Reviews

Rock-Climbing In North Wales. By George And Ashley Abraham.

(Keswick: G. P. Abraham, [1906.])

We heartily welcome the publication of this book. To those who enjoyed the friendship of Mr. Owen Glynne Jones, it was known that he contemplated issuing a companion volume to his excellent work dealing with the Cumbrian climbs. But ‘L’homme propose, et Dieu dispose.‘ His mantle, however, could not have fallen on much fitter shoulders than those of the Keswick Brothers, who, after his death in 1899, became possessed of many of his original notes on the subject, and resolved to consummate, if possible, the desire of their late friend. In this labour of love the authors have undoubtedly given of their best, as a perusal of the present handsome volume attests. The work is divided into two parts, the first, which describes the Glyders, Tryfaen and the Carnedds being written, in the first person, by Mr. George Abraham, and the second, dealing with Snowdon and Cader Idris, by Mr. Ashley Abraham. Each succeeding season has seen the authors at one of the climbing centres of Snowdonia, making a personal acquaintance with and photographing the important climbs, a task, however, which they candidly confess “involved more time than was anticipated at the outset.”

From the climbers’ standpoint the book leaves little to be desired. It is pleasantly written, although perhaps not so classical in style as the Cumbrian book. It is also profusely illustrated with Messrs. Abraham’s own photographs, which have lost little in the beautiful monogravure process of reproduction. Most of the photographs ‘hit off’ the various climbing situations admirably. Others are typical of the finest Welsh scenery, particularly that of “Llyn Idwal, a cloudy afternoon,” and “Snowdon from the pinnacles of Crib Goch,” both excellent examples of the photographic art.

Several years ago, the ‘Spectator’ in a trenchant article on ‘The Pleasure of Peril’ affirmed that ‘Britons have long boasted that a spice of danger is a necessary ingredient of a sport.’ The spice of danger, or risk, in climbing may appear very real to the ordinary reader before he is halfway through this fascinating book. The necessary word of warning, however, is given to all true lovers of our mountain sport, i.e., not to underrate the severity of a climb, but to realise the necessity for using every precaution for the safety of the party. Further, the authors have enumerated nearly one hundred climbs, all of which are classified in their approximate order of difficulty, from Crib Goch, &c. (Easy Course), Western Gully, Tryfaen, &c. (Moderate), Western Buttress, Lliwedd (Difficult), right through the “Exceptionally Severe Courses” to Twll Du (Devil’s Kitchen), which they consider to be “probably the most difficult and dangerous climb in Wales.”

The series of Outline Drawings of the chief routes will prove valuable to novice and expert alike. As in Jones’s Lake District book, so with this companion volume there is no map, not even the inset of a diagrammatic sketch-map to give at a glance the “lay of the land.” It is to be hoped that the latter, at least, will accompany any future editions of these splendid books.

It is a matter of taste, but we should say that nothing would be lost by the omission of the few comic sketches in Messrs. Abrahams book, which are neither Worthy of the subject, nor its treatment.

J. W. P. 

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A useful little book containing lists of requisites for the mountaineer; a few English equivalents of French and German moneys, measures and weights; the Alpine Distress Signal; and about fifty ruled pages for notes. It is in durable covers and goes easily into the waistcoat pocket.