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Lake District Bouldering: the LakesBloc guidebook (Read 20319 times)

cofe

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Since 2016 we've been working on a Lake District bouldering guide with Greg Chapman (whom many of you will know), the guy behind LakesBloc. Given Greg started LakesBloc back in 2003, you could say this guide has been 16 years in the making. We're finally at the point where we're pretty confident we'll go to print in the next month or two. Final changes are being made (getting rid of the last few holiday grades, that kind of thing) and we're hoping to have finished books in early May.

At the last count the book was 560 pages, with just shy of 3,000 individual problems, plus plenty of linkups and variations. There are over 700 photo topos plus maps etc. We've put some OS maps in for some of the mountain crags. It's a phenomenal effort by Greg, documenting all this stuff.

We've just put a pre-order offer up on our website (click the cover image): pre-order for £30 inc. UK P&P and we'll chuck in a free Lapis brush (the nice wood ones) with the first 100 orders.

I'll stick a few more images up shortly ...


36chambers

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 :dance1:  :dance1:  :dance1:  :dance1:

Psyched out of my mind for this. I'm also so happy that it's not landscape :strongbench:

tomtom

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Doylo

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Good work Greg. Anyone who’s ever used Greg’s free PDFs over the years should feel obliged to buy this.

Bradders

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Ordered. Never been more excited for a book!

cheque

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I'm also so happy that it's not landscape :strongbench:

 :agree:

The new Devon guides that have a portrait orientation cover but are landscape inside are particularly mindbending. I mail-ordered the Dartmoor one while I was bedridden in the summer- imagine my disappointment when I opened it to find that due to not being able to sit up in bed or hold things properly with my left hand it was impossible to read.  :boohoo:

teestub

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Good work Greg. Anyone who’s ever used Greg’s free PDFs over the years should feel obliged to buy this.

 Word.

Fiend

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Excellent. Really glad this is coming out after Rockfax beat Greg to it last time. Given the quality of the pdfs, this will be essential.

fatneck

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Quote from: Doylo
Good work Greg. Anyone who’s ever used Greg’s free PDFs over the years should feel obliged to buy this.

This...

Very excited!!

sheavi

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Great stuff, just ordered a copy.

a13c

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Like Doylo said....
Just ordered mine  :thumbsup:

Smith42

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Perfect for my birthday present.  Hope they leave a few holiday grades in! :lol:

joel182

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Good work Greg. Anyone who’s ever used Greg’s free PDFs over the years should feel obliged to buy this.

Greg's PDFs were my guides on my first ever bouldering adventures when I was growing up just south of the Lakes. Can't wait for the book to arrive!

Mike Tyson

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Greg for an MBE!

(Mega Bouldering Enthusiast)

steveri

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Is it bad that I left a note on my keyboard on this last night and after checking email, started pressing F5 on the VB site? And a brush too!

Will Hunt

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I have bought this book almost exclusively for psyche purposes. I've never gone to the Lakes with the express intention of going bouldering, though I have bouldered there, and am unlikely to go very frequently. But I really want to look at some pictures of gorgeous rocks among the mountains.
And also, because if I or anybody else ever gets round to Unknown Stones: The Book, I'd hope that people would be equally charitable...

cofe

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Well that escalated quickly. Thanks everyone. Really appreciate the support. We've sorted another 100 brushes so you'll now get one if you're one of the first 200 orders.

cofe

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And also, because if I or anybody else ever gets round to Unknown Stones: The Book, I'd hope that people would be equally charitable...

I'm sure they would. Thanks Will.

remus

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I was trying to hold off buying this as my guidebook collection is already bursting at the seams. Only lasted an hour before I buckled  ;D

tomtom

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Time for a re-jazz of Peak guide?

See all too many cockfax ones around nowadays (even the forum owner uses one...) :)

Or a Lime and a Grit edition?

danm

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Just ordered a copy. Well psyched, I love the rock in the Lakes and it's great to see Greg get the info from his amazing topos into book form. I first got into bouldering as opposed to trad climbing at Langdale boulders when I lived in Ambleside, so buying this book feels a bit like going home.

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Just ordered one, and I'd definitely back up the PDF thing, if you've used them over the years you should definitely buy this.

Greg C

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Thanks for all the kind words and support guys. Very much appreciated.  :)

dunnyg

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Will, it is all about thr big trad days and the evening boulder. Get on it!

macca7

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Am certainly looking forward to receiving mine!

