Technical Slot Canyon Guide to the Colorado Plateau

Rating:
Summary: The 'Key to the Lock'
Review: The Colorado Plateau is in my backyard and Michael Kelsey's books have helped me unlock the mysteries of the beautiful canyon country within.
If you're a technical canyoneer, no other book comes close to this one in guiding you to the best slot canyons on the Colorado Plateau.
Most 'sour grapes' type of reviews of this book are from folks who've been loathe to reveal what they thought were there personal secrets. Humbug!
I say, "Welcome!" and enjoy...

Rating:
Summary: Hackers Guide to the Slots
Review: There's a lot of information in this book. Unfortunately, in this book the author promotes the use of techniques that permanently scar the very canyons he claims to want to protect. How absolutely absurd is it to chop a big hole into pristine sandstone instead of using natural anchors that are just a foot or so away! I personally would recommend boycotting this book. But since that won't happen (there really IS a lot of information in this book), I hope readers will be more careful than Mr. Kelsey's new book when it comes to the environment.

Rating:
Summary: Good with caveats
Review: This book opens up in a clear and descriptive fashion many of the difficult and technical canyons in the colorado plateau. These canyons as described are an underappreciated yet fabulous landscape and I believe represent the very best example of exiting wilderness sport combined with incomparable beauty in the United States. Very helpful when planning trips or deciding which canyon to visit. Of course, as far as technique is concerned, I agree with other readers that his suggestion to use a geological pick hammer to get out of potholes is more than a bit excessive and needlessly destructive. Much better to use small bathooks in existing cracks, do shoulder stands, pack tosses, or to chip small barely noticeable notches with a bolt kit for bathooks if absolutely required. Canyoneering is becoming more popular and I believe Michael should use his considerable influence in this small sport to preserve the fragile areas available and encourage respect for the resource.