Available late this month or next, pre-order now: Near Trapps

Cool.

GO

Yipee!

Pre-Ordered.

JDW

Excellent. I hope a pre-order isn't necessary though. I just planned to stop in the next couple of trips and assumed they would have enough on the shelves.

The description says,

"A new comprehensive edition to the Near Trapps and Millbrook. Bonus material includes: detailed history section, new descriptions, new ratings, new variations, link-ups, rappel stations, and yes even new routes!"

Dick mentioned to me that there are approximately 100 new routes, I think that is in the Near Trapps alone.

new photos also

I forgot all about the Near Trapps since the Grey Guide came out. I can't wait for this.

I suspect you're not the only one. When I've visited the stretch of cliffs past Birdland over the past couple of years, I've seen fewer other climbers than had previously been the case. Sure, the Main Line and Eastertime, Too get a steady flow of traffic, but the rest of the cliff has been pretty empty on weekend days when I know the Trapps were crowded.

Presuming the new guide will lead to increased foot traffic down that way, I wonder of Dick, or anyone, is anticipating the additional half-mile of trail that could use maintenance. Maybe a good target for a future Adopt-a-Crag activity, if all impacted land owners are willing.

"...if all impacted land owners are willing."

Might be a serious issue. Once you get down a ways, you're not in Kansas any more.

----------------------------------------------------

I spent a bunch of weekend days this summer on the new routes in the Near Trapps. Hardly ever anyone there. Mostly shady. Lots of excellent short one-pitch routes, equipped with rap stations. Old-school grading, natch. "Interesting" pro.

Here's the master himself at work in the hinterlands:

Yeah, we were doing "Far from the maddening crowd" wondering how long it would remain that way after the new guide came out.

Is the new guide purple? I've ordered a couple, but that's totally going to clash with my other guides.

Talking about the trail and property... there were two new cairns on the trail, looks like a new path leading down. Is that all private land below the nears? Are parts of the trail on private land? I seem to recall someone saying something to that effect.