Book: Alpine Ice & Rock Guide

Alpine Ice & Rock Guide by Ron Brunckhorst

Once you’ve mastered the basics roadside and are ready to get after it alpine-style, an indispensable part of your equipment list should be the Alpine Ice & Rock Guide to Southwest & Central Montana (Brunckhorst; $20). This compact volume, produced by local climbing pioneer Ron Brunckhorst, stashes easily in a glove box or backpack and provides necessary information on classic alpine climbs in the Madison, Bridger, Absaroka, Crazy, and Beartooth ranges, among others. Route descriptions are good throughout, and while not every map is top-quality, several are very good and all are accurate. Entertaining climbing tales in the back mean you’ll have something to do at camp post-climb. Look for the Alpine Ice & Rock Guide at Barrel Mountaineering and Northern Lights, or order directly from the author at climbmontana.com.