Reviews

BRISTOL UNIVERSITY SPELAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY PROCEEDINGS, VII, Nr.  3 July, 1956.

Of its 70 pages, 48 are given to a most valuable account and discussion of the caves near Lisdoonvarna (Clare) by Messrs. Oilier and Tratman, accompanied by a map, 925 yards to the inch, showing the numerous surveys of the last few years, for all of which no praise is too high.

The district includes many passages of great length as well as Baker’s Pollnagollum.  The authors’ experience of these is evidently considerable, and they are refreshingly free from dependence on American ideas of caves formed under different conditions, and from the mesmeric word Phreatic.  Master joints and water tables take their right places, and we are glad to see they note the importance of seepage down walls.

Nos. 1 and 2 record more antiquity, but Irish work, and digs in August Hole, Great Tynings, and Rhino Rift, etc.

E.E.R.

CLIMBS IN CLEVELAND.

It is indeed a pleasure to find such an excellent guide to the Sandstone Climbs in the Cleveland country.  The lay-out, binding, print and size all have their appeal to a climber.

The Historical notes are of considerable interest to one of the party which spent much time on these crags in 1912 and 13 when Canon Newton E. Creighton and C.E. and D. Burrow spent many happy weekends there.

Almost all the names given to routes are new; The Sheep walk was Grass Gap, The Tower has now become The Steeple.  The Needle being so obviously the Needle the name could never be changed.

I like the choice of names, they intrigue the imagination and are dehghtfully descriptive and I’m left wondering which route it was that was known as Dale View, on the Wainstones.

If I remember rightly there were many more routes on the face of Raven’s Scar, but time and weather soon alter such soft rock.

Mr. Maurice F. Wilson deserves the thanks and praise of all climbers who visit that unique area.

D.B.

KANCHENJUNGA—THE UNTRODDEN PEAK.  Hodder & Stoughton, 255.  182 pp.  3 7 plates.  Charles Evans.

This account by our Honorary Member Charles Evans is fully worthy of the magnificent achievement it records.  The details of the climb are easy to follow and the crisp clear writing gives a vivid impression with a remarkable economy of words.  The pace of the account leads on the reader to finish the book at a sitting leaving only a regret that there is not more of it.  The appendices contain much information useful for further expeditions and the Publishers have been more than usually generous with the allowance of plates.

R.E.C.