Rockfax Wins at Banff, Harlin says "Perfect"

by Jack Geldard – Editor – UKC Rockfax have pluckeda prize at the Banff Mountain Book Festival for their new book Lofoten Rock. This follows on from their win last year with Mike Robertson´s excellent Deep Water. “The word that comes to mind when summing up this book is – perfect.”says John Harlin, a judge at Banff and renowned mountain author. (Read the full report here) LofotenRock has been authored by ChrisCraggs, who workedclosely withlocal climbing guru ThorbjørnEnevold to cover themajestic granite cliffs of the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway.The book is a stunning full-colour, photo rich tome, with photo-toposto the areas´ huge trad routes.The guide isn´t a ´selected routes´book, but a comprehensive record of these long, magnificent mountainadventures.The Rockfax team couldn´t make it to Canada to collect their award, but Chris Craggs sent over a speech that was read out and ended thus:?Thanksagain Thorbjørn for giving me the chance to write a guide tothis fantastic part of the world ? your part of the world ? andfor making us so welcome up there. Rest assured, we will be back.? Asit is the third year running that this international award has beenwon by a UK guidebook, it is fair to say that our guidebookproduction is top-notch and in a healthy state.Contrary to early90´s opinion, commercial guidebook production hasn´t been quite the killing blow to British climbing that some assumed.Withseveral private companies now crafting excellent books in the colour-photo format, covering the whole of the British Isles, and the olderproducers such as the Climbers´ Club matching them with superb books such as Lundy, British climbers have never been better served with accurate,artistic and beautiful guidebooks, helping them to navigate theirroutes, be inspired and enjoy climbing.Guidebooks are more than just records of routes, in the same way that climbing is more than just ascending pieces of rock. ChrisCraggs seems to have encapsulated that essence in his new book, blending his climbing enthusiasm with a modern style, and in an alchemistic way, producing a solid-gold guide that is sure to inspire. He says Lofoten is ?A primesummer destination for those looking for some of the best trad on theplanet.?Andperhaps this ´best trad on the planet´ experience is enhanced by oneof the best guidebooks on the planet? 2008 Winner: Lofoten Rock by Rockfax 2007 Winner: Deep Water by Rockfax 2006 Winner: Burbage, Millstone and Beyond by BMC Recent guidebook reviews on UKC: ROCKFAX Lofoten Rock BMC Stanage, The Definitive Guide ROCKFAX Northern England FRCC Gable & Pillar GuidebookROCKFAX Deep Water The Climbers´ Club Lundy Guidebook

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