Virginia Climber's Guide

Rating:
Summary: Useless as a climbing guide
Review: The author clearly spent a lot of time driving and hiking around VA, but the actual climbing content is basically useless. For example, the Old Rag information is impossible to decipher. Crag photos and overview topo are a must in a climbers' guidebook, but there is not a single photo in the book. I think the publisher is to blame for printing an "unfinished" book. Certainly NOT worth $22...

Rating:
Summary: worst guidebook i've ever seen
Review: This book is only useful for pointing someone in the direction of rock to climb on, BUT this guide is basically useless. Several of the areas that I know well are very poorly described and even contain errors.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Buy this book
Review: This book is only useful for pointing someone in the direction of rock to climb on, BUT this guide is basically useless. Several of the areas that I know well are very poorly described and even contain errors.

Rating:
Summary: worst guidebook i've ever seen
Review: this guidebook has absolutely no info on trad lines and contains little detailed info besides driving directions to an area. plus the cliff drawings are either incomplete, too sparse or generally unuseful in orienting yourself. there are no topos, little indication of bolt lines or anchors but if you just want an idea of where a few climbing areas are go ahead and buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Worst guidebook I have seen
Review: This guidebook is the product of a small mind. It's about
toproping on crappy boulders. Why would someone waste time
to go to some 20 foot chosspile and climb some nameless
route? This guidebook sometimes lists routes that are
22 feet long - did he go out with a ruler and measure the
height of the route as 22 feet? What if he went one foot
to the right or left - would that make it 21 feet or 23 feet?
I cite this merely as an example. This book is dry, uninspiring,
and has no vision or aesthetic sense. After looking at the
guidebook, it made me think that there was no worthwhile
climbing in Virginia, and Jeff Watson has a very small vision
and extremely low level to mediocre taste in climbing.

Rating:
Summary: Above average guide to many little known areas in the state
Review: Watson's guide has great directions to many little known areas in the state. Thankfully, he has left out access-sensitive areas and areas on private property. I have used the guide all summer and am impressed at the amount of areas covered by the guide that I hadn't known about. At first,I was dismayed at the simple drawings, usually preferring topos or photos, but Watson's sketches are accurate and it takes very little time to orient yourself at the crag. Overall: Well worth the price.