A history of early climbing in the Lake District based on contemporary accounts from the Wastwater Hotel, 1863-1919

A limited edition book celebrating the Fell and Rock Centenary.
Edited by Michael Cocker with a Foreword by Lord Chorley.

The Wasdale Climbing Book, kept at the Wastwater Hotel, was a unique record created by those charting the development of rock climbing in the Lake District. It began with early ascents of Pillar Rock and then formed a continuous record through to 1919.

In this publication, Michael Cocker has selected 148 pages of the most significant entries in facsimile, and 60 evocative photographs from the period, many never previously published. Included are numerous hand-written entries by the early pioneers including: the 1st winter ascent of Steep Ghyll by Norman Collie; John Robinson's account of the 1st ascent of Moss Ghyll; G.A. Solly's comments on Eagles Nest Ridge Direct; Fred Botterill's impressions of Botterill's Slab; a long forgotten 1st ascent on Pillar Rock by George Mallory; Herford and Sansom's ascent of Central Buttress; plus inscriptions by W.P. Haskett Smith, O.G. Jones, Aleister Crowley, Oppenheimer, the Abrahams & many others.

Michael Cocker has annotated these entries with an erudite overview and commentary, adding greatly to appreciation of the accounts and their historic significance, and shedding new light on many well-known climbs. Enhanced with biographies, first ascents' list of summer and winter climbs, bibliography, and appendices, this well-researched book illuminates a definitive period in rock-climbing’s development and is a substantial addition to its history.

This is a limited edition book; it will not be sold through normal outlets. 100 copies will be a de luxe subscriber's numbered edition with genuine cloth covers, special end-papers, top & tail bands and a marker ribbon. The book will be printed on wood & acid free paper, with illustrations on gloss art paper, and with a dust-jacketed hard back.

Publication date October 2006.