0-9704143-6-6
An account of a nearly tragic first expedition experience to climb Shambhu Ka Qilla in India from a member of the Red Rope Socialist Mountaineering Club.
Scottish Hill Tracks (Fourth Edition Revised)
by The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society
Plastic cover. 183 pages. 28 colour plates. ISBN 0-9546735-0-6
332 ancient cross country routes over open ground in Scotland. Not all are 'Rights of Way' - once the only routes on which you could be certain of not being confronted by irate landowners, but with the new access legislation allowing freedom over all land (responsibly), all these routes indicate historical paths and tracks whose status is secured under the Scottish Access Code. They make great mountain bike routes!
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