The Climbers Guide to Bay Area Rock, Summer Edition 2002
by Jim Thornburg. Potlicker press. Price $18.00

Overview: This Guide provides a brief general overview of a large number of climbing areas with a nice history of climbing in the Bay Area. However, the book does not include much detail on any particular area. Some area's are missing route locations & names on topo pages. Some of the missing route names are presented on subsequent pages making things very confusing. Not much difference between this version and the 2001 summer edition. Not enough to warrant buying the new one.

Reviewers opinion: This guide attempts to cover to much ground in to few pages, providing to little detail on any particular area. For example; the Castle rock area covered in this book covers approx 100 routes in 14 pages (including bouldering) while the "Rock Climbing Guide to Skyline Blvd" by Bruce Morris utilizes 144 pages covering some 400 routes for the same area with much greater detail. I share the same opinion of many other climbers I've spoken to about this guide. The book wasn't worth buying.

Recommendation to the author: Narrow the focus to SF, North Beach areas (Mickey's Beach), Mt St. Helena & the East Bay (There already exists excellent guide books covering Table Mountain & Skyline Blvd). Expand the route listings for these areas & provide more detailed topos and/or digital pictures of the routes, in the regions listed above, with accurate route beta including heights, TR anchors/setups, trad gear requirements, and trail locations. Remove buildering routes and beta for other illegal areas. Carefully review the book to prevent transferring errors to future additions and clear up confusing sections. Add GPS locations for the base of each climbing area and the trail head used to reach the climbing area (this information will be available on this web site by summer 03' so feel free to use it). Maintain the history of Climbing in the Bay Area but consider adding a geological history of the rock formations as well.

Rating - 1 star * (5 is best 1 is worst). With the release of Rock Climbing the San Francisco Bay Area this guide is no longe necessary. Don't waste your money on this one.