Live in Cornwall and have bouldered in the Lakes twice but wanted to show my appreciation thanks to Greg for all of those PDF's used prior to the trip to try and work out where to go. The guide book was worth it for the St Bees PDF's alone.

Thank you and good luck with the sales!

Smith42

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Cannot wait! Talked my son in to ordering one for my birthday on the 2nd May. 
No pressure then Greg. 
:bounce:

Will Hunt

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Same birthday here with a chance of getting away for the early Bank Holiday for it. Then a stag do in Borrowdale on the late May Bank. Allez!

Stewart

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Stop Press!

I climbed atom smasher yesterday then did an obvious ss up through the middle of the roof on undercuts and topping out as per atom smasher. I would be surprised if it's not be done before but can't see any reference to it. Any idea if it has been done before? @Greg C


« Last Edit: March 28, 2019, 07:10:24 pm by Stewart »

cofe

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Think that's Invader Zim but I'll point it to Greg to double check. It's 6c+ – sound about right? There is an Atom Smasher sitter to the left at 8a+.

We're making final tweaks at the moment and it should be at print in the next fortnight. Will take about a month at the printer ...

Stewart

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Yeah, i guessed 7A but it was late in the day.

I know the ss to Atom Smasher has been done coming in from the left arete at about 7B+. Presume the 8A+ version is much more direct?

cofe

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We've just gone to print. Books in a month or so, hopefully. Thanks to everyone who's pre-ordered.

shark

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Nice one.

Big up to Vertebrate for doing this.  :wub:

Significantly more time, effort and cost to do guidebooks compared to conventional books which might not be widely appreciated.


JJP

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Great work, really looking forward to getting this.

xelaxela

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Can't wait for this

cofe

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Just a quick update. Books now due about 24 May so we'll get the orders sent out as soon as we can.

Will Hunt

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Cheers cofe. We actually drive up to the Lakes on the 24th, so if they happen to come in early and you're looking for one to send out straight away then...

cofe

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No worries, will do. Bit frustrating they're taking longer than expected, but we don't like to hassle the printers too much on bigger jobs like this ...

danm

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Cheers for the update - I'm sure the book will be well worth the wait once it arrives!

 :bounce:

fatneck

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Nice one and what Will said!!! We're also in the Lakes that weekend...

tomtom

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we don't like to hassle the printers too much on bigger jobs like this ...

Prints one page - has slurp of tea. Prints next page nibbles biscuit. Prints next page, puts kettle on, Prints next page checks betting app etc.. etc...

cofe

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It's here. We're *most* hands on deck getting them back out the door ...

fatneck

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BOOMSHACKALACK!!!!!

tomtom

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Could be the weekend sorted 👍👍

Nice one team vertebrae 👍

a13c

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Just got mine and it looks awesome! I can't wait to try it out!
Cheers guys.
And a free brush too, can it get any better 😉

steveri

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Looks blummin great. Had a madeleine moment browsing the Woodwell and Warton sections, where I did my first climbing 38 years ago. I could almost feel the holds. Revisit long overdue.

Out of interest - low key visits to Fairy Steps usually ok?

sherlock

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Just got ours yesterday,looks great!
Thanks Greg and team.

tomtom

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Some great inspiration reading for a wet sunday morning...

In the yin and yang of grade movement - I see problems I've done have gone from 7B to 7A+ (Rigpa) and from 7B to 7B+ (New Rose) :)

SEDur

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Excellent looking guide!
All the info in the back looks extra handy... maybe something other guidebook publishers will take note of

Fiend

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Flicked through in the shop today, very nice and polished guide, good work Greg and all :)

Dave Flanagan

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What do people think of this guides's size? Seems the trend for a5 landscape is over.

Fiend

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Thank fuck.

It's massive like NWB, but landscape is a structurally unsound pain in the dick.

a13c

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Portrait all the way. Landscape books just fall apart.

crzylgs

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Absolutely love this guide, recently enjoyed a week in the Lakes. Now I need to get back there sooner rather than later!

Liamhutch89

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Please could someone confirm whether Dow crag and the Harter Gold boulders are covered in the guide as I don't see them listed in the description? Hoping I can pick up a copy in time for the weekend!

Adam Lincoln

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Liamhutch89

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Nice one, thanks!

 

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