Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #90411 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Synopsis
Walking is unquestionably the best method of exploring, and it is the mountain walker for whom journeys in the Alps reveal some of the finest views, the greatest contrasts. This book then is a definitive guide to the many thousands of possible routes, with a geographical span that ranges from the Maritime Alps of southern France to the Julians of Slovenia, from Italy's Gran Paradiso to the little-known Turnitzer Alps of eastern Austria, from the ice-bound giants of the Bernese Oberland to the green rolling Kitzbuheler Alps and the bizarre towers of the Dolomites of South Tirol, showing the amazing diversity of this wonderful mountain chain. There are walks to suit every taste: gentle and undemanding, long and tough, and everything in between. Written by Britain's most respected authority on the Alps, this is a fully updated edition of this important book.

From the Publisher
The most comprehensive guide to walking in the Alps
Some fifty years ago Hubert Walker wrote a book called "Walking in the Alps" which became a classic. But times change and in any case the book has long been out of print, so Kev Reynolds, doyen of Alpine writers, has brought out a modern version. Every region of the Alps is covered in detail;walks and tours given in mouthwatering profusion. Chris Bonington agrees," The most comprehensive book about the Alps in the last fifty years,"he says. This is an essential volume for the Alpine traveller. What a present for Xmas! What a present at any time!

Customer Reviews

Trekking anywhere in the Alps
This is a beautifully presented book with 500 pages full of ideas and superb photos for wonderful Alpine walks in 6 countries. These outlines of treks throughout the Alps are exactly what you need for an overview of which treks where may fit your next trip. Mostly based on treks with accomadation with bed and breakfast, evening meal (demi pension in France) and picnic sandwiches for the next days walking mean you do not have to carry a tent or take a warm sleeping bag or food or stove. The author has very good tested suggestions throughout the Alps. After deciding where to go you just buy the listed detailed guide with each days walking, accomadation phone numbers, and local transport, order maps from the Map Shop, buy a cheap air ticket. Do some practice walks and map reading here over a few weekends with suitable boots you will be wearing, 1000 mile socks, light waterproofs, not too big backpack, sunglasses, (try Milletts?). Have some Great Alpine walking.

Not what I had hoped for ...
I was dissapointed with this book for the amount it cost... It is hardback, but only marginally bigger than A5 and has only 16 full colour pages (each of these with 2 or more photos on). To my mind there are not enough maps and the maps that are provided I consider poor sketch maps. Place names, even whole areas mentioned in the text - even ones that are seemingly important - are not to be found on the maps which makes following things quite difficult. I was expecting either a "coffee table" book with lots of glorious photos, or a book with specific useful walking related facts, ideally both, what I feel I have got is neither. I would imagine that its the kind of book that if you have the patience to read it and the maps to cross compare what was being said with where things were on the ground you might be able to get something out of it, but to me it represents the kind of book where things will only really fall into place once you've been to the Alps many times and start to recognise what's being written about first hand - by which time the book is to a certain extent superfluous.
I am hoping that this may be a reflection of the fact that I am currently looking at one specific area and maybe the book is a bit lacking for this area, but for someone who is usually enthrawled by anything about the mountains I find the writing extremely difficult and, to be honest sheer hard work. Not quite bad enough to send back, but verging on it.

James Knight

The Ultimate Alpine Planner
This is the Alpine walker's bible. A labour of love by a man who obviously knows his Alps and knows his onions too.

Every region and every valley is covered. (So it will last you a lifetime..)

You need to read it with a map alongside and (like all good things) it may take a little effort before everything falls into place, but good advice is assured. Get to it !